Muottas Muragl

Muottas Muragl – the capital of light

This viewpoint is famous for the view over the upper Engadin lakes. On Muottas Muragl the special light strikes over the four lakes and the world-famous resort town of St. Moritz. But also the highest peak of the Eastern Alps, the Piz Bernina (4,049 m) is visible. You can feel like Heidi when she was high in the Alps… with Peter?

Where poets and painters got their inspiration and became philosophers

The magnificent view from Muottas Muragl has inspired poets and painters for centuries. The hut that was once used by the painter Giovanni Segantini, for example, is nearby. And a philosopher’s path, a seven kilometer long winter hiking trail, retraces the footsteps of great thinkers of past epochs. In the summer, the panoramic path takes you across alpine hills and pastures into nearby valleys.

To get here, a funicular railway, opened in 1907, runs from the valley station at Punt Muragl, easily reachable by train or bus, at 1,738 m up to the summit station at 2,454 m. Gradually the views get better and at the last part of the track, an array of solar panels (225 m in length) provide electricity for the hotel and restaurant and the train alike, thus a very sustainable operation.

View from Muottas Muragl towards St. Moritz (c) Roberto Moiola

Highlight

The view itself is the highlight. As there are many hiking paths near the summit, one can stroll around and explore more views of the upper Engadin valley.

Eating and drinking

The hotel and restaurant Muottas Muragl (located at 2,456 m) offers regional culinary specialties and Italian cuisine as well as an extensive choice of wines from all over the world. The funicular railway normally runs also in the evening, so you can combine the excursion with an evening dinner in the fore mentioned restaurant and enjoy the sunset.

Good to know

The famous painter Giovanni Segantini died on 28 September 1899 at the age of 41 in the hut later named after him on the Schafberg (Munt da la Bês-cha). This hut can be reached from Muottas Muragl in about 1 to 1 1/2 hours, and offers the famous panorama of his painting “La natura”, the middle one of his famous trilogy, Life – Nature – Death. Officially he died of acute peritonitis, but later analysis also pointed into direction of lead poisoning (he used large amounts of lead containing white paint).

Duration of the trip

Included is some time at the restaurant for drinks or a meal. For a hike add additional time according the length

Season

Early June to end October

The Piz Bernina 4,049 m seen from Muottas Muragl at sunset