Stage 6: Ilanz - Disentis

Halftime – let’s kick off the second part of the Glacier Bike Tour! It’s incredible how much we have seen and explored so far – and this won't change over the upcoming 5 stages. We start from Ilanz on the Rhein-Route No. 2 along the river (and the Rhaetian Railway) through alder woods and the 55 hectares of Ognas da Pardiala floodplain landscape populated with abundant species.

In Danis we change to the right side of the Rhine and take a tiny detour towards the village, where you find Switzerland's first street art hostel, the Autra Caussa, right at the street. Every year, international artists redesign the building’s walls with their enormous works of art. Take the time to tour around the house to see all the street art pieces. 

The next stop again offers a special art experience: OGNA is the name of the largest walk-in sculpture in Switzerland, which you find right next to the route in Trun, the birthplace of the artist Matias Spescha. The winding structure is 48m long, 30m wide, 5.5m high and open at the top. Find more details here. 

After Surrein, on the final stretch of this stage, the moderate climb becomes steeper up to Disentis, which is located on 1,130m. You can see the monumental 1,400-year-old Benedictine monastery from afar (Link zu Geschichte & Geschichten). You can not only visit the museum or have coffee in the beautiful gardens, but you can also sleep in the monastery’s very own hotel rooms. 

• The Trun campsite with The Ustria Ogna restaurant is part of the Trun campsite. You find it’s impressive wooden building right on the banks of the Rhine and on the Senda d'art sculpture trail (near OGNA). 

• For over two centuries, the Candinas distillery in Surrein has been producing schnapps, refining local fruits. Next to the distillery, the family sells snacks, and refreshments in a small store. 

• In the Disentis Monastery, you can enjoy coffee and cake (or the St. Placi monastery beer) in the idyllic gardens among the rose bushes with a magnificent view across the Surselva.  

• The Autra Caussa in Danis is Switzerland’s first Street Art Hostel.  

• OGNA is Switzerland's largest walk-in sculpture.  

• The Disentis Abbey is the oldest Benedictine monastery north of the Alps

The monumental sculpture OGNA in Trun – hometown of artist Matias Spescha (1925–2008) – is truly unique and open at all times for visitors. Unfortunately, it was only realized in May 2013, five years after the artist’s death. But Switzerland's largest walk-in sculpture creates a special tranquility, an air of contemplation and fascination unity in its immense winding form. Make sure to play with the acoustics in this concrete structure.  

Close to OGNA you find the 1,5km long art trail Senda d'art with 70 sculptures by national and international artists made of wood, iron, bronze, aluminum and stone. 

The Benedictine monastery of Disentis was founded by the Franconian wandering monk Sigisbert as a hermitage around the year 700. The foundation walls of the first St. Martin's Church dating back to 720 are still preserved. Today, the monastery also houses a school building - Werner Schmidt designed the boys' boarding school in 1999 and Gion A. Caminada designed the girls' boarding school in 2005. The baroque building also houses a museum, a café and – since 2014 – a hotel.  

It is a truly unique experience to stay overnight in the baroque walls of the Abbey Disentis. The minimalist rooms are devoted to the essentials, yet are beautiful and comforting. 

You can find more accommodation in the region here.