Discover Donath

Donat (Donath) is a Romansh-speaking village at the foot of the Schamserberg. Cultural trails, bridge construction and the local language tradition give the place a distinctive character. Donat is home to the only school where Sutsilvan is taught. This gives you several specific points to consider when choosing where to stay: the history of the structures, trails through the surrounding area and a special connection to the Romansh language.

Bridges and local history

The Valtschiel Bridge is considered Robert Maillart’s oldest surviving bridge and one of his major works. Today, it is used only by non-motorized traffic. Near Donat, the Valtschielbach Bridge was designed by Robert Maillart in 1925 using the stiffened arch principle. Both details make bridge construction a defining subject in the village: alongside its present-day use, the distinctive design is a particular focus.

The church also shapes the village’s history. St. George’s Church in Donat was built around 1450. Donat’s church was first mentioned in a document in 1463; between 1686 and 1688, the nave was enlarged and the chancel was vaulted. These dates distinguish the early construction from later changes. For a visit focused on history and architecture, the church therefore offers a clear historical timeframe.

Hiking trails around Donat

The Cagliatscha circular hike passes through Donat and links the ruins of Cagliatscha Castle, the restored Maillard Bridge and a sight known as the “Sistine Chapel of the Alps.” The circular hike in Val Schons follows a route from Cagliatscha via Donat to Zillis. It descends to Zillis along mountain and forest trails. The route itself is therefore as much a point of choice as the sights along the way.

The Val Schons cultural hike leads from Zillis to Donat at the foot of the Schamserberg. Another described guided walk on the same cultural hike runs from Zillis to Andeer along the viaSpluga route. The historic long-distance hiking route viaSpluga leads from Zillis via Donat and Clugin to Andeer. These details help distinguish the different routes by their destinations and courses, rather than treating them as interchangeable trails.

The Libi circular tour also offers practical guidance: the approximately five-kilometer section from Dumangs to Donat is downhill, and Donat can be reached by PostBus on the circular tour. Donat Church is one of the sights on this tour. Seven circular tours start and finish at the Donat, vischnànca, railway platform. If you want to compare several options, you can distinguish between a circular tour with the same start and end point and the described routes with Zillis, Andeer or Dumangs as named waypoints.

Cycling and saffron

Donat is also a named stop on a cycling tour: national cycle route No. 6, classified as a beginner tour, runs via Donat and Clugin to Andeer. The viaSpluga Bike route also runs via Donat and Clugin to Andeer. On foot, the viaSpluga leads from Zillis via Donat and Clugin to Andeer; by bike, the viaSpluga Bike offers a separate route option. This makes it possible to compare the routes by mode of transport and stated tour difficulty.

Saffron cultivation at the Stgealetahof in Donat is another part of the village’s character. The saffron field has been cultivated since 2014. Saffron is harvested there every day in October and November. This seasonal work adds an agricultural connection to the cultural and hiking themes. On the upper Schamserberg, centuries of cultivation, dry meadows and pastures have shaped a natural cultural landscape; these habitats are among the most species-rich of their kind.

Discover more destinations: Fardün, Trans, Innerferrera, Masein, Sarn, Wergenstein, Rodels, Urmein.

View the main travel overview: Hinterrhein.