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City Breaks in Chur
One of the oldest cities in Switzerland, Chur offers the culture, history, shopping, dining and nightlife of a city break amidst the breathtaking scenery of the Alps. Get here via Eurostar to Paris, onward TGV service to Basel and then a connecting Swiss regional train. Why not use Chur as a base for the scenic Bernina Express? Or take the famous Glacier Express across to Brig?
Our hotel recommendation
3* Romantik Hotel Stern from $736
The Romantik Hotel Stern is a historic hotel with 64 comfortable and modern bedrooms. The hotel has a traditional Swiss restaurant. The hotel is situate… More info
Our holiday recommendation
Classic Glacier and Bernina Express from $1,106
Discover two of the world's most scenic train journeys, the Glacier Express and the Bernina Express on this classic 4 night holiday. More info
Hotels in the city
4* ABC Chur Hotel from $704
The ABC Chur is a modern boutique hotel with 40 comfortable and contemporary bedrooms. There is a cosy lobby bar where you can enjoy a night-cap in the… More info
Chur City Guide
The oldest city in Switzerland, Chur, situated in a deep valley formed by the Rhine has a rich and powerful history and was founded by the Romans in 15BC. This charismatic city has a wealth of shops, stunning architecture and beautiful surroundings. It is also a brilliant base from which to explore surrounding destinations such as Arosa and St Moritz.
What to do and see in and around Chur
Old Town
Wander around the cobbled streets of Chur’s old town and it’s easy to feel you have stepped into a time machine and gone back to the Chur of the middle ages. The Old Town is terraced by traditional Churer houses made of Scalära stone.
Chur Cathedral
Presiding over the Old Town, Chur Cathedral dates back to 1151 and is late-Romanesque and Gothic in style. Cut off from the rest of Chur by a gated wall, testimony to the disputes between the people of Chur and the Bishop Princes during the Reformation, Chur Cathedral is well worth a visit.
BündnerKunstmuseum
This substantial villa houses paintings from artists of the Graubünden canton, Angelika Kauffmann and Giovanni and Alberto Giacometti. Kaufmann, one of the founders of the Royal Academy in1768 is best known for Hector in Paris which can be found in the museum.
Kirche St Martin
Another example of Chur’s history is this Gothic Church, built in 1491, which overlooks the square of Arcas. Kirche St Martin has three stunning stained-glass windows crafted by Alberto Giacometti.
Rätisches Museum
Dedicated to the history of Chur, the Rätisches Museum comprises of six floors and contains among other things, arts, crafts pottery and textiles from the area.
Arosa
Arosa lies to the southeast of Chur and makes a beautiful day trip accessible by a scenic rail journey. Whether you go for the hiking or the skiing this atmospheric resort is sure to delight.
Glacier Express
Take the Glacier Express from Chur. This luxurious train journey takes 71/2 hours, and travels from Zermatt to St.Moritz, crossing 291 bridges and going through 91 tunnels as well as traversing the Oberalp pass at a height of 2,033 metres. This classic rail journey voyages through the mountain forests, valleys and streams of this beautiful alpine landscape, you will also be able to see Lake Lucerne.
St Moritz
Take the train from Chur through the stunning scenery of the Hinterrhein valley to the glamorous town of St Moritz, and enjoy the 322 days of sunshine that this romantic ski resort gets on average per year.
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Alpine freshness in historic Chur
A picturesque town nestled between the mountains, Chur is the oldest settlement north of the Alps.
With a history stretching back over 5,000 years, there are plenty of ancient sights for visitors to discover in and around the town. Chur's Old Town, for example, is particularly ornate in its design and there are many reminders of the city's history.
One of the most impressive of these is the huge cathedral, which dominates the area and adds to the wonderful character of the town. Close to Chur – just 12 minutes by train – lies the ancient wooden chalet village of Maienfeld, which has become known around the world as the original "Heidi village". One of these structures has been used to show visitors how "Heidi" would have lived a century ago and has been given the name of the "original Heidi house".
Chur is also famed for its position as the junction of the renowned Bernina Express and the Glacier express railway lines, which take travellers across Europe to such destinations as Italy and St Moritz. The glamorous routes mean that Chur has become a popular stop-off destination for travellers, but it is also ideal for a short break in its own right.
In recent years, Chur has built up a strong reputation for the quality of its shopping experience. The town has some beautiful shops and intriguing boutiques, some of which seem to be almost as old as the town itself! Some claim that Chur's shopping is the best to be found anywhere between Milan and Zurich and as such there is plenty to keep visitors entertained in this town.
The Alps offer visitors a different experience to the usual city break, because those looking to get away from busy streets can enjoy a hiking trip into the mountains. Although this can be hard work, the reward of spectacular views of Chur and the surrounding area make it well worth the effort.
Alpine Beard Contest in Chur
Those with an aversion to razor blades will feel at home at the Alpine Beard Contest in Chur in August this year. Moustaches and beards of all shapes and sizes descend upon the Brambrüesch district for this celebration of facial grooming, now in its 27th year. Around 60 impressively whiskered men compete for the title of best beard and around 100,000 people descend on Chur for the event, which is a highlight of the city's annual festival.
Next on: 19th Aug 2012
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