Engadin Magazine Place of yearning Anyone who has ever visited the Engadin is at home in the mountains Engadin Magazine Magazine S U M M E R 1 9 S U M M E R 1 9 2 Lebende Kolumne ENGADIN Magazin S O M M E R 19 3 Lebende Kolumne 4 Engadin Summer — 19 Text FLORIAN MEINHOCK Bild INA MÜLLER Autumn delights The Engadin is just as impressive in the autumn and winter. page 50 Free as the wind Feel the water and wind when you’re kitesurng – while body and mind oat free. page 20 Contents Engadin Magazine S U M M E R 19 5 Out and about on two wheels Rediscover the Engadin. page 10 06 EDITORIAL Gerhard Walter on the new Engadin Magazine 08 EVENT CALENDER SUMMER 2019 SPORTING EXPERIENCE 10 Over hill and dale Why the Engadin is a genuine paradise for cyclists and mountain bikers 16 Retreat in the mountains Leave the daily routine behind and unwind with a combination of riding and yoga 20 Sport El Dorado Five athletes talk about their most cherished places in the Engadin, and what makes them so special 26 Reaching for the sky A mountain guide on the enduring fascination of the peaks HOSPITALITY 28 Welcome! What makes Engadin hospitality so legendary, and why it is famous far beyond Graubünden 30 Natural and delicious Waldhaus Sils serve first-class food prepared using regional products UNWIND 34 All the world’s a stage The Julierturm on the Julierpass brings world-class theatre to the Engadin 40 Art in the stable Find inspiration within very special walls at the Galeria Stalla Madulain NATURAL BEAUTY 44 A day beside the lake Need to cool down? Opportunities abound in the Engadin to take a dip in one of several beautiful lakes 50 Golden autumn Learn from the experts why the Engadin is such a highlight for nature-lovers in autumn and winter INSPIRATION 56 Picture stories Illustrator Pia Valär brings stories to life 58 On tour with goats Unique in the Engadin, and beastly good fun: go- at-trekking and yoga 64 Eviva la Rumantschia On the history of the language spoken in Graubünden. Plus: Rhaeto-Romanic for beginners 66 Preview The next issue Contributors, publishing details, credits Contents Editorial Engadin Magazine S U M M E R 19 7 Dear Readers, I am delighted that you are holding the new Engadin Magazine in your hands. The quality of our services and products is maintained through continual development, and ensures they remain exciting. We here at Engadin St. Moritz Tourismus have recently realigned our two brands “Engadin” and “St. Moritz” – and in the future will be publish- ing two different magazines with different emphases. At the heart of this magazine is an absolute place of yearning: the Engadin. For me personally, there is no other place that combines the variety and uniqueness of nature more impressively than here. Whether you choose to allow the region to work its magic on you from the back of a mountain bike (page 10), to refocus on the essential during a very special time-out in the mountains (page 16), or opt for close contact with the local peaks (page 26), our Engadin has what you are looking for. And there are constant treats and surprises in store – for instance, the glorious golden rays of autumn (page 50). But the countryside isn’t all that shapes this region. The people that live here also make it so special. Authentic, creative and warm characters whose enthusiasm for their home and their hospitality is felt by everyone who comes to visit. I hope you have a pleasantly relaxing time reading through this magazine, and perhaps find some inspiration. Warmest wishes, Gerhard Walter CEO, Engadin St. Moritz Tourismus AG Editorial 8 Events ENGADIN Magazin W I N T E R 19 9 Engadin Top Events Summer 2019 June 13.6.–16.6. 20./26.7.–28.7. 20. Silser Hesse Days Swissalpine Irontrail Experience Hermann Hesse’s works Various races and side events www.engadin.stmoritz.ch/sils for trail runners, mountain runners and fun runners 28.6.–30.6. www.swissalpine.ch Vaude Engadin Bike Giro Mountain bike stage race for everyone 26.7.–28.7. www.engadin-bike-giro.ch Tavolata St. Moritz Food festival with an epic table that’s 29.6.–6.7. 400 metres long 20. Opera St. Moritz www.tavolatastmoritz.ch Anniversary production of Giuseppe Verdi’s “I due Foscari” The highlights www.opera-stmoritz.ch August from culture, 8.8.–11.8. July 50. Concours Hippique Zuoz Horse show with every category sports and cuisine July–August www.zuoz-concours.ch Origen Festival Cultural Theatre festival at various venues in 23.8.