Switzerland · Albula RailwayValley Train Window
From Bergün to Preda, the train corkscrews through three spiral tunnels to climb 417 metres.
What you’ll hear
- Rail rhythm
- River outside
- Cowbells
In the 3D scene you can change the time, season and weather, or follow the local time.
About this place
The Albula Railway opened in 1903, crossing the Alps to the Engadin, and became a World Heritage site in 2008. Its hardest stretch runs from Bergün to Preda: 6.5 km apart as the crow flies and 417 m apart in height, so three spiral tunnels and two hairpin tunnels stretch the line to about 12 km. The larches peak in mid-October; in winter the closed pass road becomes a sled run.
Bergün is the old village on the valley floor, where the 13th-century La Tuor tower and the church spire rise above Engadin-style houses and the young Albula runs in a deep gully. Cattle graze the meadows, marmots and chamois live on the high slopes, and in winter flocks of Alpine choughs drop into the village. Preda station, at 1,789 m, has only had year-round residents since the railway came.
Through the year
A rough guide from published sources, not monthly measurements.
Month by month
- JanuarySnowy valley, in shadow by early afternoon
- FebruaryDeep winter, longer days
- MarchSledging season usually ends mid-month
- AprilMarmots wake; the valley thaws
- MayLarches put out new needles
- JuneMeadows bloom; snow retreats uphill
- JulyHaymaking begins
- AugustMarmots fatten up for winter
- SeptemberCattle come down from the high pastures
- OctoberLarches peak mid-month
- NovemberNeedles drop; snow on the peaks
- DecemberSnow settles; the sled run opens
Four seasons
Late May · Fresh green
The valley meadows green first, larches put out new needles, and snow lingers higher up.
Mid-July · High summer
Haymaking leaves stripes across the meadows, and marmots stand guard on the high slopes.
Mid-October · Golden larches
The larches are at their most golden, set against the dark spruce of the valley.
Late December · Snowy valley
By 3 pm the valley floor is in shadow; after dark the sled run lights up along the road.
Best moments
Golden larches
Oct 15 · 13:05 · Clear
Mid-October, larches at their most golden: noon sun fills the valley as gold meadows and forest slide past.
Sea of fog at dawn
May 28 · 06:00 · Clear
At dawn fog fills the valley floor, the summits catch the first red light, and the train climbs along the edge of the fog.
Spring rain
May 28 · 13:20 · Rain
May rain on the window, fresh green meadows, the last snow hidden in cloud, and only the rhythm of the wheels.
First light on the peaks
Jul 15 · 06:10 · Clear
Six on a summer morning: the sun lights the summits while the village below is still in shadow.
High summer noon
Jul 15 · 13:25 · Clear
July, the valley at its greenest: cattle on the meadows, and with the window open, cowbells and the Albula river.
Bright snow in early spring
Mar 20 · 08:55 · Clear
A March morning with sun across the still-snowy valley, the brightest snow of the year.
Winter stars
Dec 20 · 22:30 · Clear
A December night: village lights on the snow, clear stars, and the warm glow of the carriage lamp.
Terrain and track follow swisstopo elevation data and OpenStreetMap, with the train looping between Bergün and Preda; buildings and animals are stylised, and marmots and chamois are drawn larger than life.
In the 3D scene you can change the time, season and weather, or follow the local time.
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