The best road cycling routes around Calanca

Beautiful nature and many views that cannot be seen from the pass road

Stage 7: San Bernardino – Bellinzona An exhilarating descent through the Mesolcina Valley. Eagerly absorbing the mild southern climate. In Mesocco, cyclists enjoy the largest ruin in Switzerland and, at the end of the tour, in Bellinzona, the defiant towers and walls of the tre castelli. Refreshed, they follow the rushing Moësa River out of the lively resort town of San Bernardino. The 46-kilometer-long tributary of the Ticino rises at the San Bernardino Pass and gives its name to the Mesolcina Valley (Misox). Although Italian is spoken in the valley, as in the Poschiavo and Bregaglia valleys, it has always maintained close ties to Graubünden. In the smaller villages, where many of the houses are covered with stone slabs, time seems to have stood still. You hardly stop on your bike during the rapid descent towards the south. Surrounded by rocky cliffs, you roar along a well-maintained road with countless skid marks. The highway, which practically hangs from the mountain, seems a bit surreal. Later, a varied side road leads down to Mesocco. Magnificent views of the valley are revealed. Below the village, perched on a rocky outcrop, are the ruins of the Castello di Mesocco, the 11th-century ancestral castle of the Count of Misox. It is considered one of the most important in Graubünden and the largest in Switzerland. Roveredo is the main town in the lower Misox Valley. And what could be nicer here than a break in a cool grotto, enjoying a typical lunch menu and a glass of local wine? The village also boasts several beautiful 17th-century houses, such as the one designed by local architect and builder Enrico Zuccalli. A secluded stretch follows near Lumino, just after crossing the highway and the river. A forest path leads along the Moësa River over hill and dale. Passing an inviting forest garden grotto and some secluded swimming spots, you reach Arbedo-Castione. Here, the Moësa flows into the Ticino River. Text / Source: Schweizmobil.ch https://schweizmobil.ch/de/veloland/route-6/etappe-7

The lake can be bypassed with a mountain bike. Two gates can only be bypassed by stopping and pushing. :-(

The view from the small tower is truly magnificent. Definitely worth seeing if you pass by the area!

Short flat stretch that allows you to regain some strength.

One of the most beautiful passes IMHO! Very long from the south, never too steep (if you stay on the main road: do not take the bike path after Mesocco!), and you will experience the vegetation transitioning from palm trees to alpine climate! The S. Bernardino village is a bonus, take the chance to eat something and get a water refill before the last push.

Torre di Santa Maria The medieval residential tower was built in the 13th/14th century by the Counts of Sax. Overlooking the valley floor of the Misox, it was part of a territorial control system. The pentagonal tower is inspired by architectural models from central France. Text / Source: Raetia Association, grisun & romanisch https://www.visit-moesano.ch/de/chiesa-parrocchiale-santa-maria-assunta

The village of Santa Maria, with its parish church mentioned as early as 1219, was the religious and political capital of the Calanca Valley. The church's current appearance dates back to the early seventeenth century, a time when Capuchin monks settled in the adjacent hospice. The church of Santa Maria Assunta is a Romanesque religious building. Text / Source: Raetia Association, grisun & romanisch https://www.visit-moesano.ch/de/chiesa-parrocchiale-santa-maria-assunta