Via Engiadina

Away from the heavy traffic and tourism, the village of Guarda, where the children’s story “A Bell for Ursli” originated, is a haven of peace. Set in a meadow landscape, the narrow cobbled streets are lined with richly decorated Engadine houses. The stillness of the mountains on the sunny side of the Lower Engadine is impressive.

After Guarda, you quickly come to the “A Bell for Ursli” path. You reach Val Tuoi in the north of the village via vast meadows. Following the edge of the forest, the path runs slightly downhill into the gorge and crosses the Clozza. A narrow trail goes further up the valley alongside the mountain stream. The wide-open pastures are dotted with large boulders and the landscape gradually becomes rockier.

At Alp Suot, you cross the Clozza again on a narrow wooden bridge and you now go uphill on the right-hand side of the valley. The path no longer leads north into the valley but southwards, and out of the valley again. A narrow trail takes you above 2,130 metres, along the steep slope towards the Piz Macun. The rocky and wild mountain landscape and the surrounding peaks create a special atmosphere.

From Maragun, a gravel road runs above the tree line through pastures with superb alpine flora. You reach Alp Sura at an altitude of 2,118 metres and you leave Val Tuoi. The view opens up across the whole of Lower Engadine and the mountain peaks of the national park opposite.

On attractive pastures with a fantastic view, wooden footbridges over mountain streams take you to Murtera Dadoura. The 700-metre descent starts here, leading to the destination for this stage in Ardez. Passing wetlands, you arrive in Munt d'Ardez. A well-paved gravel road runs down to the valley, almost as far as the destination point.

You can then see the ruins of a castle that was built around the 12th century on a rocky outcrop above Ardez. Large, well-maintained Engadine houses line the cobbled streets and squares of Ardez. The place is considered a model village for the Rhaeto-Romanic language and living culture.