Sent
A proud village
Fine culture, Italian style “palazzi”, living history formed by ex pats of the village, an extensive offer of hiking and biking trails. Sent is located on a sunny terrace 1440 meters above sea level in the lower Engadin valley, opposite to the majestic Piz Lischana mountain. Around 1850, Sent was the largest village in the lower Engadin valley with about 1160 inhabitants. Today about 900 people are permanently living in the village.
The people from Sent emigrating abroad (mainly to Italy) to earn a living are being called “Randulins” which translates into swallows. A few of them had a lot of success abroad, for example as famous “sugar bakers” in Italy. Back “home” in Sent they built majestic Italian style “palazzi”, which are still occupied by their relatives in summer (especially during “ferragosto” in August). The spiked tower of the church San Lurench was built in 1900 – it cannot be overlooked from many different places in the village including from the balcony of the “Chasetta Allegra”.
Families are cordially welcome
Sent is a very family-friendly village with many families living here permanently or staying here on holiday. There is a great playground for younger (and older…) children, a very large soccer field in summer, a further field to play beach volley etc. The children and teenagers meet in the evenings to play soccer – a great experience. During winter, the soccer field is converted into an ice rink, skates can be rented on the spot; in addition, there is a magic carpet for the little ones just above the village to try first steps on the skis etc.
The “Chasetta Allegra” welcomes children cordially. There is a lot to be discovered: many toys, puppets, cars and family games (mostly in German, sorry… – but it can be equally fun to play the monopoly game in the Swiss version…). Or is it preferred to try the adventure park down by the river, do some river rafting or drive a scooter downhill from Motta Naluns or try a horse ride in a landscape like in Canada?
Activities in and around Sent
We have summarised below a selection of possible further activities and excursions – obviously fully biased by our personal preference.
With the establishment in 1914, the first national park in the Alps and Central Europe was created. In the Swiss National Park no animals are hunted and no dead trees are being removed etc. Covering an area of 172km2, the Swiss National Park has much to offer: 80 km hiking trails, wildlife viewing, nature trails, guided tours, digital hiking guide with GPS navigation, nature education, family and children's excursions and lectures.
The new museum in Zernez is worth a trip and not only on rainy days… Great animal films and a good souvenir shop.
www.nationalpark.ch
A bell for Ursli – a very popular story in Switzerland around a boy growing up in a local village. The “Schellenursli” book and further books have been translated into English and other languages, see: Orell Füssli. The book has been illustrated by the famous local artist Alois Carigiet. Guarda is the village to the book, where Selina Chönz (the author) has been living for many years herself. There is also a very nice hiking trail called “Schellenursli-Weg” telling the story of “A bell for Ursli” and proposing related activities for children.
The village of Tschlin, sitting high above the river Inn, has got more to offer than just beer, of course. However, it is quite remarkable what success the locally brewed beer is having. You can buy it everywhere bottled but in the restaurant Macun in Tschlin you can enjoy it from the tap. The well known local musicians Ils Fränzils da Tschlin live and work here – more information can be found through the links below. There is also a nice walking trail from Tschlin downhill to Strada.
www.bieraria.ch
www.hotelmacun.ch
www.fraenzlis.ch
The butcher Ludwik Hatecke in Scuol offers a workshop for children to prepare their own “Salsiz”, a local dry meat sausage. A great experience!
www.hatecke.ch
The sleigh will pick you at your front door and will drive you into the local valley “Val Sinestra” covered by snow. (They also drive you back…). You can order your personal sleigh with Family Pua.
In the vaulted cellar a museum with graphics of Alberto Giacometti. An almost complete collection of his work. Nowhere else exhibited to this extent. Delicacies, rarities, beauties. In the house the photo collection of Ernst Scheidegger. He accompanied his friend Alberto and documented his creations in Paris with the camera. You stroll through the corridors. Immerse into the black and white picture world. The smell of atelier, oil paint and turpentine. Plaster dust. In the public space here and there a work of Diego Giacometti. Discreetly placed, restrained, in line with his character. In the rooms the originals of other artists. In private. Inspiration and muse. You lean back. Quiet.
www.alberto-giacometti-museum.ch
The artist Not Vital bought the park in 1999, set up the Not dal mot foundation and began, together with his brother Duri Vital, the restoration works. They felled trees, restored the park’s structure, revived it, planted flowers and repaired the pool. And a new feature was added: sculptures in the place for the place. You now cross the rushing mountain stream on donkey heads, a house is half built on water, a staircase made from murano glass leads to a house of glass, sculptures hang off trees – a land of Cockaigne has been created.
www.notvital.ch
CULINARY DELIGHTS IN AND AROUND SENT
Below are some insider tips – there are many more restaurants to discover, of course.
Beautiful sun deck outside Sent, a very good address for coffee and snacks in winter and summer. In winter they also do bob sledding and fondue combinations.
www.vastur.ch
On your way from Sent to Sur-En at the main road in the valley you can eat fantastic pizze and pasta – we believe the best pizza north of the Alps…
Phone 081 866 33 41
South Tyrol in Switzerland – a very nice excursion in the middle of nature, well accessible by bike or by foot from Sent (you have to cross bridges hanging over small rivers) or from Vnà. Open in summer and winter.
www.zuort.ch
Good pick, especially for fish. Easy to reach from Sent by postal car.
www.traube.ch
Traditional French kitchen, very nice seasonal specials. 15 points Gault Millau.
www.schlosshoteltarasp.ch
Excellent restaurant, nice garden and well selected wines – and everything just across the street. What else do you want…
www.aldier.ch
Shopping in and around Sent
There are many shopping opportunities in and around Sent.
Everything for the daily needs of carnivores, very good game meat and various “salsiz” sausages.
www.frisch-wild.ch
Great bakery (also for cakes) with shops in Scuol and Sent. Just across the main square in Sent.
www.benderer.ch
Very good bakery, which opens on Sunday mornings during the season!
www.nusstorte-birnbrot-birnenbrot-bio-baeckerei-konditorei.ch
Nice and tasty cheese specialities (in winter also fondue and raclette) and further dairy products.
www.lataria-sent.ch
A must for friends of flowers. Picturesque location by the river, the “Giardinaria Bischoff and Lys” has created a true paradise that became well known beyond the borders of the Engadin valley. In winter, Madlaina Lys creates candlesticks and other art objects from ceramics.
Phone 081 862 27 42
www.nzz.ch
There is a very nice clothing shop in Scuol – mountain design clothes (but not necessarily outdoor).
www.alprausch.com
Infrastructure in and around Sent
You will find an excellent pharmacy in Scuol and various doctors as well as a hospital. There are plenty of sport shops, shoe shops and a large Coop, Volg and Denner for grocery shopping in Scuol.
Next, please… Your local resident doctor in Sent if you need one.
Telefon 081 860 03 01
www.hausarztpraxis-sent.ch
Excellent pharmacy, broad product range.
A few addresses for emergencies and the like...
www.medinfo-engadin.ch
There is a good local hospital in Scuol.
www.cseb.ch