Chur: Old Town, Museums and Trails

Chur combines an almost traffic-free Old Town with museums, historic buildings and excursions to Brambrüesch. Red signs point the way to sights, squares and alleyways in the Old Town. You can explore the district on foot or on a guided Old Town tour. This gives you the opportunity to plan a stay that alternates between the city’s history, art and outdoor activities.

Old Town, Roman traces and religious buildings

Chur’s Old Town is one of the best-preserved in Switzerland. The Obertor is among the surviving towers of the medieval city fortifications. Remains of a Roman road station are located in the Welschdörfli district. Archaeological excavations and finds from this period are open to the public at the Ackermann site on Seilerbahnweg; check the current visitor arrangements before your visit. Protective structures built over Roman finds also serve as a small museum.

Above the Old Town stands the present-day Cathedral of the Assumption of Mary. Built between 1150 and 1272, it is one of Switzerland’s most important cultural monuments. Its central round-arched window is probably the largest medieval window in Graubünden. Inside is the late Gothic high altar by Jakob Russ, dating from 1492. St. Stephen’s Church was built in the 5th century and served as the burial church of the bishops of Chur. You can explore its remains independently; access is via the Graubünden Cantonal School’s secretariat. Check the current rules and opening hours in advance.

The Cathedral Treasury Museum displays the cathedral treasury and the Dance of Death paintings in the south wing of the Bishop’s Castle. The Dance of Death paintings are open to the public; check the current visitor arrangements before your trip. This lets you plan visits to historic buildings and exhibitions as different ways to discover Chur’s history.

Museums exploring local history and the Alps

At the Rhaetian Museum, a permanent exhibition spread over four floors presents the history of Graubünden from its beginnings to the present day. The archaeological exhibition includes traces of settlement at Chur-Marsöl dating from around 11,000 to 9,500 BC. This broad sweep of time connects early settlement with the history of the region up to the present.

The Graubünden Nature Museum explores changes in the Alps: its earth science exhibition explains how rocks, climate, water, glaciers and erosion continually shape the mountain landscape. Fossils millions of years old and dinosaur tracks illustrate that Graubünden was once a tropical shallow sea. The museum is fully wheelchair accessible. The Graubünden Art Museum is also accessible: all exhibition rooms can be reached by wheelchair and via lifts. It is a five-minute walk from the railway station and postbus station. If you have specific access needs, check the current visitor information for the museum you plan to visit.

The Forum Würth Chur regularly presents changing exhibitions featuring works from the Würth Collection. There is also a permanent sculpture park outside the building. The offerings are open to everyone and range from public guided tours to workshops and other events. As the programme changes, it is worth checking the dates before your visit.

Walks, hikes and cycling tours

Brambrüesch is a high plateau with hiking trails and panoramic views across the Rhine Valley. You can reach Brambrüesch directly from Chur by cable car. The Brambiweg is a signposted walk for families. Another option is the Dreibündenstein circular hike: it passes through a variety of alpine flora and reaches Furggabüel, a spot with impressive panoramic views in every direction. These two routes cater to different interests without requiring you to change your city destination.

The Chur Rhine Route also offers a different perspective on the surrounding area. It is a circular route that starts in Chur and can be joined at the railway station. Along the way, it passes through Fürstenwald, a popular local recreation area with views of the city and the Calanda. As route conditions and infrastructure may change, check the route information before setting off.

If you are looking for another activity besides museums and trails, the Urban Golf course winds through nine creative holes in hidden alleyways and charming squares. Booking conditions may change, so check them if you plan to play the course. This lets you tailor your stay in Chur to your interests, whether culture, hiking or cycling, and then search for hotels for your trip.

Discover more destinations: Litzirüti, Tschiertschen, Castiel, Langwies, Pagig, Peist, Parpan, Sankt Peter.

Go to the regional travel overview: Plessur.