Schmitten: Ore Mines, Churches and Trails in the Albula Valley

Schmitten is situated on a sunny terrace at 1,301 metres above sea level, around 400 metres above the valley floor. When choosing your stay, it helps to distinguish between the different highlights: the churches and local museum offer insights into the village’s history, while the ore mines, cycling tours and trails provide options for planning your activities.

Churches and history on the church hill

The parish church of All Saints stands on a long hill high above the Albula Valley and has a Gothic bell tower. Construction may have begun around 1470. Between 1703 and 1706, Capuchins from Brixen transformed the late Gothic church into its present form; its walls still enclose the Baroque church today. Its history of construction therefore spans from a possible start in the late 15th century to its transformation in the early 18th century.

The church hill is also home to the rectory, built in 1707. From there, a Way of the Cross dating from 1761 leads past seven wayside chapels. Its Passion images were fully restored in 1985. The Chapel of St. Lucius is a late Romanesque building and is once again used as a place of worship today. Together, the churches and the Way of the Cross offer a tangible insight into Schmitten’s religious architectural history.

Discover the local museum

The Schmitten Local Museum is housed in the former schoolhouse. It presents life in a modest mountain village in the central Albula Valley and shows how the arrival of modernity shaped social change. Its themes include farming, various crafts, mining, customs and religious traditions. Audiovisual presentations explore both how the village has changed over time and the frescoes in the Chapel of St. Lucius.

The museum is open from July to October on Wednesdays from 5 to 6:30 p.m.; visits are also possible at any time by arrangement. As opening times are seasonal, check the latest information before planning your visit. This will help you schedule your museum visit without confusing it with the tours to the ore mines, which are also seasonal.

Ore mines and guided tours

Ore was mined in Schmittner Berg, with interruptions, from 1447 to 1848. The former ore mines lie about five kilometres north of Schmitten at an elevation of 2,546 metres, on the south-eastern flank of Bleiberg, also known as Blyberg or Schafläger. The labyrinth, which is accessible to tourists, passes through tunnels and passageways on three levels.

Guided tours to the ore mines are offered from July to October. They include a two-and-a-half-hour hike from Schmittner Alp and reach an elevation of 2,546 metres. When planning, take into account both the stated starting point and the duration; confirm tour arrangements before your visit. In summer, cycling tours to Schmittner Alp and along routes in the surrounding area are also an option.

Getting there and trails to the Landwasser Viaduct

Schmitten can be reached from Davos or Lenzerheide via a very well-maintained road; it is also easy to get there by public transport. The Viaduct Shuttle takes you to the Schmitten GR Landwasser Viaduct stop from Filisur or Alvaneu. Another option is the post bus from Chur to Schmitten Dorf, from where you can continue on foot. Check the latest timetables before setting out.

A summer walk from Schmitten leads to the Landwasser Viaduct, which has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 7 July 2008. From the Schmitten GR Landwasser Viaduct stop, a 0.6-kilometre trail leads to the viaduct in about ten minutes; it follows a well-maintained hiking trail with steps. From the same stop, it takes about five minutes to reach the Hennings viewing platform. Trail conditions and access may change, so check the latest route information before your visit.

ansaina Water Trail

The ansaina Water Trail offers a sensory experience of water in its many forms at eleven stations throughout the cultural landscape. The easy route is 13.1 kilometres long, with an indicated duration of around two hours and 30 minutes. It runs from Alvaneu Bad via the Schmittnertobel viaduct and Zinols/Rözenwald and back to Alvaneu Bad, passing sulphur-iron springs and the Landwasser Viaduct.

The route details describe two different options: the path from the stop to the Landwasser Viaduct is 0.6 kilometres long and takes around ten minutes; the ansaina Water Trail is a considerably longer circular route starting from Alvaneu Bad. If you compare routes by the time they take, keep their respective starting points in mind too. This makes it clear which is the short connection from the stop and which is the longer route.

Discover more destinations: Cunter, Salouf, Tiefencastel, Tinizong-Rona, Stierva, Alvaneu, Surava, Alvaneu Bad.

See the main travel overview: Albula.