Chur is the capital of the canton of Graubunden (or Grisons in French, Grigioni in Italian). This city 75 mi/120 km southeast of Zurich is one of the oldest cities in Switzerland, and history shows it's been inhabited since at least 3000 BC. Relics from the Stone Age have been found there and are displayed in the splendid Rhaetian museum in the Old Town.
Follow the red signs leading to the main attractions (pick up the free pamphlets, printed in English, that describe what you're visiting). The Rhine River and spectacular mountains and valleys are in the area, and the glamorous ski resorts of St. Moritz, Arosa and Davos aren't far.
A special treat in Chur is the Romantik Hotel Stern, with its impressive collection of old coaches and sleighs—it's the gathering place for the town. A few miles/kilometers north of Chur is Maienfeld, the area that inspired Heidi, the classic children's book by Johanna Spyri. Visit Heidi's home (Heidihaus) and village (Heididorf), nestled within a picturesque Alpine landscape.
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