The Val Müstair is considered one of Switzerland’s most beautiful mountain valleys, with well-kept natural landscapes and quaint villages that have maintained their original character over decades. Lü is the smallest yet highest situated village in the region. In fact, its proud altitude of 1,920 meters above sea level, make Lü not only one of Europe’s highest lying villages, but certainly one of the very few inhabited throughout the year. The harmonious village picture is further shaped by a small church stemming from late medieval times. The Gasthaus Hirschen, an old style building typical to the region, serves local specialities with limited capacity for a maximum of ten overnight guests, but a number of private households in the village are more than happy to rent rooms and accommodate guests. Lü’s population of 60 long shared a political community with Lüsai, until the first valley merge with five other communities took place in Graubünden in 2008.

Lü was once one of the most important stopping points for merchants on the way over the Pass da Costainas to Scharl in Unterengadin – And today, one of the most trodden hiking paths. Following improvements of the Ofenpass road between 1870 and 1872, the village then found itself completely off the beaten track, but this has its advantages from a tourist’s point of view. The tranquil and traffic-free oasis is reached via a side-road on one of the PostBus routes, and ends with a small parking lot just outside the village.

Summer

Lü is truly paradise for hikers in the summer, where an extensive network of signposted paths invite one to lengthy hikes, mountain climbs and pass crossings way above the rest of the world. The summits in the region of Lü are not dangerous and can be climbed without a guide – and the National Park is close by to your west. A high path with stunning views of the Ortler-Massiv leads from the Ofenpass over Alp Champatsch to Lü – and on to Müstair through openings in the surrounding pinewood forest. Landscapes are particularly attractive for hikers in spring when nature once again bursts into blossom, or in autumn when the larch trees turn golden brown. Lü is a dream for nature lovers and botanists, where rare orchis species thrive in the marshlands close to the village, along with figworts, hyacinths and medicinal plants swarmed by hundreds of butterflies.

Winter

In winter a well-prepared two-kilometre-long sledge run leads through snowy woods down to Tschierv. Visitors can take a thrilling ride either day or night, as the run is illuminated. Absolute highlight is a full-moon run with organised transport and warming barley soup in the village.