Chur Cathedral, dedicated to the Assumption of the Virgin Mary, anchors the upper old town on a terrace above the Rhine valley. The current building was constructed between 1150 and 1272, though the site has been a place of Christian worship since the 4th century. The cathedral shows the fingerprints of several architectural traditions — Romanesque nave, Gothic choir, and decorative elements that reflect the city's position at the crossing of major Alpine trade routes.
The interior is worth taking time with. The main altar is a late Gothic polyptych from around 1490, densely carved and still brightly coloured, depicting scenes from the life of the Virgin. The crypt beneath the choir holds the remains of Lucius of Britain, the semi-legendary patron saint of Chur, in an 8th-century reliquary. The treasury, open separately, contains further medieval objects including vestments, processional crosses, and manuscripts.
The cathedral stands in a small close at the top of the old town, reached from the lower pedestrian zone through a cobbled lane. Entry to the cathedral itself is free; the treasury charges a modest fee and has limited opening hours.