What's New in the Fabulous Mountain Scenery
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MEDIA DOCUMENTATION FROM THE FAIRY-TALE MOUNTAIN SCENERY What‘s new in the fabulous mountain scenery Following the heavy snowfall in the 2020/21 winter season, it took some time for all the snow to melt, but now summer is here and in the fairy-tale mountain scenery of Corvatsch and Diavolezza, there are new things to explore and experience. Whisky distillery at 3303 metres Last autumn, the highest whisky distillery in the world opened on Corvatsch. The Swiss whisky maker ORMA (which means „soul“ in Romansch) is working in partnership with Corvatsch AG to offer a unique experience at 3303 m above sea level. There are guided tours and tasting sessions, accompanied by spectacular views, to help visitors find out all about this liquid gold. And beforehand or afterwards, visitors can enjoy an ORMA menu with whisky in Graubünden‘s highest restaurant, Restaurant 3303. The guided tours take place on Saturdays and can be booked at the Engadin Holiday Shop. Further information: www.orma3303.ch Restaurant Alpetta on Corvatsch open for the summer The popular Restaurant Alpetta, which was renovated in the autumn last year, is now also open in summer for the first time. In fine weather, your host Denja & her team will welcome guests on the spacious sunshine terrace. Under the slogan „Grilleda Alpina“, they serve fine delicacies from the smoker and grill, as well as alpine speciali- ties. For dessert, why not try a delicious Graubünden ice cream? Further information: www.alpetta.ch More mountain biking on Corvatsch On the first three ascents each morning, and from 15.05 hrs onwards, Corvatsch AG will transport mountain bikes from the valley station to the Murtèl middle station. On Corvatsch there are no trails specifically for mountain bikers, instead you ride on tricky footpaths. New cabins for the Furtschellas cable car Just in time for the start of the summer season, the Furtschellas cable car has been equipped with modern high-capacity cabins with panoramic windows. At the same time, the remote monitoring system was upgraded and online remote maintenance software installed which enables engineers to spot faults quickly and put them right. Glacier Experience Trail – new themed walk on Diavolezza The „Virtual Reality Glacier Experience“ visitor centre at the Diavolezza valley station has been open since October 2020. The free, interactive exhibition tells visitors about the connections between climate change, the changes to glaciers and water management. To supplement this theoretical knowledge, visitors can go on a circular walk on the „Glacier Experience Trail“ to explore the glacier world and observe the special features of the glacier at close quarters. The themed walk will open during summer 2021. Further information: www.glacierexperience.com 1 The new cabins of the Furtschellas cable car. Summer on Corvatsch: perpetual ice and glittering lakes In fables, the raven is often thieving and sly. But our Corvatsch (the Romansh word for „raven“) steals only one thing: our hearts. The summer sports area nestles between the lakes of the Upper Engadin valley and the world-famous Bernina range, and it offers some amazing experiences. The Water Trail is one of the hiking highlights on Corvatsch. The circular walk starts from the Furtschellas mid- dle station and passes by six small alpine lakes. At Lejin Rhodonit there is a picnic area with two well-equipped barbecue places. The mountain fairy „Mara“ and the elf „Furbaz“ accompany our youngest guests along the way. The free „Plitsch and Platsch“ booklet, available from the Furtschellas valley station, is full of fun and games for children, and tells an exciting story about the Water Trail. The somewhat shorter and easier „Rabgiusa“ circular walk takes you straight to the Lejin Malachit lake where you join the Water Trail. Walkers who enjoy fine food will love theVia Gastronomica: it‘s an easy walk, with culinary stops at selected restaurants and, as the icing on the cake, fantastic views of the mountains and lakes of the Upper Engadin. The treats for your taste buds begin with a fortifying breakfast or a tasty starter at the La Chüdera restaurant. Accompanied by panoramic views of the lakes, you walk from La Chüdera into the Val Fex. At the Hotel Sonne Fex, you enjoy your main course. From the Hotel Sonne Fex, you continue via Fex Platta and down the steep gorge to Sils Maria. There, the charming Hotel Seraina puts the finishing touch to your culinary experience with a homemade dessert. Creature comforts are also catered for at the three mountain restaurants. At the highest restaurant in Graubünden, Restaurant 3303 on Corvatsch, it‘s all about sweetcorn. The typical Valtellina dish Polenta Taragna is just one of many sweetcorn specialities. And of course, there are plenty of other delicious