Affeier brings together local religious history and mining with two different hiking options: an easy winter hike that starts and ends in the village, and a section of the Via Mundaun that passes through Affeier. When looking for a holiday apartment, this choice can shape the focus of your stay. The chapel and mine sit alongside trails that explore the cultural and landscape themes of the surrounding area.
Chapel and mine: Affeier’s history
The Chapel of the Visitation of Mary stands in Affeier. Until 1967, a rogation procession to Affeier took place on 2 July, the Feast of the Visitation of Mary. The chapel and the procession give the village a religious and historical connection. The shared reference to the Visitation of Mary links the chapel’s name with the religious occasion for the procession.
The Affeier mine is one of two mines in the municipality that are still known and accessible today. Visits are possible; check the local arrangements in advance. Silver-bearing copper ores were extracted from Verrucano rock in the mine, a breccia through to a conglomerate from the Permian period. The ore consisted mainly of fahlerz (tetrahedrite). Silver-bearing copper ores describe the material extracted, Verrucano the Permian-period rock, and fahlerz the main ore component. A visit to the mine therefore brings together mining history and geology.
Hiking trails with different routes
An easy winter hike starts and ends in Affeier. It passes through Pifal, Markal, Meierhof, Cresta and Misanenga. Check the current route and conditions before setting out.
The second section of the Via Mundaun runs from Meierhof through Affeier to Misanenga. It passes typical Walser houses. The Via Mundaun also circles the eastern flank of Piz Mundaun. The distinction matters when choosing a hike: Affeier is the start and finish of the winter hike, while it lies between Meierhof and Misanenga on the Via section described here.
The information about the Via Mundaun refers to two different levels: the section describes the route Meierhof–Affeier–Misanenga; the eastern flank of Piz Mundaun is part of the description of the Via as a whole. This helps distinguish the course of the stage from the broader route. Take seasonal trail conditions into account when planning the Via Mundaun.
Culture and landscape in Obersaxen Mundaun
Across the wider Obersaxen Mundaun area, Walser and Romansh cultural traditions, historic chapels and a lively village culture come together. Obersaxen Mundaun is also an alpine panoramic region with numerous hiking trails and far-reaching views across the mountain landscape. This broader context is useful for trip planning: the chapel and mine are specific destinations in Affeier, while the cultural traditions and panoramic scenery describe Obersaxen Mundaun as a wider region.
For hiking, this means distinguishing clearly between the different scales: the specific winter trail starts in Affeier, while the numerous trails and panoramic views are described as features of Obersaxen Mundaun as a region. Obersaxen’s winter sports history also has a timeline: after the first ski lift was built in 1952, the area rapidly developed into a winter sports centre after 1970.
More destinations
Discover more destinations: FriggahĂĽs, Platta, Giraniga.
Back to the main travel overview: Obersaxen.
