Inn-Radweg
Overview
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Distance 38 km
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Ascent 680 m
Intro
Solid stone houses tell of harsh winters, the National Park protects unspoilt nature, the picture-book village of Guarda enchants tourists, the mineral springs in Scuol promise cyclists relief for aching muscles.
Description
In the 1930s, La Punt Chamues-ch was not a place for the faint-hearted. The men met regularly in the village’s pubs, where fights would break out, often under the influence of alcohol, and occasionally involving people from neighbouring villages. This earned La Punt Chamues-ch the nickname of “Little Chicago”, which has stuck ever since. Water had long been a major cause of headaches for this village on the River Inn long before that point; however, these problems were associated with flooding rather than firewater, with the last major flood occurring in 1960. Since then, structural measures on the Inn and Chamuera rivers have been able to prevent new disasters. Moving away from the “Vschinauncha (village) da La Punt Chamues-ch”,
you encounter the vast and breathtaking Engadin landscape. The region’s large, stunning town and patrician houses from the 16th to 18th centuries have been decorated using a unique etching technique (sgraffito), making them a real feast for the eyes. It is worth taking a closer look at the picturesque villages on this bike tour par excellence. Zernez is the ideal starting point for trips to the Swiss National Park. The minimalist concrete block of the Grisons National Park Centre is located just a stone’s throw away from Planta-Wildenberg Castle.
In 1914, the Swiss National Park made history as the first national park in the Alps. It comes under the highest category of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUNC) and therefore enjoys the greatest possible protection. This means that leaving the paths, picking flowers, mowing meadows, felling trees and killing animals are all prohibited. The autumn months of September and October are particularly spellbinding: the bellowing of deer resounds through the forests, and the larches explode into golden-yellow fireworks. This unique setting really conveys the importance of such untouched nature.
After Zernez, the valley narrows, the Inn becomes wilder, and your legs really start to feel more tired. Situated high up in the mountains, on the sunny southern terrace of the valley, is Guarda, the destination for this stage. Before you get there, however, you pass through the villages of Susch and Lavin. Susch features a village church from the late Gothic period, as well as the medieval Planta Tower, which is named after the 15th century von Planta family. In Lavin, you catch glimpses into cosy stone pine parlours. After leaving Lavin, your destination draws closer and closer: Guarda, the quintessential fairytale village. Guarda is renowned on the one hand thanks to its picturesque Engadine houses, which have been artistically decorated with sgraffiti, and on the other hand, of course, because of the Schellen-Ursli (A Bell for Ursli) picture book. The children’s story by author Selina Chönz and illustrated by artist Alois Carigiet has put the Grisons mountain village on the map around the world. You can find out more about the classic children’s book, which has been translated into 14 languages and was adapted into a film for the first time in 2015, as well as the tradition of the “Chalandamarz” spring festival, in the Schellen-Ursli Museum.
An enjoyable tour includes the careful planning of the same. Please inform yourself in advance at the local information center about the route and weather conditions. Depending on the season and weather conditions, this route may be blocked or interrupted
| Start location |
La Punt
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|---|---|
| Destination |
Guarda
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| Ascent |
680 m
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| Descent |
700 m
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| Distance |
38 km
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| Distance on tarred ways |
18 km
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| Distance on natural surface |
20 km
|
| Physical requirements |
Medium
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| Theme |
Along Water
|
| More information | https://schweizmobil.ch/en/cycling-in-switzerland/... |
Quick Facts
Route number
