Attractions and Places To See around Calanca - Top 20

Beautiful cabin

Stage 7: San Bernardino – Bellinzona An exhilarating descent through the Mesolcina Valley. Eagerly absorbing the mild southern climate. In Mesocco, cyclists enjoy the largest ruin in Switzerland and, at the end of the tour, in Bellinzona, the defiant towers and walls of the tre castelli. Refreshed, they follow the rushing Moësa River out of the lively resort town of San Bernardino. The 46-kilometer-long tributary of the Ticino rises at the San Bernardino Pass and gives its name to the Mesolcina Valley (Misox). Although Italian is spoken in the valley, as in the Poschiavo and Bregaglia valleys, it has always maintained close ties to Graubünden. In the smaller villages, where many of the houses are covered with stone slabs, time seems to have stood still. You hardly stop on your bike during the rapid descent towards the south. Surrounded by rocky cliffs, you roar along a well-maintained road with countless skid marks. The highway, which practically hangs from the mountain, seems a bit surreal. Later, a varied side road leads down to Mesocco. Magnificent views of the valley are revealed. Below the village, perched on a rocky outcrop, are the ruins of the Castello di Mesocco, the 11th-century ancestral castle of the Count of Misox. It is considered one of the most important in Graubünden and the largest in Switzerland. Roveredo is the main town in the lower Misox Valley. And what could be nicer here than a break in a cool grotto, enjoying a typical lunch menu and a glass of local wine? The village also boasts several beautiful 17th-century houses, such as the one designed by local architect and builder Enrico Zuccalli. A secluded stretch follows near Lumino, just after crossing the highway and the river. A forest path leads along the Moësa River over hill and dale. Passing an inviting forest garden grotto and some secluded swimming spots, you reach Arbedo-Castione. Here, the Moësa flows into the Ticino River. Text / Source: Schweizmobil.ch https://schweizmobil.ch/de/veloland/route-6/etappe-7

Mesocco Castle San Bernardino Castle Mesolcina Calanca The ruins of Mesocco Castle stand on top of an imposing rocky hill that rises steeply from the valley floor. This imposing fortress stands in the center of the valley, forcing the Moesa River into a wide bend in a narrow, impassable gorge, leaving only a narrow passage to the west. Mesocco Castle is protected on three sides by steep cliffs. Only to the northeast, on the upstream side of the valley, does the slope slope more gently. Climbing up the old access road to the castle from the north side, you first reach the Church of St. Maria del Castello and are already on the castle grounds, which were once surrounded by a defensive wall. The impressive ruins consist mainly of the remains of defensive works built in the last decades of the 15th century, i.e., during the final phase of the castle's life. Among them are numerous ruins from earlier eras, so that the castle's current appearance reveals its eventful history, which has its roots in the early Middle Ages. Graubünden Ferien, Alexanderstrasse 24, 7001 Chur https://www.graubuenden.ch/de/ausflugsziele/castello-di-mesocco

Mesocco Castle San Bernardino Castle Mesolcina Calanca The ruins of Mesocco Castle stand on top of an imposing rocky hill that rises steeply from the valley floor. This imposing fortress stands in the center of the valley, forcing the Moesa River into a wide bend in a narrow, impassable gorge, leaving only a narrow passage to the west. Mesocco Castle is protected on three sides by steep cliffs. Only to the northeast, on the upstream side of the valley, does the slope slope more gently. Climbing up the old access road to the castle from the north side, you first reach the Church of St. Maria del Castello and are already on the castle grounds, which were once surrounded by a defensive wall. The impressive ruins consist mainly of the remains of defensive works built in the last decades of the 15th century, i.e., during the final phase of the castle's life. Among them are numerous ruins from earlier eras, so that the castle's current appearance reveals its eventful history, which has its roots in the early Middle Ages. Graubünden Ferien, Alexanderstrasse 24, 7001 Chur https://www.graubuenden.ch/de/ausflugsziele/castello-di-mesocco

The Capanna Brogoldone is an alpine pasture with two main huts. One hut can accommodate up to 59 people. The other hut houses a small restaurant. Amazing views from up there!

The Capanna Brogoldone was once a mountain pasture and is today the result of a desire to preserve the remains of a bygone era. From 1995 to 1998, a group of volunteers set to work renovating the two existing buildings while maintaining the typical structure of the pasture: the former stable became a dormitory, and the building that once served as a cheese dairy and shelter for the mountain herders was converted into a kitchen and dining room. Source: https://www.brogoldone.ch/

Once you arrive in the town it is worth going a little longer to visit the Tower, formerly part of a residential building. One of the testimonies of the ancient life of the Valley.

Mesocco itself is one of the largest castle complexes in Switzerland. In addition to various ruins located on the slopes outside the town, there are excellent intact remains of the castle and the Romanesque church of Santa Maria. It's worth a visit slowly.