Arosa Bear Sanctuary (Bärenland Aros)

The Bärenland Arosa, the Arosa Bear Sanctuary, is a large mountain enclosure above the resort of Arosa in Graubünden where brown bears rescued from poor conditions live in a semi-natural setting. It was created by the animal welfare organisation Vier Pfoten, Four Paws, and opened in 2018 as a home for bears that had been kept in bad conditions in captivity elsewhere in Europe, such as small cages or poor zoos. The idea is to give them space to behave like bears, in a habitat that resembles the forests and slopes of their natural range, rather than to present them as a spectacle.

The enclosure is built on a slope of several hectares at about two thousand metres above sea level, in the area of the Weisshorn lifts, with meadows, rocks, trees, streams and ponds, and with fences designed to blend into the landscape. The bears have caves and dens where they can retire, and in the high mountain climate they follow a natural rhythm, with a long winter rest. The sanctuary takes the setting seriously. The bears are not fed on a schedule for the benefit of visitors but are given food scattered across the terrain, so that they search and forage, which encourages natural behaviour. Visitors follow a path along the fence and can use observation points that give views down into the enclosure, with information boards explaining the individual animals’ stories and the problems of keeping wild animals in captivity.

The experience is therefore different from a zoo. Seeing the bears is not guaranteed, because they may be resting in their dens, hidden among trees or on the far side of the slope, and many people see them only at a distance. Patience and binoculars help, and early morning or late afternoon may be the best times. In winter the bears hibernate for a good part of the season, so there may be little to see, and it is worth asking about their activity before you go. Educational displays explain how bears live, why they are protected in the Alps, where wild bears occasionally appear, and how people and bears can share the same landscapes.

The sanctuary can be reached on foot from lifts on the mountain, with paths designed to be suitable for a wide range of visitors, including families and people with limited mobility. Opening times follow the seasons and the lift operation, and they change from year to year, so check the sanctuary’s official website and the lift timetable before you set out. The mountain air is thin and the weather can change, so bring layers.

The sanctuary suits families, animal lovers and anyone interested in conservation and animal welfare. Allow two hours, and combine it with a walk on the Weisshorn side or the Squirrel Trail.