Val Müstair, known in German as Münstertal, is a valley tucked into the far eastern corner of Switzerland's Graubünden canton, stretching all the way into Italian South Tyrol. It's the only southern valley in Graubünden where Romansh is still spoken, giving it a distinctive cultural flavor alongside its dramatic alpine scenery.

The valley runs roughly 25 kilometers from the Ofenpass in the west to the Vinschgau valley in Italy to the east, framed by peaks like Piz Daint, Piz Turettas, Piz Lad and Piz Chavalatsch to the south and Piz Terza to the north. The landscape shifts noticeably as you move through it - the upper terraces around Tschierv and Fuldera feel wild and remote, the middle section near Valchava and Sta. Maria opens into gentler farmland, while the lower stretch toward Müstair and Italian Taufers takes on a softer, almost Mediterranean character. In winter the valley becomes a haven for cross-country skiing and quiet snowshoe walks, while summer brings hikers and cyclists drawn to its unhurried pace and uncrowded trails.

How to get there

• From the Swiss side - via the Engadin and the Ofenpass, along main road 28, reachable by car or postal bus from Zernez
• From the Italian side - via the Vinschgau valley on the SS41
• From Sta. Maria in Münstertal, the Umbrailpass leads over to Valtellina

Good to know

• The Swiss part of the valley belongs to the UNESCO Biosphere Reserve Val Müstair Parc Naziunal, with the Swiss National Park as its core zone
• The valley is recognized as a regional nature park of national importance
• The southern flanks of the Italian section lie within Stelvio National Park
• The Benedictine convent of St. John in Müstair is a UNESCO World Heritage Site

In summer 2005 the valley made headlines when a brown bear nicknamed Lumpaz wandered in from South Tyrol - brother of the famous Bruno, who was later shot in Bavaria.