Graubünden Route
Overview
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Distance 46 km
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Ascent 1250 m
Intro
With renewed energy following the curves of the Rhaetian Railway. The Albulapass, stony, windswept and beautiful. Perspiration is the price paid to enter sub-Alpine Engadine. The National Park, where nature is free to unfold, is nearly one hundred years old.
Detour / Closure
There are detours or closures along this route, for more information see https://schweizmobil.ch/en/cycling-in-switzerland/route-6/stage-3
Description
Handsome Engadine houses provide a quaint village setting in Bergün. So inviting that camera teams regularly wander into the Graubünden mountains to shoot films such as "Die Direktorin" or "Heidi" with Bruno Ganz as grandpa. Attractive accommodation with "props" from bygone days will tempt you to stay longer. In a former armoury, the Albula Railway Museum gives an exciting presentation of the history of the Albula line.
You ride sedately along the river Albula, up to the area around the source of the Hinterrhein's largest tributary, on the western side of the Albula Pass. Especially in autumn, this region is like a dream with its multicoloured foliage and gorgeous yellow larches. Somehow, the Rhaetian Railway – which pirouettes impressively around Bergün – is always appearing from some crevice or fissure in the rocks. Trains packed with visitors from all over the world are delighted by the imposing rail viaducts and landscapes. A little further on, the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich (ETH) has a facility near Alp Weissenstein (Crap Alv), 2,026 m.a.s.l. Research focuses on high Alpine dairy cow and sheep farming, and on the vegetation of this mountain region. After a regular climb through all the Alpine vegetation and climate zones, you finally reach the top of the pass (2,312 m.a.s.l.).
Then comes an enjoyable descent on a road with little traffic. You soon reach pretty La Punt in the Upper Engadine. Zuoz, with its solidly built and richly decorated houses, is another pretty spot. A sculpture of Schellen-Ursli here recalls the famous children's story ("A Bell for Ursli"). The glory of an early morning can be experienced elsewhere, but it is especially memorable between Zuoz and Zernez. Morning mist often persists over the Inn, but it usually starts to clear soon afterwards. Sandwiched between the Inn and the Swiss National Park ("parc naziunal svizzer"), the route literally sweeps you towards Zernez (although the ride on the forest path can be rather bumpy). This is the base for outings to the National Park and Val Müstair.
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 |
Bergün
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|---|---|
| Destination |
Zernez
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| Ascent |
1250 m
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| Descent |
1150 m
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| Distance |
46 km
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| Distance on tarred ways |
36 km
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| Distance on natural surface |
10 km
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| Physical requirements |
Difficult
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| Theme |
Over a pass, Through a nature conservation area, With panoramic view
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| More information | https://schweizmobil.ch/en/cycling-in-switzerland/... |
Quick Facts
Route number
