Page 248 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Switzerland

including medieval reliquaries,
3 -= are also showcased. Other
CHUR exhib its include rooms of
17th-century furnish ings and
other domestic ob jects. The
culture and folk arts of the
! F4 ⌂ 95 km (59 miles) SE of Zürich n Bahnhofplatz 3;
www.churtourismus.ch Graubünden region from
the 19th century through
Located at the head of the Rhine valley, Chur lies at to the present day are also
the crossroads of ancient trade routes that linked the attractively documented.
Al pine passes to the south and the Bodensee to the
north. Settled for over 5,000 years, today Chur calls
itself “the oldest Swiss city”. The city prospered under 2
the rule of prince-bishops from the 12th to the 16th Bischöflicher Hof
centuries. Following the Reformation, Chur passed
into secular rule, becoming the capital of the canton ⌂ Hofplatz
of Graubünden in 1803. The narrow streets and squares The complex of buildings set
of the Old Town are quiet and pleasant to explore. on the terrace that rises to the
east of the Old Town make up
the oldest seated bishopric
the information available in north of the Alps. Standing
1 "'= English is some times lacking, next to the cathedral, the bish-
Rätisches Museum the dis plays at this museum op’s palace was founded in
neatly illustrate the history of the 6th century on the site
⌂ Haus Buol, Hofstrasse 1 Chur and its environs, with of a Roman fort. The palace
# 10am–5pm Tue–Sun
∑ raetischesmuseum.gr.ch artifacts from pre historic was extended on sev eral
times to the 19th century. occa sions, and its thick walls
Built in 1675 by patrician Among the exhibits are reflect the ruling bishops’ need
Baron von Buol Strassberg archaeological finds from the for defence. The palace’s
und Rieyberg, this Baroque time of the Rhaetians – Alpine present appearance is mainly
patrician house in a quiet tribes who colonized the region the result of remod el ling in
courtyard behind Kirche in around 3000 BC –and items the 18th and 19th centuries.
St Martin is now home to from Graubünden’s Roman Since it is still the residence
this compre hensive local period. Precious pieces from of the bishops of Chur, it is
history museum. Although the cathedral treasury, not open to visitors.
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