Museum Stamparia Strada

About the museum

In an Engadine house from the late 16th century, Nuot Cla Janett set up his printing shop in 1689, called Stamparia in Romansh. Janett had been involved as head printer of the Scuol press in printing the "Sacra Bibla" and had founded his own business in Tschlin in 1679. Until 1881, type was set, printed and bound in Strada; many culturally significant writings appeared here, mostly in Romansh, even a newspaper ("Il Progress"). In 1818 the Scharplatz family took over the printing shop, and their descendants lived in the house for about another hundred years.

After the death of the last resident, the property was placed in a specially founded foundation, the Fundaziun Stamparia Strada (1988). With support from the municipality of Valsot, the canton and the federal government, the house was renovated in keeping with its style; the drive for a museum came above all from Hans Kobler (1929–2012). The printing museum opened in 1998. It is listed as a Swiss cultural property of national significance.

The permanent exhibition shows how type was set, printed and bound here from the 17th to the 19th century, with working machines, a collection of Romansh prints from the 16th to the 19th century, and rooms on domestic culture and on the music of the Lower Engadine. Since 2025 there has also been a printing workshop where visitors can print and make paper themselves under guidance.

Highlights

• Historic printing house of 1689 with working printing machines
• Collection of Romansh prints from the 16th to the 19th century
• Replica of the toggle-lever hand press and Linotype line-casting machine
• Domestic culture, house music and Fränzli music of the Lower Engadine
• Printing workshop with courses and workshops since 2025

Permanent exhibitions

• Engadiner Druckkunst – Papermaking, hand typesetting, Linotype line setting, printing on a toggle-lever press and platen presses, and bookbinding show how a book was made in the 17th to 19th century.
• Sammlung romanischer Drucke – The finest and most interesting works from an important collection of Romansh printed matter of the 16th to 19th century.
• Wohnkultur und Musik – Furnished rooms show the coexistence of trade, living and farming in the 19th century; instruments, photographs and sheet music recall the folk music of the Lower Engadine.

Founded

1998

Operated by

Fundaziun Stamparia Strada

Admission & discounts

50% discount with Kulturlegi. Free with the Swiss Museum Pass, Raiffeisen card, hiking leader ID and for members of the support association. Payment by cash or Twint.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible: not available
• Elevator: no information
• Accessible restroom: no information
• 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

The museum is not barrier-free: on the ground floor one or two steps of 15 cm must be negotiated, and the basement and first floor can only be reached via longer flights of stairs.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Hands-on stations

Children accompanied by adults have free admission. Visitors can set letters into a line, make paper and print; there are separate activities for school classes.

Getting there & parking

From Scuol about 15 minutes by car on the main road towards Martina; after about 14 kilometres follow the sign to Strada. The museum is in the centre of the village.

Amenities & dining

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

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