The start of this geologically highly interesting round trip is in Bad Ragaz. After the village centre, you turn onto the old, picturesque road towards Valens, where you have to climb 300 metres in altitude for the first 4.5 kilometres. A panoramic stop on the Tamina Bridge, which opened in 2017, is a must. With a span of 260 metres, it is the largest arch bridge in Switzerland. From Pfäfers, follow the gently ascending main road into the Tamina Valley. The next stop is worth a stop at the Windegg viewpoint in front of Vadura. Here you can enjoy a wonderful view of the Glarus main thrust and the Wildseehörner. World Heritage information boards, viewing judges and cool loungers invite you to linger... but you probably want to go further.

At kilometre 16 you reach Vättis, where the exhibition 'BergeQuake!' shows the connection between earthquakes and mountain building in the Sardona tectonic arena... very impressive thanks to the live transmission of seismic recordings! Over the next few kilometres at the bottom of the bubbling Görbsbach, you can enjoy the view of the rugged limestone formations of the Haldensteiner (2,805 m) and Felsberger Calanda (2,697 m). The Eggwald mountain restaurant in Ober Kunkels (1148 m a.s.l.) invites you to stop for a bite to eat. A last short ascent, you have reached Graubünden soil and soon also the Kunkelspasshöhe (1,357 m a.s.l.). The garden terrace of the mountain inn Überuf is irresistible. The lovely pass plateau presents itself like an arena, surrounded by the Calanda (2805 m above sea level), the Crap Mats (2947 m above sea level) and the Ringelspitz (3247 m above sea level), the highest mountain in St.Gallen, located in the Tectonic Arena. Inside the inn, an educational information room is  dedicated to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of the Sardona Tectonic Arena.

The descent to Tamins (660 m a.s.l.) leads over a steep and bumpy natural road built during the First World War. The view from the tunnel blasted into the rock is spectacular. You can overlook the Domleschg and even see the Bernina massif in the distance. From Tamins, follow the national Veloland route no. 2 to Felsberg, where you continue along the right bank of the Rhine to Chur. Once again, you can educate yourself in geology: In the Chur Natural History Museum, a comprehensive geology exhibition focuses on the topic of Alpine formation. Then you can easily roll down the Rhine to Landquart and Bad Ragaz... or you can swing to the train station, look up again to the Calanda... and end the round on the railway.

"RheinWelten" is a unique two-wheeler offer from the source of the Rhine to Basel for enjoyable explorers. 45 local tours in 15 adventure worlds can be discovered in Switzerland and Liechtenstein on an e-bike.  The tours combine visits to producers and farm shops, visits to museums or wineries, as well as local restaurants and overnight accommodations with the most beautiful cycling routes or hikes in the regions. The adventure worlds can be visited individually as a day trip or as a multi-day bike tour. 

Selected information on the new digital platform www.rheinwelten.com encourage people to discover new things. RheinWelten takes you through 12 tourist destinations in six cantons as well as the Principality of Liechtenstein. Experience unique cultural landscapes and the culinary diversity along the Rhine by e-bike.

Not the way is the goal, but the worlds of experience of the RheinWelten.

Rhine Route 2: Andermatt - Oberalppass - Disentis - Trun - Ilanz - Versam - Reichenau - Chur - Landquart - Jenins - Maienfeld - Sargans - Buchs - Oberriet - Altstätten - St.Margrethen - Fussach (D) - Gaissau (D) - Rohrschach - Arbon - Romanshorn - Kreuzlingen - Steckborn - Stein am Rhein - Gailingen (D) - Schaffhausen - Dachsen - Ellikon - Eglisau - Zurzach - Felsenau - Laufenburg - Stein - Rheinfelden - Pratteln - Muttenz - Basel

www.viafrancisca.ch/wegbeschreibung/

For more explanations on the trail, visit us on www.viafrancisca.ch

www.viafrancisca.ch/wegbeschreibung

Combine a leisurely e-bike tour, from Bad Ragaz through the "Graubünden Rhine Valley" region to the historic old town of Chur, with culinary stops in three different restaurants for starters, main courses and desserts.

After the tour, relax in the thermal water of the Tamina Therme and benefit from the relaxation bonus: pay 2 hours, relax for 4 hours.

