Tamins: Nature Trails, Mountain Scenery and History

Tamins lies around 10 km west of Chur in the Imboden region of the Canton of Graubünden. Reichenau is part of the municipality; below its castle rock, the Anterior and Posterior Rhine join to form the Rhine. If you are looking for a hotel in Tamins, you can start by basing your choice on how you plan to spend the day: nature trails, mountain hikes, the Rhine Gorge or local history each offer a different focus.

Landscape between Eichwald and Kunkel Pass

The municipality extends north over Kunkel Pass into the Tamina Valley and up to high-alpine terrain. At over 3,200 metres, Ringelspitz is the highest point; the SAC Ringelspitz Hut adds to the alpine character. Kunkel Pass connects Vättis in the Canton of St. Gallen with Tamins in Graubünden. Its landscape is part of the Sardona Tectonic Arena UNESCO World Heritage Site, which offers an exceptional and impressive illustration of mountain formation through continental collision. The municipality of Tamins has set up an exhibition room at the pass.

Eichwald offers a different natural setting: its dry grassland is of national importance and provides a habitat for rare and endangered animal and plant species adapted to nutrient-poor conditions. The nature trail explains the origins and diverse habitats around Eichwald on 19 themed panels. The circular walk takes about two hours and is accessible year-round; seasonal conditions may affect individual sections of the trail. The route is also suitable for younger children.

Benis Boden lies above Tamins on the southern slope of Kunkel. It has an almost Mediterranean climate, where lizards and snakes can be spotted. The picnic and fire site offers views over Domat/Ems, Bonaduz and Rhäzüns. If you plan to visit the site, check its current condition beforehand.

Choose hikes by duration and character

The Ringelspitz Hut circular tour starts in Tamins and leads via Grossalp, Kunkel Pass and Foppaloch before returning. Deer, roe deer, chamois and many bird species live in Lavoitobel, which lies along this route. The SAC hut hike from Tamins to Ringelspitz Hut also passes through Lavoitobel, follows the Lavoibach stream and crosses a bridge over the stream. For both hikes, trail conditions may change; check them before making specific plans.

The Graubünden Way of St. James leads from Tamins village square up to a valley terrace. From there, views extend over Bonaduz and Rhäzüns, into the valley narrows towards Domleschg and into the Rhine Gorge canyon. The stage from Tamins is 5 km long, takes 1 hour and 25 minutes, and is rated easy in terms of both technical difficulty and fitness requirements; the stated season is May to October. Distance, duration, difficulty and season may change.

There is also a 12 km circular route through the Rhine Gorge, taking 3 hours and 20 minutes; you can take the train back from Trin station. Another route leads from Reichenau-Tamins along the Anterior Rhine to Trin station and includes a 100-metre suspension bridge over the Rhine. If you plan to travel by train, it is advisable to check the current timetable.

Churches, castle and early traces

The Reformed Church of Tamins was first mentioned in 1459 and rebuilt in 1494. Its choir has a tuff-stone ribbed vault in the shape of an asymmetrical star spanning two bays; the polygonal pulpit dates from 1730. The history of the church on the rock above Tamins also includes the fire of 1799: it was the only building to survive when French troops burned Tamins.

Reichenau Castle was built in the 17th century by the episcopal ministerial family Schauenstein and is now used as a winery by the von Tscharner family. Kunkel Pass also has a long history as a crossing point: finds suggest that the mule track there was already used in Roman times. Finds from a Late Neolithic settlement dating to the 3rd millennium BC were also discovered at the foot of the Crestis hill plateau, southwest of the village. They include pottery as well as stone and bone artefacts.

Practical information

Driving permits for Kunkelsstrasse are issued by the Tamins municipal administration at Aligstrasse 1, subject to the applicable requirements. Check the current requirements if you plan to include the road in your itinerary. Reichenau-Tamins railway station is located within the municipality of Domat/Ems. From Chur, the Rhaetian Railway runs via Thusis to the Engadine or via Disentis to Andermatt.

Discover more destinations: Flims, Domat/Ems, Rhäzüns, Bonaduz, Trin

Back to the main travel overview: Imboden.