Chasa Jaura Val Müstair

About the museum

Chasa Jaura in Valchava is a farmhouse from the 17th century, typical of the region, and is considered one of the most beautiful in the Val Müstair. Dates carved above the outside staircase and in the roof truss point to a remodeling between 1724 and 1727. For a time the house served as the municipal building; since 1971 it has been under cantonal heritage protection.

In the same year, the association Chasa Jaura was founded to collect and preserve objects and documents on the culture, history and language of the Val Müstair. With support from the canton of Graubünden, the house was restored and opened in 1973 as an ethnographic museum and cultural center for the valley; on the site of the former barn, a hall for exhibitions and lectures was built.

The historic rooms show the everyday life of earlier generations in the valley. Every summer a contemporary art exhibition is added, along with a cultural program of concerts, readings, films and lectures which, in close cooperation with the Lia Rumantscha, promotes the Romansh language and culture. In 1977 the collector Erich Valär donated more than 150 paintings and sculptures to the association, including works by Marc Chagall, Ernst Barlach, Otto Dix and Käthe Kollwitz, which are shown in the house from time to time. For the museum's 50th anniversary, the Senda da las linguas, an audio walk around Valchava, was created in 2023.

Highlights

• 17th-century farmhouse under cantonal heritage protection
• Hammer forge, alpine dairy and black kitchen as evidence of everyday life in the past
• Annual summer exhibition of contemporary art
• Erich Valär collection with works by Chagall, Barlach, Dix and Kollwitz
• Cultural program on the Romansh language and culture
• Senda da las linguas audio walk around Valchava

Permanent exhibition

• Talmuseum – Wohnkultur der Val Müstair – The historic rooms of the farmhouse, with hammer forge, alpine dairy and black kitchen, show how people in the valley used to live and work.

Founded

1973

Operated by

Verein Chasa Jaura

Admission & discounts

Members of the Chasa Jaura association enter free. Admission to cultural events according to the program.

Accessibility

• Partially wheelchair accessible
• Elevator: no information
• Accessible restroom: not available
• Accessible parking: no information
• Service dogs welcome: no information
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

Limited wheelchair access: a staircase with several steps and no handrail leads to the entrance, and there is a spiral staircase in the exhibition area. The toilets are narrow and have no grab rails. Detailed information is in the museum's Ginto entry.

Kids & families

• Baby changing facilities: not available

Getting there & parking

Valchava is on the Ofenbergstrasse. By car from the north via the Vereina car shuttle and over the Ofenpass (about 45 minutes from the south portal); from the east via the Reschenpass and Mals to the border at Müstair.

Amenities & dining

• Museum shop

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent
• Private parties

Up to 52 guests.

Hall for lectures, concerts, association meetings, family celebrations, apéros and courses; seating arranged as desired, office kitchen with crockery, equipment for audiovisual presentations and, on request, a salon piano.

Plan your visit