Stierva: Village Culture, Church and Alp da Stierva

If Stierva is your chosen destination and you are looking for a hotel for your stay, you can plan around different interests: Late Gothic church art, the Alp da Stierva moorland or trails with their own themes. Stierva is in Parc Ela. The village and its surroundings therefore offer various starting points for a trip focused on culture, landscape or outdoor activities.

Church and village character

The Late Gothic parish church of St. Mary Magdalene is distinguished by its ribbed vault and a Late Gothic winged altarpiece. The present church building was completed in December 1521. The altar is dated 1504 and comes from the workshop of Augustin Henckel. The architecture and the altar are two distinct aspects of church art that can be set in context using these different dates.

The village character of Stierva, also called Stürvis, is also culturally significant: it has been designated a site of national importance. The medieval residential tower La Tour is a cultural property of regional importance. To explore the history of the place, you can distinguish between the church building, its furnishings and other heritage-protected features.

Moorland and traditional buildings

The Alp da Stierva moorland is of national importance and stretches across a terrace on the slope near Stierva/Stürvis. From there, the view extends over the Albula Valley and the scree slopes of Piz Toissa. The landscape is more than just a nature attraction: the alp also preserves a traditional settlement of Maiensäss (seasonal alpine farmsteads) and field barns built as log cabins.

A small alpine chapel completes the settlement. Those interested in Alp da Stierva will therefore find several distinct features here: the moorland, the views and traditional forms of construction. You can consider these themes separately when choosing a focus for your trip, without reducing them to a single attraction.

Trails for different interests

The Veia digl Pader is a twelve-kilometre adventure trail from Stierva/Stürvis to Savognin. The trail features poems by Father Alexander Lozza (1880–1953), which can be accessed via the Parc Ela app. If you would like to include the poems in your plans, check in advance that they can be accessed through the app. The route combines a specific distance with a cultural theme; both can help you assess whether the outing suits your plans.

The Mon–Stierva winter hike offers a different planning consideration: it is rated easy in terms of both technical difficulty and fitness level. You can assess the Veia digl Pader by its length and destination, Savognin, while for this winter hike the stated difficulty ratings are the main consideration. The senda meir walking trail, also known as the Mouse Trail, is distinguished by its many mouse-shaped stones and bends.

For a winter-focused visit, there is also the 130-metre-long Sumvei ski lift. Its slope is gentle and child-friendly, and beginners can practise their first turns there. The hiking trails, adventure trail and lift therefore differ in length, stated difficulty and activity. You can compare these features with what you would like to do during your stay.

Crafts and village history

The Tgesa rasteler museum documents the craft of rake-making with photographs and film footage. During guided tours, Hans Friberg also talks about life in the 20th century in the Graubünden mountain village of Stierva/Stürvis. The rake-maker’s house is open to the public as a museum and presents the history of the house. If you would like to include a guided tour in your plans, check the available dates in advance.

The themes complement one another without telling the same story: the Tgesa rasteler museum focuses on the craft of rake-making and village life in the past, while the rake-maker’s house explores the history of the building. This makes it possible to plan a cultural programme around your interest in crafts, everyday history or architecture.

Getting here and language

Stierva is not on a through road and can be reached from Tiefencastel via the municipality of Mon. Reservations are required for the PostBus service between Tiefencastel and Stierva. Take this requirement into account when planning your journey, and make a reservation if you intend to use this connection. No specific travel time or distance is given.

Stierva has around 140 residents. Most speak Rumantsch Surmiran; German is also spoken. This gives the village a distinctive linguistic character as well. Along with the church and museum attractions, Alp da Stierva and the different trails, this can help you decide which aspect matters most for your trip.

Discover more destinations: Savognin, Salouf, Schmitten, Brienz/Brinzauls, Mutten, Vaz/Obervaz, Sur, Alvaneu

View the broader travel overview: Albula.