The city of Laax is in the Surselva valley of Graubunden in Switzerland. Laax is somewhat of a sprawling place. Villages are dotted about in meadows and roads wind, hidden by pine trees, snow dumped prettily all over the place. Warm chalets give off wood smoke from their chimneys. The majestic Swiss Alps frown down upon the place. Laax is a different place altogether in the summer, the villages dotted about in white meadows change to green and the lakes fill with glacier melt. Lag da Cauma is the largest natural lake in the area. As always it is approached by a long winding track lined with pines, but at a wooden fence a spectacular view awaits.
At the bottom of the bowl lies a lake, which is every shade of blue from aquamarine to navy. Glacial flour gives the lake it’s brilliant blue. A scruffy island floats in the middle whilst pedalos and rowing boats whiz around it stopping at pontoons to deposit swimmers. A little ‘rack and pinion’ railway drops hoards of bathers at lunch and hauls them back at tea. Making a stop at the café on the terrace before plunging in. It is best not to come here on a hot day, as it is busy and it does not make a difference to water temperature. It is a glacial lake for a reason.
PLACE TO VISIT
Skiing - is the major activity here. In fact alpine skiing dominates the place, skiing is the reason that its bars are full hotels full and restaurants buzzing. Across the Alpenarena there are 220km² of pistes. The Laax gemeinde (local council/government) covers the area from Plaun to the Vorab. The resorts only glacier and highest point at 3018 meters. Skiiers are generally swiss, but recently foreign tourists have discovered the place causing more english to be spoken.
Swimming - the indoor pool in Laax
Ice-Skating - on the frozen Laaxersee.Bring your own skates.
Swimming - There are several gorgeous if cold lakes to swim but only in summer, Laaxersee and Lag la Cauma.
It is famous for winter sports (mainly skiing and snowboarding) and is part of the Weisse Arena Gruppe resort which combines the formerly separate resorts of Flims, Laax and Falera. In addition to winter sports, Laax is also known for summer sports such as hiking, downhill biking, and mountain biking. The village has views of the Signina group to the south and the Flimserstein to the north. The main facilities in the village include a swimming pool, a small supermarket, a post office and several shops, including a bakery.
Riders Palace is a hotel for snowboarders and skiers and is part of the Design Hotels group.
HOW TO REACH
Plane and Train - The efficient swiss trains run from Zurich airport to the main station, from there the intercity doubledecker train to Chur brings you within 25 kilometers of Laax. From here the Post Bus will take you all the way to Laax Dorf. This is a great way to mix with the locals on their day to day business. From the south of the alps, Milan Malpenza is the nearest airport here pick up the train to Lugano and then to Andermatt and over the Oberalp pass. Other routes go via the Engadine over the Albula pass or through the Vereina tunnel. This depends on whether you are travelling through Inn or Maloja regions of the Engadine.
By Car - Motorway No. 13 runs from Zurich (signposted to Chur) all the way to Tamins/Reichenau, where the Rhein splits into the Hinter and Vorder. From here take blue signs to Flims, Ilanz, Disentis on road No.19 which brings you into the resort. From the south of the alps you can approach over the San Bernadino pass in winter and Oberalp, Lukmanier and Albula passes in summer.
