The Valley
Val Fex.
A high valley above Lake Sils, closed in by mountains and glaciers. The valley is car-free. Hamlets of a few houses, a small church in Crasta, meadows, larches and the Fexbach. The valley has been protected since 1954.
Via da Fex · shuttle and carriageOberer Schluchtweg
The map
Chesa Pool lies at the entrance to the valley, in Fex Platta. Beyond it Crasta, Curtins and the glacier.
Summer
The paths lead up to the glaciers.
- WalkingFrom the house to the Fex glacier, to alpine pastures and mountain lakes.
- Mountain railwaysIncluded in summer from two nights.
- Horse-drawn omnibusRegularly from Sils through Val Fex.
- KneippIn the cold Fexbach, right beside the house.
- Grill and jazzSundays from noon to 3 pm in the garden.
- PicnicA basket from the kitchen, also at sunset.
Autumn
In October the valley turns gold.
- The larchesAround mid-October they glow brightest, for a few precious days.
- Sils ballsWhen the larches shed their first needles, the waves of Lake Sils roll them into balls.
- Via EngiadinaThe high path from Maloja via Sils to Silvaplana, above both lakes.
- GrevasalvasThe little hamlet above Lake Sils where “Heidi” was filmed in the seventies.
- Horse-drawn omnibusRuns regularly between Sils and the valley in autumn too.
- PicnicA basket from the kitchen and a spot beneath golden larches.
Winter
The trail starts at the door.
- Cross-countryThe trail passes the house, runs through the whole valley and on into the Upper Engadine.
- SkiingCorvatsch and Furtschellas; the shuttle stops at the Furtschellas valley station.
- SnowshoesThrough the winter forest, on bright nights also by full moon. Now and then the house leads tours, for instance up the Muott’Ota.
- Winter walksPrepared paths through the valley and around Lake Sils.
- Horse sleighOn request, as in the old days.
- Engadin SkimarathonOn 14 March 2027 across the frozen lakes, past Sils.
The year in Val Fex
What the valley is doing now.
Ibex, chamois, marmot and bearded vulture live in the Upper Engadine. Set out early and keep quiet, and with a little luck you will see them. Val Fex is a protected area: look at the flowers, do not pick them.
- JanuaryLake Sils freezes and becomes a path.
- FebruaryThe bearded vulture circles around midday, when the thermals carry.
- MarchThe Engadin Skimarathon across the frozen lakes.
- AprilThe marmots wake from hibernation.
- MayIbex graze low on the valley sides.
- JuneYoung chamois, the first flowers on the slopes.
- JulyAlpine roses and gentian.
- August“It grows quieter and more peaceful on the mountains and in the woods.” Nietzsche, August 1881.
- SeptemberThe red deer rut begins.
- OctoberThe larches glow, the Sils balls roll.
- NovemberThe larches are bare, the valley rests.
- DecemberThe trail by the house is prepared.
Chesa Pool
A room, a table, a gift.
We reopen on 18 December. You can already book for the coming season.