Thusis - Veia Traversina - Viamala Visitor Center

The Veia Traversina forms the first section of the viaSpluga and leads from Thusis via Sils i.D. to the Hohen Rätien castle complex perched high above Thusis and the entrance to the Viamala gorge. The Romans already occupied the strategically important high plateau. Later, the mighty rock served as a safe transshipment point for traders, pilgrims and muleteers. Only recently, an early Christian baptistery with an astonishingly well-preserved baptismal font from the 5th century was discovered on Hohen Rätien. This has been secured, restored and made visible to visitors at great expense in recent years. Hohen Rätien is part of the UNESCO RhB Albula Railway World Heritage Site.

From Hohen Rätien, the Veia Traversina continues to the Traversinersteg. The spectacular, almost 60 m long wooden suspension bridge, which also forms a staircase, is one of the highlights on the way to the Viamala Gorge visitor center. The Traversinersteg overcomes a height difference of 22 m and lies around 70 m above the bed of the Traversinertobel stream.

This hike offers exciting insights into the construction of paths and roads through the legendary Viamala Gorge, from the former mule track to the first commercial road and today's national road.

At the heart of the Viamala Gorge is the visitor center, where a staircase dating from 1903 leads down into the depths of the gorge. The play of colors of the water, the washed-out whirlpools and the imposing rock formations can be experienced in the depths of the gorge. The terrace of the visitor center invites you to linger.

The hike can be continued to Zillis or Andeer or back to Thusis via "Verlorna Loch".

You can take the PostBus back to Thusis or continue your journey to Val Schons, Rheinwald, Splügen and Hinterrhein or even as far as Bellinzona.

Any hiking trail closures/restrictions or detour can be found here.

• Castle complex Hohen Rätien
• Viamala Gorge

Thusis - Sils i.D. - Ehrenfels Castle - Hohen Rätien - St. Albin - Traversinersteg - Viamala Visitor Center

The hike is signposted throughout as regional hiking route no. 50 and with brown "viaSpluga" signposts.