Rheinwald Route
Overview
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Distance 36 km
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Ascent 780 m
Intro
The Hinterrhein, still in its early stages here, offers up an enchanting landscape set against the spectacular backdrop of the Guggernüll and the Einshorn, and you can drink it all in on the Rheinwald Circular Route. This leads cyclists around the valley along logging routes on both sides of the Hinterrhein.
Description
Although the routes over the Splügen and San Bernardino passes were much used by the Romans, the Rheinwald was only sparsely populated by the descendants of those southern incomers until the High Middle Ages. The Walsers settled here in the 13th century. Their language and culture continue to define the valley community to this day. This is also apparent in Splügen, where the Rheinwald Circular Route begins: in this old, typical mountain pass village, the sun-browned wooden homes of the Walsers stand right next to Italianate stone houses.
On the sunny side of the valley, you pass the ruins of Splügen’s castle, the only one in the valley. After Sufers the route descends to the Sufnersee and goes around it clockwise. At the southern end of the Stausee, you dip into the Göriwald and pass Splügen again, but instead of going over the bridge over the Hinterrhein and into the village, you take a turn-off. You reach Nufenen via the Tamboboden. Here you have the option of taking cycle route no. 6 to Hinterrhein. This is the first village along the Hinterrhein, which is still in its infancy, and the oldest Walser settlement in Graubünden. From Nufenen the route leads along the left bank of the river through Medels and back to Splügen.
This thrilling cycle route along the young Rhine almost didn’t exist: in the 1940s the people of the Rheinwald successfully opposed a dam project that would have meant a 700 metrelong, 150 metrehigh dam wall being built over the ruins of Splügen Castle and the flooding of the valley. If they had lost their fight, Splügen and part of the pretty farming village of Medels would be underwater today.
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 |
Splügen
|
|---|---|
| Destination |
Splügen
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| Direction |
Round trip
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| Ascent |
780 m
|
| Descent |
780 m
|
| Distance |
36 km
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| Distance on tarred ways |
21 km
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| Distance on natural surface |
15 km
|
| Physical requirements |
Medium
|
| Signalization |
Signalisation in both directions
|
Quick Facts
Route number
