Sightseeing in Chur - what to see. Complete travel guide

Chur is one of the oldest cities in Switzerland. This is a charming settlement that attracts numerous guests from all over the world. Its location in the mountains, winding streets, and historical buildings make the city stand out from the other settlements in Switzerland and add a unique charm. Chur is rich in all kinds of boutiques, restaurants, museums, and galleries. When taking a stroll in the old part of the city, there is no need to take care of cars and buses because the city center is a pedestrian zone. Vehicles are not allowed to enter it.

First settlements on the site of modern Chur appeared yet during the Palaeolithic almost eleven thousand years ago. The first Roman settlement appeared here yet during the Roman Empire period. During the Middle Ages and the start of the Modern Age, different military conflicts often took place in Chur. As a rule, they were bringing hunger in the region. This was a dark period in the history of the city. Many people didn’t survive and died. Besides that, frequent epidemics, floods, and earthquakes didn’t let people live in peace and safety.

In the 60s of the 15th century, Chur could finally get rid of the bishop’s power that was abolished yet in the 4th century. After this remarkable event, the city was finally able to get its own constitution that granted all governmental rights to the guilds of Chur’s merchants and craftsmen. In 1523, a new epoch of Reformation started in the city. At that time, one had to be a Protestant to be able to make a career in politics. Several centuries later, Chur turned into a modern city with high living standards. This is a developing center of machine-building, chemical industry, education, and, of course, tourism. Copyright www.orangesmile.com

After your arrival in Chur, don’t forget to visit one of the local restaurants specializing in traditional delicacies of the region. Bündnerfleisch is one of the most famous local delights. This is air-dried beef meat that is treated with salt and spices, and then dried for several weeks. This delicacy is more than a thousand years old. When the meat is ready, it is sliced into thin pieces as fine cut is the best way to unleash the smell and taste of the meat. Even experienced gourmets find this dish amazing. Besides that, tourists can try authentic Swiss chocolate here, the likes of which are not available anywhere else in the world.

What can tourists see in Chur? Having arrived in this city, you will notice that Chur is quite miniature. Despite its small size, the city has interesting landmarks to visit. First of all, foreign guests go to see the City Hall that is situated on the main street of the city, Poststrasse. The City Hall is a two-story construction with its outer walls painted in an unusual color for buildings of this type – yellow. There are shutters on the windows that have an unusual design featuring black, white, and red stripes.

The building dates back to the second part of the 15th century. The inner yard is a tidy and well-kept area, and the inner design of the building is represented by halls with elegant décor. Are you interested in minerals? If the answer is yes, the City Hall is exactly what you need because it exhibits a large collection of different minerals. There are stones of different types and sizes, and all of them differ from each other. The collection of minerals is very interesting to look at, so don’t forget to check it out.

The Reformed Church of St. Martin is one of the main landmarks in Chur. This is one of the largest Protestant buildings in Grisons. The church has a tower with a tall spire that has made the building famous. It is clearly visible among other dwellings and buildings, turning the Church of St. Martin into a popular attraction. If you want to find the Old Town of Chur, simply use the spire as your guide.

The church is no less interesting inside. When you step inside, take a look at the fantastic stained-glass windows created by Augusto Giacometti. The master finished them in 1919. The three stained-glass windows feature different scenes from the Bible such as the birth of Jesus Christ.

As Chur is not a big city, it doesn’t have its own airport. In order to get to Chur, tourists first need to fly to Zurich. Upon arrival in the capital, vacationers can take a train to Chur. It will take only one hour and fifteen minutes to reach it. If you prefer to travel by car, the journey will last approximately one and a half hours. However, you will see so many beautiful Swiss landscapes during the ride that time will fly very fast.