Fürstenau combines a distinctive historic town center with routes into the Domleschg region. The compact, ring-shaped settlement developed from a hilltop castle with an upper and lower bailey into a town. The town wall, Stoffelhaus and church offer tangible clues to the town’s history; the Domleschg Castle Trail also passes through Fürstenau.
A Ring-Shaped Town Center
The layout of the historic center tells the story of its development: a town with a ring-shaped layout grew out of a hilltop castle with an upper and lower bailey. The townscape has remained virtually unchanged since the end of the 19th century and is listed in the Inventory of Swiss Heritage Sites. Its history is reflected in more than just its buildings.
Gardens and orchards typical of the region are part of the historic setting. Hedges, dry-stone walls and rows of trees shape the landscape. This makes it possible to consider the townscape and its surroundings together without confusing their individual features.
Wall Paintings, Church and Castles
A section of Fürstenau’s town wall has been exposed at the Stoffelhaus. The masonry features a herringbone pattern, also known as opus spicatum. The house preserves Gothic wall paintings dating from the last quarter of the 14th century. The surviving fragments include an Old Testament story depicting Samson’s fight with the lion; others show farmers, cows and a flock of sheep. Religious narrative and rural scenes appear side by side.
The Stoffelhaus can be visited by prior telephone arrangement. You can combine a visit to the exhibition with a guided tour of Fürstenau; check the tour’s availability before travelling. The Reformed church also bears witness to different construction phases: it was first mentioned in 1354, before the nave was extended and fitted with groin vaults in 1715.
Schauenstein Castle was built between 1667 and 1676, incorporating a former medieval fortified tower. Today it operates as a restaurant and hotel in Fürstenau. The Fürstenau, Schloss PostBus stop is 65 meters from Schauenstein Castle.
The Episcopal Castle is a separate building: it is privately owned and not open to the public. It is located directly on the Domleschg Castle Trail. Fürstenau received town rights in 1354 and was an important place on the Septimer Route, as well as the administrative center of the bishop’s domain in the Domleschg and Heinzenberg regions.
The Castle Trail and Tours in the Domleschg
The Domleschg Castle Trail passes through Fürstenau and runs between the train stations in Thusis and Rothenbrunnen. You can explore it in stages and combine it with the PostBus. It is worth checking the timetable when planning your trip.
The Domleschg Loop is 24.2 kilometers long and starts and ends at Thusis train station. Its route passes through Fürstenaubrück and Fürstenau; check route conditions before setting out. Another circular tour links Thusis with the Rhine Gorge via Fürstenau and Fürstenaubrück. On the return leg, it follows the right bank of the Hinterrhein through the Domleschg back to Thusis. If you are planning around a stated distance, the Domleschg Loop offers a concrete point of reference; the other circular tour is defined by the Rhine Gorge and its return route along the Hinterrhein.
The Domleschg also provides a distinctive landscape for cycling tours: routes pass through a sunny cultivated landscape with orchards, historic villages and numerous castles. Quiet side roads and cycle paths are suitable for both leisurely and more challenging excursions towards Viamala. Alongside the region’s architectural and local histories, there are also different types of tours to choose from.
Discover more destinations: Avers, Almens, Urmein, Fardün, Rothenbrunnen, Thusis, Nufenen, Sarn.
View the overview of the wider region: Hinterrhein.
