Hike to the "Eretsloch" where ore was once sought and perhaps also found

The so-called "Eretsloch", a tunnel about 15 meters long, into which you can enter by first bending down for a few meters, then walking upright, has its story. Exact details have not been passed down, and the spelling of its name varies in the old records between Erez- and Eretsloch.

Peter von Finer, the most important figure from the families of the oldest noble house of Grüsch, was the one who had this tunnel driven around the year 1535 in the Landquarter mountain to extract iron ore there. Nothing is known about the success, but even today sparkling rock inside the cave reveals that the attempt was not unfounded.

Peter von Finer also operated mining elsewhere. Moreover, as an influential politician of his time, he was appointed to many offices; in 1527 he was Podestat in Tirano, in 1529 Vicari, and in 1533 governor in Valtellina. From 1542 to 1556 he was bailiff over the Prättigau region at Castels castle and from 1541 to 1545 owner of the Fideris bath. In 1537 he and his wife Maria von Flachsland are mentioned as buyers of a perpetual annual interest on a house in Grüsch (today's Krone) and a few years later as owners of the house.

Text: Luzi Nett, Grüsch May 5, 1996