Almens brings together two distinct church histories, a playground, a fire pit and a trail-running route that starts in the village. This gives you clearly distinct themes to plan around: Baroque architecture, a historic Reformed place of worship and outdoor activities. The village is in the political municipality of Domleschg, in the Viamala Region of the Swiss canton of GraubĂĽnden.
Churches with Distinct Building Histories
The Catholic parish church of St. Andrew was first mentioned in 1410. In 1694, it was rebuilt at a right angle to the original structure; as a Baroque building, it has a two-storey façade. The dates have different meanings: 1410 marks the first mention of St. Andrew, while 1694 marks its reconstruction and, at the same time, the year the Reformed church was built. At St. Andrew’s, the two-storey façade describes an exterior whose design extends across two levels.
The church of Almens at the entrance to the village was also built in 1694, but as a Reformed place of worship. It has been protected as a historic monument at both cantonal and federal level since 1946. The village therefore offers a chance to explore two building histories with different denominational affiliations.
Village and Landscape
Almens is a clustered village on a gently sloping terrace above the right bank of the Hinterrhein. The former municipal area covered 836 hectares: 380 hectares of forest, 283 hectares of agricultural land, mostly alpine pasture, 159 hectares of unproductive land, mostly mountainous terrain, and 14 hectares of built-up area. This land breakdown refers to the former municipal area.
Playground and Fire Pit
Almens playground is at the entrance to the village and offers children opportunities to play outdoors. Facilities include two handball-sized football goals, a slide, a net swing, a roundabout and a climbing pole. The Almens Dorf bus stop is right in front of the playground. If you are planning to travel by bus, check the current timetable before setting out.
The Plaun da Glenna fire pit is another option for spending time outdoors. It is about 600 metres from the village centre and can be reached on foot or by bike. Dogs are welcome; check local notices for temporary restrictions.
Domleschgerlauf and Getting There
The Domleschgerlauf is a trail-running route that starts in Almens. It passes Schloss Rietberg and heads towards Lake Canova. The route can be reached by bus to the Almens, Dorf stop. Check the current timetable before travelling; trail conditions may vary by season.
KOSTBAR Art and Crafts
KOSTBAR Art and Crafts was founded in 2013 by eight women artists in a private house in Almens. It grew into a three-day creative event held at several locations throughout the village. Dates and programme vary with each edition. If you would like to include KOSTBAR in your trip, check whether an edition falls within your travel dates.
For the main travel overview: Hinterrhein.
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