Via Engiadina

The village of Lavin is located on a long hillside terrace on the Inn River. The village was rebuilt in the 19th century in Italian style following a fire. The village church is much older. It was constructed in 1480 and was spared from the fire. The choir area is one of the best-known art monuments in the canton of Grisons.

The long ascent towards Val Lavinuoz begins in the village. Crossing the tracks and main road, you are soon in wild, unspoilt nature. In the forest north of Lavin, the path leads past steep rock faces and along the hillside into the narrow valley. Moss-covered boulders are dotted along the way and the Lavinuoz river murmurs in the gorge below. The mountain ranges of Piz Linard and Piz Chapisun rise up to the left and right.

Ascending out of the valley, you reach the Alp d'Immez at an altitude of 1,949 metres. Only a few trees and bushes now grow on the stony slopes. The path leads up towards Piz Chapisun. It then continues above the tree line at an altitude of around 2,200 metres, southwards and out of the valley again.

The long climb ends at the highest point of the route in Funtanivas, at an altitude of 2,238 metres. From here, the crossing take you out of Val Lavinuoz, in a series of ups and downs on a steep hillside, and past stunning alpine rose bushes. You are now on the southern flank of the Piz Chapisun, and you go past gnarled trees and across the stony fields of the Gonda avalanche trail. Avalanche towers can be seen at the top of the Chapisun ridge

Further down the slope are the Gonda ruins. The abandoned 12th century settlement gives you an insight into the structure of a medieval village. The path then leads back into the forest and the small and cosy Chamanna dal Bescher hut. The view of the valley and the surrounding 3,000 m peaks is magnificent, and can be enjoyed to the full before tackling the steep descent through wild mountain forests.

After crossing La Clozza, there is a short climb on the opposite side of the valley and you then go downwards to Guarda. In this traffic-free, rugged and attractive town, the well-kept and richly decorated Engadine houses and the peacefulness of the mountains are striking. It is also famous as the place of origin for the classic children’s book “A Bell for Ursli”. In the story, the farm boy trudges alone through deep snow to the alpine meadow. He brings back a large bell, and is allowed to lead the procession to drive away the spirits of winter.