Guarda lies high above the Inn, far from the valley road and railway line. Sgraffito decorations, narrow lanes and historic houses shape the village’s appearance and Romansh culture. Alongside the village’s history, there are routes with different focuses: a loop based on the Schellen-Ursli story, the Way of St. James to Ardez and routes into Val Tuoi. This offers a combination of architectural heritage and specific opportunities for excursions when choosing your destination.

Village History and Architecture

Guarda received the Wakker Prize in 1975. Since 2021, the village has been one of the three officially recognised mountaineering villages of Lavin, Guarda and Ardez. A prominent historic building is the Reformed church, built in 1483. The nave has a trapezoidal coffered ceiling with mouldings, while the choir has a ribbed vault. These two distinct ceiling forms offer a tangible insight into the building’s architecture.

The Schellen-Ursli story is also present in the village. The Schellen-Ursli Museum offers insights into scenes from the children’s story and is opposite the Hotel Meisser. The well-preserved Schellen-Ursli House, Chasa 51, can be viewed from the outside. The museum and the house are two different places to visit: one is devoted to scenes from the story, while the other can be viewed from the outside.

On the Schellen-Ursli Trail

The Schellen-Ursli Trail leads from Guarda to Plan dal Növ, via Clüs and Lajet, and back to the village. The loop is 3.5 kilometres long and takes about 1 hour and 15 minutes. The ascent and descent are each 233 metres. The stated time provides a guide for planning your day, while the elevation figures offer additional context for the route.

Along the way, you can read the first half of the Schellen-Ursli children’s book on large panels. The complete book is available at the Maiensäss near Plan dal Növ, where you can finish reading the story. The route thus combines the walk between the village and the alpine pasture with a story that unfolds in stages along the way. There is also a sledding experience at Plan dal Növ: after an ascent of around 40 minutes, the winding descent through the forest follows the Schellen-Ursli Trail and offers views of the village.

Hiking Trails and Routes into Val Tuoi

The Way of St. James No. 43 is a hiking trail between the mountaineering villages of Guarda and Ardez. From Guarda, it initially follows a quiet road on an almost level route to the hamlet of Bos-cha. Along the way, there are repeated views of the surrounding mountain landscape. This description gives a clear sense of the character of the initial section: it follows a quiet road on gentle terrain as far as Bos-cha.

Another hike leads from Guarda to the Chamonna Tuoi CAS. It starts in the village centre and follows the signs through Val Tuoi to the hut. The route is 7.3 kilometres long, takes about 2 hours and 30 minutes, and has 617 metres of ascent. The route via Lajet, Alp Sura and Marangun to Lai Blau at 2,613 metres above sea level, then onward to Chamanna Tuoi, also leads to the same destination. The places along the way and the lake’s elevation are specified for this route; the hike to Chamonna Tuoi also includes the distance, approximate duration and ascent. The hut is also a starting point for further ski tours.

If you are considering a bike route instead of a hike, the Murtera Bike follows singletrack trails through alpine pastures and a sparse larch forest down to the village of Guarda. These different route descriptions include an almost level initial section of the Way of St. James, a hike to the hut and a descent on singletrack trails. The details provided help you assess the activities based on their described routes and stated times or elevation figures.

Getting There and Planning

Guarda is accessible by the Rhaetian Railway. From Guarda station, the postbus takes visitors from the “Guarda, staziun” stop to “Guarda, cumün” in the village centre. Check the timetable for your journey so you can include the leg from the station to the village in your plans. If you are planning a stay that includes both the village and one of the longer routes, the route details provided can help you plan your day.

Discover more destinations: Zernez, Müstair, Tschierv, Scuol, Ardez, Fuldera, Valcava, Remüs.

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