–25.8. the Engadin Passione Engadina www.origen.ch Classic car rally www.passione-engadina.ch 4.7.–4.8. Festival Da Jazz Jazz concerts in a fabulous atmosphere www.festivaldajazz.ch September 5.7.–6.7. Engadin St. Moritz Ultraks 15.9.–21.9. Trail-running against a spectacular Resonanzen Sils backdrop International culture festival engadin.ultraks.com www.waldhaus-sils.ch 5.7.–7.7. 20.9.–22.9. 26. British Classic Car Meeting Bernina Gran Turismo St. Moritz Car race on the Bernina Pass Deluxe British classic cars www.bernina-granturismo.com www.bccm-stmoritz.ch 26.9.-29.9. 6.7.–7.7. Silser Nietzsche–Kolloquium Ötillö Swimrun Engadin Discussions on the topic of Swimming and running competition “Constructions of masculinity” www.otilloswimrun.com/races/engadin www.nietzschehaus.ch 8.7.–18.8. Engadiner Ferienspass Holiday activities for children between the ages of five and 16 www.ferienspass-engadin.ch Events 10 Over hill and dale The Engadin is a veritable paradise for cyclists and mountain bikers. An extensive network of cycling paths includes wonderful natural roads and trails. Text ROBERTO RIVOLA Picture MADLAINA WALTHER 11 Sporterlebnis 12 Christoph Schäi with son Luca, 11, and daughter Selina, 5, on the Pumptrack. From Pontresina it’s up to lovely Lej da Staz (below). e’ve already cycled from the “There is such a Val da Fain to Livigno and back through the Bernina Pass W Engadin to Innsbruck,” an- or via Lago Bianco.” nounced 11-year-old Luca with pride. wide choice of “And I did it all by myself, but Selina sporting What equipment do you need for cycling? “A helmet to had a FollowMe Tandem Coupling.” protect your head,” replies Luca without a moment’s The five-year-old has a wide grin on activities here hesitation. “Absolutely – it’s better to be safe than sorry,” her face. “I help when we’re going up, in the Engadin, adds his father. What else do you need to keep the risk of and when we come down I do tricks injury at a minimum? Luca lists the items: “Gloves to on the pedals.” The year before last, it’s impossible protect your hands if you fall. And sunglasses, of course, the Schäfli family took their bikes to try them all so you don’t get any insects or bits of grit in your eyes. And from Sils to Scuol, with night stops in you need the right shoes for the clipless pedals.” Selina Pontresina and Zernez. Last summer in one summer.” interjects with some advice of her own: “And trousers in a they did the second section along the colour that matches your T-shirt, ideally in pink.” The little CHRISTOPH SCHÄFLI Inn- Radweg route from Zernez to Carpenter and cross- girl has already survived her first (minor) accident. “I was Innsbruck. By comparison, today’s tour country ski instructor too close to the pavement and I fell off, but I didn’t have to is nothing. We meet the active family go to hospital. I didn’t even need a lot of plasters,” she on the Pumptrack in Pontresina before recalls wistfully. they set off through the Stazerwald and to Lake Staz. The siblings love the So far, Christoph has only ridden the flow trails in the up and down of the Pumptrack, the Engadin by himself. “We haven’t yet managed it with the bends, dips and waves, so much so that children. There is such a wide choice of sporting activities they don’t want to leave. The route is here in the Engadin, it’s impossible to try them all in one suitable for cyclists of all ages; it’s a summer. But we have to go there soon. You’ll love it, Luca playground that’s a total of 350 metres – it’s a bit like a bobsleigh run,” Christoph tells his son. long. You’ll learn to control your bike Young Luca loves sporting challenges, whether it’s a biath- around tight bends and over waves. lon, football, floorball, skiing, snowboarding or ice hockey. Keen amateurs and top athletes The list of his sporting activities is long. He also enjoys a congregate on the concrete surface spot of friendly family competition with his father: “My between May and October. Christoph father and I recently climbed Piz Languard in less than two Schäfli and his children have come hours – and at first I was even faster than my dad.” Lack of here to have some fun on their bikes. motivation is rarely a problem, says Christoph. “It’s only Occasionally, in the evenings, difficult to motivate the children if they already have plans. Christoph also sets off without the But if you’ve got a destination, as with the Inn-Radweg, children. Then he’ll cycle, for instance, there’s no big discussion.