Graubünden

Chur is the capital of the canton of Graubünden and is widely regarded as the oldest city in Switzerland. Tucked into the Rhine valley and ringed by mountains, it combines a compact Alpine old town with a practical role as the gateway to resorts such as Arosa, Lenzerheide, Davos and St. Moritz.

Settlement around Chur reaches back roughly 13,000 years, and the city grew from the Roman settlement of Curia Rhaetorum. Its long history as a bishop's seat remains visible in the car-free old town, where narrow lanes, arcaded courtyards and historic buildings sit alongside shops, cafés and wine bars.

Key landmarks include the Cathedral of the Assumption of Mary, the adjacent bishop's residence, the late Gothic St. Martin's Church and the medieval Obertor gate. Cultural stops range from the Rhaetian Museum and the Graubünden Art Museum to the bar designed by Swiss artist H. R. Giger, while the Brambrüesch cable car opens up hiking and mountain views above the city.

Chur is an important rail hub where the Swiss Federal Railways meet the Rhaetian Railway network. The Glacier Express and Bernina Express routes begin or pass through here, and the Albula and Bernina lines form part of a UNESCO World Heritage listing.

For leisure and business travellers alike, Chur offers a manageable, walkable base with strong connections to the wider region. The surrounding Bündner Herrschaft wine area, regional dishes such as Bündnerfleisch and the Bündner Nusstorte, and a year-round calendar of markets and events add to its appeal.