The Three Queens of the Engadine: Corviglia, Diavolezza, Corvatsch

To savor unforgettable moments in an extraordinary setting

The extensive network of facilities is functional and fast, with chair lifts, cable cars, fast telecabiners, rail and ski bus. Corviglia and Corvatsch arise on two opposite sides, the first is almost always exposed to the sun, while the latter rises to the north and remains predominantly shaded, and is particularly suitable for seasonal skiing. There are illuminated slopes at night on weekends for night skiing.

There is the Olympic Bobsled Run, the oldest bobsled track in the world, and the only natural ice canal still used for international competitions and there is also the legendary skeleton track at Cresta Run. After four Alpine Ski World Championships and two Winter Olympics, St. Moritz hosted the World Skiing Championships in 2017.

From the early 1900’s to today, mountain stories

Towards the beginning of the 1900s, with the growing interest of mountaineers coming from all over Europe who came to Pontresina to climb the peaks of the glaciers, this quaint village of the Canton of Grisons is in fact an international tourist destination. With its more than 4,000 meters in altitude, the Bernina Massif is one of the highest mountain ranges in the Western Rhineland Alps. Its perennial glacial rocky walls are ideal for mountaineering lovers; and at the same time, to facilitate connections, tourism and trade, the Rhaetian Railway is now being built, and today is already a UNESCO heritage site.

The Bernina Express, the renowned “Red Train” runs on the railway, which crosses massive glaciers, fabulous lakes, with breathtaking views and unites Tirano at 429 meters altitude at the Bernina Pass, at an altitude of 2,253, then go back to Coira. The line exceeds 1,824-m altitude in only 22 km and faces 70° slopes without racks. Today, the red train is the undisputed icon of this destination and allows you to reach many ski slopes. From the windows of the Schloss castle you can see it as it passes, a fascinating red silhouette that cuts the white of the snow and you can also hear it as it “snorts and salutes” at each station, and stops right in front of the hotel at the Pontresina station.

Pontresina

Pontresina is a well-known destination not only for alpine skiing and mountaineering. There are more than 200 kilometers of cross-country ski trails on the Maloja Lakes, Sils, Silvaplana, St. Moritz, which also include the 42 km for the famous annual marathon between Maloja and S-chanf. There are plenty of opportunities on every level, such as Sils from the Laret forest to the lake of the same name, where many competitions take place, while the mountain paths climb up and down the many winter trails. Among the best known, the so-called Philosophenweg, the “Path of the Philosophers”, a closed path that leads from Muottas Muragl to Val Muragl.

Cross-country skiing

Here in Engadin this sport can also be enjoyed on the 3 ice lakes of Maloja-Sils, Sils-Silvaplana, Surlej and Silvaplana, even at night. A perfect trail to choose for those who love scenic landscapes is one that crosses the fairy-tale forest of Val Bever, where the track slopes gently down to the Gasthaus Spinas and then finishes with a wonderful steep descent. For sportsmen, there is the Marathonloipe marathon track or the more difficult slopes like Zuoz Zernez. There are also high-altitude crossings, such as the Bondo Alp or the Morteratsch glacier. The first one is right on the Bernina Pass, a circular track that is always snow-covered even in the off-season at 2,300 meters of altitude leading to the Glacier-Express of the Rhaetian Railway. The one on the Morteratsch glacier is best suitable for the most experienced skiers.