Masein: Landscape, Customs and Churches

Masein is a municipality in the Viamala region of the canton of Graubünden. The village lies on the Heinzenberg above Thusis. For your travel planning, the place offers a rural setting with landscapes, churches and traditional customs—a combination you can explore according to your interests.

Village and Landscape on the Heinzenberg

Masein is situated on a sunny hillside and offers wide-ranging views across the valley. Woods, fields and small streams shape the surroundings; the village itself has a rural character. The Protestant church stands on a hill north of the village. From there, the view extends across the Domleschg. If you take both landscape and local history into account when choosing your destination, these impressions are part of Masein’s character.

Church History and Historical Traces

In 1501, Andreas Bühler of Gmündt in Carinthia converted a chapel into what is now the Protestant church. St. Florinus Church is first mentioned in 1441; the Reformation took place in Masein in 1525. These dates offer different points of reference for the religious history of the village.

Masein is mentioned in 1156 as “de Medezenu.” Ober-Masein and Unter-Masein probably developed from two large farmsteads belonging to Cazis Monastery. In the High and Late Middle Ages, the owners of Untertagstein and Schauenstein castles held estates in Masein. Untertagstein Castle repeatedly served as a hub in the political and economic development of the village. It is privately owned and not open to the public; check the current status before planning a visit.

Singing and Theatre Traditions

During the men’s choir’s year-end singing, the singers go from farm to farm or house to house each year on December 29 and 30. The tradition is believed to have been observed since the Masein youth association was founded in 1817. The repertoire comprises around 15 songs, rehearsed together on four Sunday evenings in November and December; the number of songs and rehearsal schedule may change. If you would like to plan your trip around the singing, confirm the current event locally.

The theatre’s history can also be traced over time: the first play was performed under the direction of the youth association in 1854. In 1980, the young people’s association revived the theatre after a break of around ten years; the tradition then continued for more than 30 years. This does not indicate a current performance schedule. Check locally for details if you would like to include performances in your plans.

Mazza Cula and Routes Through the Surrounding Area

Mazza Cula was introduced in Masein by newcomers from Tschappina. Two teams of two to three people compete against each other. The target is not a golf hole, but a natural or artificial feature in the terrain. The described route runs from Masein to Flerden, includes a refreshment break there and returns by a different route. If you would like to watch or take part in the game, check for current opportunities locally; before setting out on a tour, also check local arrangements and conditions.

For cyclists, stage 9 of Graubünden Bike runs from Thusis via Masein, Urmein and Tschappina, then over the Glaspass to Safien Platz. The route and trail conditions may change; check the latest information before setting out. The Im Ried picnic area is a seven-minute walk from the Masein, Cresta PostBus stop. Facilities include firewood, a grill grate, two tables with eight seats each, a drinking-water fountain, a sandbox and a willow tipi. Use may be subject to local regulations; trail conditions may also vary.

Getting There and Finding Your Way

From Masein, you can reach Thusis railway station by bus in a few minutes. From there, regular services run towards Chur, Bellinzona and St. Moritz. The Graubünden Bike stage endpoints, Thusis and Safien Platz, can be reached by PostBus. Check the latest timetables before travelling by bus or PostBus.

Discover more destinations: Rothenbrunnen, Sils Im Domleschg, Cazis, Portein, Thusis, Almens, Tartar, Hinterrhein

Back to the main travel overview: Hinterrhein.