From the hill north of the village, you can look out across the Domleschg valley: this is where Masein’s Protestant church stands. The village lies on a sunny hillside on the Heinzenberg above Thusis; forests, fields and small streams shape its rural surroundings. Masein is a municipality in the Viamala region of the canton of Graubünden. If you are looking for a holiday apartment, the landscape, cultural history and distinctive local traditions can offer different focal points for your trip.
Church, castles and Masein’s history
Masein is first mentioned in 1156 under the name “de Medezenu”. Ober-Masein and Unter-Masein probably developed from two large farmsteads belonging to Cazis Monastery. During the High and Late Middle Ages, the owners of Untertagstein and Schauenstein castles held estates in Masein. Untertagstein Castle was repeatedly a hub of the village’s political and economic development. It is privately owned and not open to the public.
St. Florinus Church is first mentioned in 1441; the Reformation took place in Masein in 1525. The Protestant church took on its present form in 1501, when Andreas BĂĽhler from GmĂĽndt in Carinthia converted a chapel into the church that stands today. Its position on the hill north of the village connects the historic site with views across the Domleschg valley.
Local traditions and activities
During the men’s choir’s end-of-year singing tradition, the singers make their way from farm to farm or house to house every year on 29 and 30 December. The tradition is believed to have been observed since the Masein Boys’ Society was founded in 1817. The repertoire comprises around 15 songs, rehearsed together on four Sunday evenings in November and December. The repertoire and rehearsal schedule may change; if you are travelling to hear the singing, check locally for the current edition.
Another local tradition is Mazza Cula, introduced in Masein by newcomers from Tschappina. Two teams of two to three people compete against each other. Instead of a golf hole, the target is a natural or artificial feature in the terrain. The Mazza Cula route runs from Masein to Flerden, includes a refreshment stop there, and returns via a different route. Check local arrangements and conditions before making plans.
Theatre has a long history here, too: in 1854, the Boys’ Society staged a play in Masein for the first time. In 1980, after a break of around ten years, the youth association revived the theatre tradition, which then continued for more than 30 years. Check locally in advance to find out whether performances are taking place today.
Routes, travel and time outdoors
Stage 9 of GraubĂĽnden Bike runs from Thusis via Masein, Urmein, Tschappina and the Glas Pass to Safien Platz. Both endpoints are accessible by PostBus. From Masein, it takes just a few minutes by bus to Thusis railway station; regular connections from there run towards Chur, Bellinzona and St. Moritz. Before setting off, check the latest timetables, route and stage conditions.
For an outdoor break, the Im Ried fire pit is a seven-minute walk from the Masein, Cresta PostBus stop. Facilities include firewood, a grill grate, two tables with eight seats each, a drinking-water fountain, a sandbox and a willow teepee. Local restrictions may apply when using the facilities.
Discover more destinations: Portein, Tschappina, Rodels, Donath, Hinterrhein, Pignia, Rothenbrunnen, Flerden
Back to the main travel overview: Hinterrhein.
