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About this place
Stadtgarten in Chur is a small public park in the capital of the Swiss canton of Graubünden. It covers roughly 0.3 hectares just west of the Old Town, and Chur Tourismus lists it among the city's recommended outings. What sets it apart is its past: for centuries this green space was a graveyard.
How did the Stadtgarten come about?
Burials took place here from 1529. Between 1866 and 1868 the cemetery was remodelled into a park, in the years when strolling and promenading had become a popular pastime and towns across Europe were laying out public greenery close to their centres. That makes the Stadtgarten one of Chur's older city parks.
What is there to see?
Traces of the old graveyard remain: gravestones are set into the walls around the park. Two monuments are worth a look as well:
- a memorial to the poet Johann Gaudenz von Salis (1762–1834), a notable literary figure from Graubünden,
- a memorial to those who died on military service during the world wars.
The park is compact, so a visit takes a quarter of an hour or so. Treat it as a stop on a longer walk through town rather than a destination in its own right.
How do you get to the Stadtgarten?
The park lies on the edge of the Old Town, in western central Chur. Chur Tourismus gives the address as Grabenstrasse, 7000 Chur, while other listings name the neighbouring Fontanastrasse. Coordinates are about 46.850 N, 9.530 E. It is a few minutes' walk from the Old Town and easy to combine with a visit to nearby Fontanapark.
When is a good time to visit?
The Stadtgarten works best as a short rest, especially on warm days when its greenery offers shade after exploring the narrow Old Town lanes. It is a quiet corner for a stroll, and for anyone curious about local history it is a chance to see the grave slabs and memorials up close.
Frequently asked questions
Was the Stadtgarten in Chur once a cemetery? Yes. Burials began in 1529, and the park was laid out in 1866–1868.
How big is the park? About 0.3 hectares, making it a small city-centre park and the fourth largest in Chur.
Which monuments stand in the park? A memorial to the poet Johann Gaudenz von Salis and one for those who died on military service during the world wars.
Where exactly is it? West of Chur's Old Town, around Grabenstrasse and Fontanastrasse.
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