But long before it became a playground for winter sports, it was a crossroads of civilizations. The Romans left their mark here — not just with roads, but with entire settlements, bridges, and fortifications. Today, their presence feels almost secret, tucked into quiet valleys where cows graze and the air smells of pine.
Exploring these ruins is like time-traveling on two wheels or on foot. The remnants of Roman life are scattered, so the journey becomes part of the adventure. Cycling between them lets you piece together a story of empire, trade, and survival in the high Alps.
Augusta Raurica and the Gateway East
Though technically just beyond Graubünden’s border, Augusta Raurica near Basel is the perfect introduction to Roman Switzerland. This ancient city, once a bustling trading hub, has an impressively preserved amphitheater, temple columns, and even a reconstructed Roman house.
For those starting their Graubünden journey by train, a stop here sets the tone — a reminder that the Romans were not just passing through but were building communities that endured for centuries. From here, head east toward Chur, Switzerland’s oldest city, where Roman history takes on a more rugged, alpine flavor.
Chur: Switzerland’s Oldest City
Chur sits at the meeting point of several valleys and was an important Roman settlement known as Curia Rhaetorum. Walking through the old town, you’ll find Roman foundations beneath medieval streets, fragments of mosaics, and the layout of an ancient forum hidden in plain sight.
A small archaeological museum showcases coins, pottery, and tools recovered from excavations — tangible evidence of daily life nearly two thousand years ago. This is a perfect place to pause, explore slowly, and imagine what it was like when legionnaires and merchants traveled these same routes.
Tracing the Via Claudia Augusta
The Romans built roads across Graubünden to connect Italy with the northern provinces, and parts of these routes still exist as hiking and cycling trails. The Via Claudia Augusta is the most famous, running through the Engadin Valley and over alpine passes into Italy.
Cycling this route is a highlight of any visit. The trail winds through meadows, passes traditional stone villages, and follows rivers that once guided Roman traders carrying wine, salt, and grain. Many switzerland bike tours include this section as part of longer multi-day itineraries, with guides pointing out milestones, bridge foundations, and ruins of guard posts that once kept watch over the mountain passes.
Ruins in Unexpected Places
One of the joys of exploring Roman Graubünden is finding ruins in unlikely locations. Near Tamins, where the Rhine splits into its two branches, archaeologists uncovered a Roman bridgehead — a reminder of the engineering feats that made this region navigable.
Farther south, in the village of Zizers, the remains of a Roman villa have been excavated, revealing colorful floor mosaics and hints of luxury living in what must have been a remote posting at the edge of the empire. These sites are rarely crowded, so you can stand quietly and let your imagination fill in the walls and voices.
Pairing History with Alpine Beauty
What makes this region special is the setting. The Romans built their roads and settlements in places that still feel strategic and beautiful today — on sunny slopes, near water sources, overlooking valleys. Exploring them means not just learning history but being immersed in some of the most striking alpine scenery in Switzerland.
You might stop for lunch in a meadow, the ruins of a watchtower just a short walk away, while cowbells echo in the distance. The combination of ancient stone and wild landscape is unlike anything you’ll find in the cities.
Slow Travel Through Time
This is not a region you rush through. Part of the pleasure is connecting the dots between sites — riding from Chur to Zizers, then following the old road toward Thusis, where the Viamala Gorge was once a formidable barrier. Roman engineers carved passages here that can still be traced, though today you’ll cross on modern bridges that offer dizzying views into the depths below.
Joining guided Switzerland bike tours makes this even more enriching, as expert guides share stories of trade routes, engineering techniques, and the battles fought to control these passes. Evenings are spent in historic inns, with meals of Graubünden specialties like Capuns and Pizokel — a perfect way to connect past and present after a day tracing Roman footsteps.
Why It Matters
The Roman ruins of Graubünden are more than just stones — they are reminders that this rugged alpine region has been connected to the wider world for millennia. Merchants, soldiers, and travelers once relied on these routes just as we do today.
For modern visitors, following these paths by bike or on foot is a way to feel that connection, to slow down and notice the continuity of human movement across time. The Alps may seem eternal, but the traces of the people who crossed them add a layer of meaning that makes the landscape even richer.
A Living Museum
Graubünden is not a museum behind glass; it is a place where history lives underfoot, where you can still walk along roads worn by Roman sandals and look down on valleys from the same vantage points used by sentries long ago.
Each ruin feels like a clue left behind, waiting to be discovered by those willing to search them out. Whether you go with a guide or on your own, the reward is the same — a deeper sense of place, and an appreciation for how much of Europe’s story passes quietly through this dramatic corner of Switzerland.
