Kulturwanderung: Langwies - Litzirüti

If you like to take it easy, you've chosen well. The hike from Litzirüti to Langwies is short, demands little and gives a lot. There is plenty of time to look, marvel and enjoy. The highlight is the magnificent Langwieser Viaduct, the most famous attraction of the Arosa Railway.

What does "Litzirüti" mean?

Hiking is experiencing landscape, nature, past and present. If you are on foot, you have the time to familiarize yourself with your surroundings. The name Litzirüti, for example, says a lot about the place: "Litzi" means shady side – there are also the Sunnenrüti on the other side of the Plessur. The word "Rüti" comes from reuten or clearen. So you will learn that the area of Litzirüti was once forested and then cleared and made usable for agriculture. It was the Walser who settled here in the Middle Ages, first in Davos and then in the area of Arosa, Langwies and Litzirüti. That was a long time ago, but the culture of the Walser is still clearly visible in the house buildings and audible in the language.

A walk in the woods along the railway

You start our hike at the Litzirüti train station. You cross the road and follow the signposted hiking trail to Langwies. At the first fork in the road, take the lower path. If you want to get to the viaduct as quickly as possible, you will soon cross the railway track and take the signposted shortcut to Langwies. We take our time and stay on the forest road through the Ronenwald, where we pass adventure stations of the elaborately designed "schutz.wald.mensch" learning trail. The Arosa Railway, which has been taking travellers from Chur to Arosa and back for over 100 years, runs parallel to it. It is part of the landscape and shapes the lives of the people who call it home. After the Ronenwald you reach the first clearing with a small farm and - after another short stretch of forest - the second forest clearing directly above the Langwieser Viaduct. Through the massive concrete supports of the viaduct you look fascinated at the houses of Langwies. An impressive spectacle. This is followed by the leisurely descent to the rushing Plessur. On the way, you will experience another cyclopean wooden installation of the learning path. At the bottom of the valley, after a few meters you will reach the first wooden bridge, from where you can admire the 62 m high viaduct. You're lucky, the red train approaches from Langwies at a measured speed, but disappears immediately behind the tall fir trees. It was not enough for a snapshot, thanks to the regular timetable, a next train will soon arrive. You sit down on the wooden bench at the picnic area. The place could hardly be more coherent: the rushing stream, shady trees and the view of the viaduct, this masterpiece of technology that has fascinated travellers for over a hundred years. The Langwieser Viaduct is still one of the most photographed subjects of the Rhaetian Railway. After the extensive rest under the viaduct, there is still a short ascent to the Langwieser train station. The next train is coming soon.

Author: Hansjürg Gredig, ZHAW Life Sciences and Facility Management

A rest stop just below the Langwieser Viaduct

Author: Hansjürg Gredig, ZHAW Life Sciences and Facility Management

If you like to take it easy, you've chosen well. The hike from Litzirüti to Langwies is short, demands little and gives a lot. There is plenty of time to look, marvel and enjoy. The highlight is the magnificent Langwieser Viaduct, the most famous attraction of the Arosa Railway.

What does "Litzirüti" mean?

Hiking is experiencing landscape, nature, past and present. If you are on foot, you have the time to familiarize yourself with your surroundings. The name Litzirüti, for example, says a lot about the place: "Litzi" means shady side – there are also the Sunnenrüti on the other side of the Plessur. The word "Rüti" comes from reuten or clearen. So you will learn that the area of Litzirüti was once forested and then cleared and made usable for agriculture. It was the Walser who settled here in the Middle Ages, first in Davos and then in the area of Arosa, Langwies and Litzirüti. That was a long time ago, but the culture of the Walser is still clearly visible in the house buildings and audible in the language.

A walk in the woods along the railway

You start our hike at the Litzirüti train station. You cross the road and follow the signposted hiking trail to Langwies. At the first fork in the road, take the lower path. If you want to get to the viaduct as quickly as possible, you will soon cross the railway track and take the signposted shortcut to Langwies. We take our time and stay on the forest road through the Ronenwald, where we pass adventure stations of the elaborately designed "schutz.wald.mensch" learning trail. The Arosa Railway, which has been taking travellers from Chur to Arosa and back for over 100 years, runs parallel to it. It is part of the landscape and shapes the lives of the people who call it home. After the Ronenwald you reach the first clearing with a small farm and - after another short stretch of forest - the second forest clearing directly above the Langwieser Viaduct. Through the massive concrete supports of the viaduct you look fascinated at the houses of Langwies. An impressive spectacle. This is followed by the leisurely descent to the rushing Plessur. On the way, you will experience another cyclopean wooden installation of the learning path. At the bottom of the valley, after a few meters you will reach the first wooden bridge, from where you can admire the 62 m high viaduct. You're lucky, the red train approaches from Langwies at a measured speed, but disappears immediately behind the tall fir trees. It was not enough for a snapshot, thanks to the regular timetable, a next train will soon arrive. You sit down on the wooden bench at the picnic area. The place could hardly be more coherent: the rushing stream, shady trees and the view of the viaduct, this masterpiece of technology that has fascinated travellers for over a hundred years. The Langwieser Viaduct is still one of the most photographed subjects of the Rhaetian Railway. After the extensive rest under the viaduct, there is still a short ascent to the Langwieser train station. The next train is coming soon.

Author: Hansjürg Gredig, ZHAW Life Sciences and Facility Management