Top 20 Castles around Safiental

The RhB Reichenau train station, with parking available, is very well suited as a starting point for bike or hiking tours through the wild Vorderrhein Gorge to Sagogn or Ilanz. Along the gorge, there are small RhB train stations, at Trin, Versam-Safien, or Valendas-Sagogn, for intermediate stops or return journeys back to Reichenau.

A place of power in a special class

Ruinaulta Rhine Gorge The Ruinaulta, or Rhine Gorge, is a gorge of the Vorderrhein River, up to 400 meters deep and approximately 13 kilometers long, between Ilanz and the mouth of the Hinterrhein River near Reichenau in the canton of Graubünden in Switzerland. The Romansh name 'Ruinaulta' is composed of the two words ruina (scree slope, quarry) and aulta (high). The Ruinaulta was formed after the Flims Landslide almost 10,000 years ago. At that time, over 10 billion cubic meters of rock broke off between the Flimserstein and Piz Grisch, burying the Vorderrhein Valley between the present-day villages of Castrisch and Reichenau under a mass of debris several hundred meters thick. Because the Vorderrhein River could no longer drain away, a lake was dammed over a length of approximately 25 kilometers. Over time, the river cut deep into the landslide, and the resulting lake drained away completely. What remained was the Ruinaulta, with its steep limestone scree cliffs in impressive erosion formations. Text / Source: Wikipedia https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ruinaulta

Schloss Reichenau At the confluence of the Hinterrhein and Vorderrhein, at the birthplace of the Alpine Rhine, lies the historic site of Reichenau. Reichenau already had great importance in the past: in the 14th century, as long-distance traffic over the Grisons Alpine passes increased significantly, two bridges and a customs house were built. Reichenau was considered a traffic hub, where all traffic could be controlled. In Reichenau, the routes of the north-south axis separate, along the Vorderrhein into the Oberland towards the Lukmanier and Oberalp passes, and along the Hinterrhein through the Domleschg via the Splügen and San Bernardino. Text / Source: Weinbau von Tscharner & Events Schloss Reichenau, Schloss Reichenau, Reichenauerstr. 59, 7015 Reichenau https://www.reichenau.ch/de/reichenau/geschichte-lage

At the confluence of the Hinterrhein and Vorderrhein, at the birthplace of the Alpine Rhine, lies Reichenau Castle. Built in the 17th century by the episcopal ministerial family Schauenstein, it looks back on a long history. The last king of France even lived here once.

Confluence of the Vorderrhein and Hinterrhein, Reichenau Dominated by Reichenau Castle, the hamlet lies at the confluence of the Vorderrhein and Hinterrhein rivers, making it virtually the birthplace of the Rhine. It all began 10,000 years ago. Between the Flimserstein (a high plateau) and Piz Grisch, over 10,000 cubic meters of rock broke off and thundered down into the valley. Towards Reichenau, the Vorderrhein valley disappears under a gigantic mass of rubble. From there, the Rhine diligently ate its way through the rock, creating the spectacular Swiss "Grand Canyon" – the Ruinaulta. Text / Source: myswitzerland.com https://www.myswitzerland.com/de-ch/erlebnisse/route/vom-zusammenfluss-der-rheine-in-die-rheinschlucht/

very nice on sunny days

This castle is located 250m above the Oden valley. It is privately owned and is very well preserved. Inside there is seating and a fireplace. Entrance fee is 5 francs to help maintain this beautiful castle.