In Paspels, medieval castles meet chapels with a long history; Lake Canova adds the opportunity to swim to the cultural attractions. When planning your trip, it is worth keeping the destinations and their different access conditions in mind: one ruin can be viewed from the path, another is accessible at your own risk, and the kiosk at the lake is open seasonally.
Archaeological finds from the Neolithic and Roman periods show that the area around Paspels was already settled in both eras. The first documented mention of Paspels survives as a copy and refers to the place in 1237 as «villa Pascuals». The former municipality was situated on a terrace above the right bank of the Hinterrhein, on the western slope of the Stätzerhorn. Alt Sins also played a role in the history of Domleschg at that time: the castle was the centre of the extensive holdings of the Barons of Vaz.
Chapels and their history
The Chapel of St. Mary Magdalene is a Romanesque hall church. Its semicircular, very low apse is covered with stone slabs. The chapel also preserves early Gothic murals by the Waltensburg Master, dating from the second quarter of the 14th century. The architecture and paintings therefore belong to different historical contexts: the church building is Romanesque, while the surviving murals are early Gothic.
The history of the Chapel of St. Lawrence goes back further. A first chapel probably stood there as early as the 7th century; it was first mentioned in a document as the parish church of Paspels in 1237. The key is kept at the Denner store at Domleschgerstrasse 71 in Paspels. The walk from the Paspels, Dorf bus stop to the chapel takes about 20 minutes. Check the key arrangements before your visit.
Alt Sins and Neu Sins: two different ways to access them
Alt Sins Castle was probably built towards the end of the 12th century and was first mentioned in a document in 1285. These dates refer to different things: the presumed construction date predates the first documented mention. Alt Sins was originally the seat of a small estate that had developed from the Paspels farm. The ruins of a four-storey residential tower with a curtain wall remain. Alt Sins is located directly on the Domleschg Castle Trail and is accessible at your own risk.
A hike from Tomils via Paspels to Scharans leads to the edge of the village of Paspels after a stretch through the forest and a short climb. From there, a narrow path climbs up to the tower of the Alt Sins castle ruins. Routes and access may change; take local conditions into account when planning your walk.
Different conditions apply at Neu Sins / Canova: the ruins are on private property and are not open to the public. However, they can be viewed from the Domleschg Castle Trail. Half of the four-storey residential tower remains. You can also see the remains of a fireplace and stove, as well as a square cistern built into the bedrock. The castle was probably built by the Lords of Vaz in the second half of the 13th century.
Planning a visit to Lake Canova and the Castle Trail
Lake Canova is accessible year-round and is known as a warm swimming lake; in summer, its temperature rises well above 20 degrees. During the swimming season, a kiosk offers ice cream, drinks, hot dogs, regional grilled sausages, homemade baked goods and various sweets. The kiosk is open seasonally. A nature trail leads to the lake from the Paspels (Post) bus stop; the walk takes about 15 minutes. The walking time is a guide, and water temperatures can vary.
The Domleschg Castle Trail includes Paspels and Lake Canova, among other places. You can explore it in stages and combine it with the post bus. Check the timetable in advance and decide whether you would like to focus your days more on castles, chapels or the swimming lake. This helps you choose routes, sightseeing options and seasonal offerings that suit your interests.
Discover more destinations: Urmein, Nufenen, Masein, Hinterrhein, Avers, Pignia, Sarn, Thusis.
Back to the main travel overview: Hinterrhein.