The hike through the vineyards and forests of the Five Villages into the Bündner Herrschaft begins at the northern end of the village at the "Gargällis" bus stop. Cross the access road to the village in a northerly direction and follow the sign for Molinära. After the Molinera, the path climbs slightly along the edge of the forest.

After another ascent to Dunkel Töbeli and over the Chessirüfi, you are already in the municipality of Landquart. At Birchholz there is a beautiful view of the village of Igis and the Rhine valley. It is worth stopping over the former moated castle of Marschlin. In slight ups and downs, the route continues to the Ganda, where it crosses under the Prättigauerstrasse.

After the passage at the tennis court, cross the river Landquart and walk along the right bank. After about 1 kilometre, leave the dam and head over the hay divider towards Malans station.

The Bündner Herrschaft, Graubunden's fertile garden and winery lies on a mound of slate detritus. Also the home of Heidi, Peter and Alpöhi (Heidi's grandfather).

Note(s)
Beware: in good weather, a strong wind blows up the Rhine Valley in the afternoon however down valley if the Föhn wind is blowing.

See also
Ostschweiz Tourismus
Fürstenlandstrasse 53
9000 St.Gallen
Tel:+41 (0)71 274 99 00
Fax: +41 (0)71 274 99 01
Email: info@ostschweiz.ch
Internet: www.ostschweiz.ch

After leaving Maienfeld, we walk through the vineyards of Jenins and Malans. After the village of Malans, we leave the "Graubünden dominion", as this wine-growing region is called.
Afterwards we cross the Landquart, which has left the Prättigau shortly before through a very narrow rock cut. In the upper part of this valley are the well-known ski resorts of Klosters and Davos.
We stay on the eastern side of the Rhine in the relatively wide valley to Trimmis, passing through other, smaller vine-growing areas. The Rhine Valley is now gradually changing direction to the west.
Leaving Trimmis, we then go up again to the valley flank, which brings us shade in the forest and also gives us the opportunity to look at the Rhine Valley from the heights. In doing so, we also bypass the extensive outskirts of Chur, which lie at the bottom of the valley. This takes us through a lot of nature directly to the cathedral of Chur, the capital of the canton of  Graubünden. 

The stages in this documentation are suggestions that each pilgrim can adapt to his wishes. however, the technical data always concern the assumption that these stages are completed in one day.

Maienfeld - Eichholz - Erlenböden - Buochwald - Malans - River Landquart - Marschlins Castle - Igis - Zizers - Molinära - Trimmis - Bach Maschänser Rüfi - Fürstenwald - Waldhaus - Eulengut - Chur Cathedral

The ascent takes place on a mountain road with little traffic and later traverses on a forest path to Unter Valzeina. A short ascent on a mountain road and you reach the Mittagsplatte, which lies like an eagle's nest above the Graubünden Rhine Valley and offers a magnificent view. For the descent, first drive back a short distance before a relatively steep trail branches off to the left. This is especially challenging in the upper section and can only be ridden by technically experienced bikers (after 5 - 10 minutes of pushing, however, the trail becomes flatter and easier). Later it joins a forest road, which you follow to the village of Zizers. The return journey to Landquart takes place on the Rhine dam; the section between Zizers and Landquart runs on a good rideable trail.

Varied bike tour with a beautiful descent through the magnificent and wild Valzeina Valley. The variant is particularly recommended here, because it offers further scenic as well as sporting highlights.

The scenic Rhine Valley near Chur, as well as Graubünden's north, known as Bündner Herrschaft, are regions that are predestined for wonderful walks and beautiful hiking tours. The wine villages and hiking trails are aligned like pearls along the Rhine River. Hike on a breezy autumn day when the "Föhn" blows across the Alps, when the wine harvest is drawing close and when one of the wine villages is preparing for a colorful fall festival - these are truly unforgettable experiences!

There are 3 circular tours through the vineyards along the way, Trimmis/Zizers (appr. 4 km), Malans/Jenins (appr. 10 km), Maienfeld/Fläsch (appr. 10 km). Together with the main trail from Chur to Fläsch (30 km), there are more than 40 km of signposted hiking tours available. A special map of the wine hiking trail is available at the tourist information at the railway station in Chur, as well as along the the way in the wine villages.

Due to its sunny location in the valley, the wine hiking trails are a good option almost all year round.