things for anyone who doesn‘t feel like eating corn. The La Chüdera restaurant on Furtschellas is something of an insiders‘ secret for gourmets. The sheltered sunshine terrace is a particularly lovely place to treat yourself. In front of the La Chüdera restaurant is a children‘s playground. If you love tasty meat from the grill or smoker, the newly renovated Restaurant Alpetta is the place for you. 2 Summer on Diavolezza: a stone‘s throw from the giants! The realm of the beautiful she-devil is sometimes called the „Ballroom of the Alps“. As you gaze all around from Piz Palü (3900 m) to Piz Bernina (4049 m), you can see that the metaphor is no exaggeration. To stand amid these mountain giants is to experience a truly amazing natural spectacle. If you are fit and sure-footed and have a good head for heights, you can venture on to the„via ferrata“ on Piz Trovat, a fixed-rope climbing route offering both an easier and a more difficult option. Other highlights include the guided glacier walk from the Diavolezza top station over the mighty ice masses of the Pers and Morteratsch glaciers then down to the RhB railway station in Morteratsch, and the circular walk beneath the 1000 m high north face of Piz Palü. On the spectacular glacier trek, mountain guides lead you up, secured with crampons and ropes, through the impressive „Cambrenabrüche“ crevasses to Crap Pers at the foot of Piz Palü. Surrounded by the most extensive mountain range in the eastern Alps, you are immersed in the fascinating world of glaciers. At the top station, you‘ll find a Cairn Garden and theSnow Climb Point. On our viewing platform overlooking the „Ballroom of the Alps“, there is now a SWAROVSKI OPTIK ST Vista telescope available for you to use, free of charge. At the valley station of the Diavolezza cable car, you‘ll find the„Virtual Reality Glacier Experience“ visitor centre. This interactive exhibition shows the effects of climate change on the mountains by taking visi- tors on a journey through space and time. Anyone who wishes can plunge into both the past and the future and explore the area around the Morteratsch glacier on four virtual tours. The Sass Queder, at 3065 metres above sea level, is the location of the highest barbecue site in Europe. It takes about 30 to 40 minutes to walk to the Sass Queder from the mountain inn. At the mountain inn, you can book the „Magical Fire above the Clouds“ experience – a picnic rucksack packed with food to cook on the barbecue, salad and other delicacies, and even firewood: it’s all you need for a relaxed picnic with fabulous panoramic views. At the „Berghaus“ itself, you can not only enjoy a fine meal but also stay the night. There are ten beautiful double rooms with shower and toilet, group accommodation and two- and four-bed rooms with showers on the landing. After a day in the fresh air, what better place to relax than in Europe‘s highest jacuzzi? The newly opened „VR Glacier Experience“ visitor centre. 3 Always up-to-date Make sure you don‘t miss any of our news by following us on social media: Facebook: Corvatsch Diavolezza Lagalb Instagram: @corvatsch diavolezza lagalb TikTok: @corvatsch Covid-19 Safety measures Corvatsch AG and Diavolezza Lagalb AG have implemented the safety measures recommended in the guidance from Seilbahnen Schweiz (Swiss Ropeways Association). In addition, the cabins are regularly disinfected with a highly effective hydrogen peroxide spray. Mask-wearing is still compulsory on public transport, which includes the mountain cableways. Wearing a face mask remains obligatory in the entire area of the cable cars (in the cabins, on the platform, in indoor and outdoor waiting areas, by the cash desks and in the toilets and car park). Disposable face masks may be purchased at the cash desks for the Corvatsch, Furtschellas and Diavolezza cable cars for CHF 1 each. Clean & Safe Corvatsch AG and Diavolezza Lagalb AG take protecting visitors, locals and employees very seriously and have therefore produced three safety protocols (covering cable cars and customers, restaurants, and employees and outside companies) for which they have been awarded the „Clean & Safe“ label by the Swiss Tourist Office for the „Cable cars, restaurants and accommodation“ sectors. The measures described in the safety protocols have been implemented scrupulously to ensure that people are protected in all areas where we provide services. The safety protocols and further information can be found at www.corvatsch.ch. About the fairy-tale mountain world: What a combination! Corvatsch, the big raven. Smart, breathtaking and free as a bird. Diavolezza, the she-devil. Passionate, icy hot and devilishly beautiful, like flames in the snow. And Lagalb, the white lake. Unspoilt, magnif- icent, perfect for adventures on water and ice. In June 2017, the three mountains merged to form the fairy-tale mountain scenery of the Upper Engadin.