Mons: Churches, Art and Hiking Trails

In Mons, you can explore historic buildings and hiking routes as different highlights of your stay. The churches in Mon preserve traces from various centuries; several trails lead through the village or connect it with Stierva and Savognin. This way, you can learn about the details of architectural and artistic history as well as find specific information about routes and their character.

Churches and Art History

The more than 1,000-year-old Church of St. Cosmas and St. Damian stands in Mon on the historic thoroughfare. Its tower has paired round-arched windows, and traces of a depiction of Saint Christopher also remain on it. Christopher is considered the patron saint of travelers—a striking motif on a church along the thoroughfare. In the Swiss Inventory of Cultural Property for Graubünden, the old church is classified as a Category B cultural asset.

At the former parish church of St. Cosmas and St. Damian, the floor plan, with its hall and semicircular apse, points to an early Romanesque building. The wall paintings date from the second half of the 14th century and are stylistically attributed to the so-called Master of Rhäzüns. Frescoes in the choir and southern part of the nave belong to a later period: they date from the second half of the 15th century and are attributed to the Lombard artistic circle.

The Church of St. Francis in Mon is a Baroque building constructed between 1643 and 1648. It is considered the principal work of the master builder Giulio Rigaglia from Roveredo in the Misox. A fresco cycle created by Johann Rudolf Sturn in 1647 was uncovered again in the church during renovations from 1974 to 1976. The organ has its own history, too: Abbrederis made it in 1690; it was brought to Mon in 1712. In the edition of the Swiss Inventory dated January 1, 2026, the Catholic Church of St. Francis and its rectory are listed as a Category A cultural asset.

The village name also has a long history: Mon was first mentioned around the year 1001 under the name de Maune. Together with the churches’ different architectural and artistic styles, this creates a timeline stretching from the village’s early mention to the Baroque construction years of St. Francis.

Hiking Routes Connected to Mon

The 13.1-kilometer Veia digl Pader hike starts in Stierva, runs via Plangs to Mon and continues to Savognin. The section of the Via Sett between Mon and Savognin follows the Veia digl Pader. Along this section, the route passes through a varied cultural landscape with former field terraces and prehistoric settlement sites. If you are planning this hike, check the latest route information; route specifications may be updated.

The PostBus service between Tiefencastel and Stierva, which provides access to the Veia digl Pader, runs only by advance reservation. You must book at least one hour before departure. Keep this deadline in mind when planning your trip. Another perspective is offered by the winter hiking trail from Mon to Stierva, which provides a magnificent view of the lower Albula Valley.

On the panoramic trail from Stierva to Savognin, you can listen on the way to Romansh poems by Father Alexander Lozza through the Parc Ela app. This option depends on the app being available. The routes therefore differ in character: the Veia digl Pader is described as a 13.1-kilometer route passing through Mon and continuing to Savognin; the winter hiking trail goes from Mon to Stierva, while the panoramic trail offers the experience of listening to poetry.

Cultural Landscape and Local Products

Castela-Sendas in the municipality of Mon is designated as a cultural landscape with special land management. Its features include hedges, bushes, terraces, unfertilized meadows and wetlands. These different elements give the area its own character, distinct from the village’s architectural and artistic landmarks.

The Sur Castelas farm shop in Mon sells alpine cheese, Salsiz sausage, bratwurst, dried vegetables, dried fruit, potatoes and other products. The selection may change. If you are looking for a particular product, bear in mind that the range may not remain the same over time.

Discover more destinations: Sur, Bergün, Mutten, Alvaneu, Tiefencastel, Tinizong-Rona, Marmorera, Stierva.

Back to the main travel overview: Albula.