News, Background, Leisure
Splügen – a PostBus village is looking for a piano
The former school piano has been in the bus shelter for exactly four years, making “Splügen, Dorf” the most musical PostBus bus stop in Switzerland. Some passengers get off especially just to play the piano. Now the municipality is looking for a replacement for this well-worn instrument.
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Someone playing the piano in the “Splügen, Dorf” bus shelter.
In the video, two schoolgirls play the song «Da höch uf den Alpe».
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The 171 PostBus route takes passengers from Chur to Bellinzona, via Splügen. In summer, the 561 route through the Splügen Pass even goes as far as Chiavenna, Italy, and it’s worth stopping off in Splügen on the way. That’s because this Graubünden village, with its beautiful architecture and surroundings, has been home to an additional attraction since 2020.
In the bus shelter of the “Splügen, Dorf” PostBus bus stop, you will find a piano that anyone is free to use. “It is used all the time. We were actually astonished ourselves at how well travellers and locals alike have taken to this old piano. Sometimes, you even get to hear truly brilliant musical performances,” says municipal clerk John Turner proudly. Occasionally you get “volunteer musicians who give long, extensive performances for waiting passengers”.
The idea of having a public piano came about when the school acquired a new piano. To save the old one from the scrap heap, the school caretaker and the pupils together came up with the idea of giving the instrument a new lease of life in the bus shelter and bringing some joy to the villagers. No sooner said than done. “Absolutely everyone who sees, hears and plays it loves it,” says John Turner.
Even though there’s been no vandalism to date, Splügen is located nearly 1,500 metres above sea level, the bus shelter is unheated, and the piano is used a lot, which means its condition continues to deteriorate. The occasional note does sound a bit off. “This is no doubt charming, but at some point in the near future we will have to replace the current piano with a new used one,” explains John Turner. That’s because “Splügen, Dorf” is keen to remain the most musical PostBus bus stop in Switzerland.
The municipality of Rheinwald, which the village is part of, is looking for someone who doesn’t need their piano anymore and who is willing to donate it, including transportation. Needless to say, they would have lifetime rights to play the piano in Splügen. PostBus passengers and locals alike would be delighted.
If any piano owners are interested, we invite them to get in touch with the municipality:
+41 81 664 11 28
