Grisons

The Grisons, also known as Graubünden, is one of the twenty-six cantons of Switzerland. It is the largest and easternmost canton and is often called "Little Switzerland" because of its rich and varied landscapes. The capital of the Grisons is Chur, and the canton is home to many mountain valleys and famous tourist spots like Davos and St. Moritz.

The Grisons is special because it is the only part of Switzerland where three languages are spoken: German, Romansh, and Italian. Romansh is one of Switzerland's national languages and is very important to the local culture. The canton is also known for its beautiful railways, run by the Rhaetian Railway, which connect its many valleys.

Long ago, the area was part of the Roman province called Raetia. Over time, local groups formed alliances called the Three Leagues, which later joined the Old Swiss Confederacy. In 1803, the Grisons became one of the cantons of Switzerland. Today, it remains a popular place for people to visit, especially for winter sports and exploring the Alps.

Geography and climate

The Grisons is the largest and easternmost canton in Switzerland. It is shaped by the Alps, featuring a wide range of climates and ecosystems. This area includes parts on both sides of the Alps, from the northern plains at Maienfeld to the southern plains at Roveredo. A large part of the canton is the Engadin, an inner Alpine valley facing eastern Europe.

The Grisons reaches elevations from 260 to 4,049 metres above sea level, making it one of Switzerland's highest and lowest cantons. Its landscape is very rugged, with many high settlements. The highest mountain is Piz Bernina. The region includes several river valleys drained by the Rhine, Po, Adige, Danube, and Inn rivers.

The Grisons has many mountain lakes, both natural and artificial. The largest natural lakes are Lake Sils, Lake Silvaplana, Lago di Poschiavo, and Lake St. Moritz. The canton is known for its Alpine resort towns like Davos and St. Moritz.

The climate in the Grisons varies greatly. In the south, you can find vineyards and olives, while the highest peaks have snow all year. Some valleys, like the Engadin, are drier, while others are wetter. The area is 7,105.2 square kilometres, making it the largest canton in Switzerland. It includes the only official Swiss National Park and borders four other Swiss cantons and three countries: Liechtenstein, Austria, and Italy.

History

Further information: Three Leagues and Bündner Wirren

The area now known as Grisons has a long history. People lived there thousands of years ago, even before the time of the Romans. The capital city, Chur, is one of the oldest cities in Switzerland, with signs of people living there as far back as 3900–3500 BC.

In ancient times, the region was part of a Roman area called Raetia. Later, it became linked with the diocese of Chur. Over time, three groups joined together to form what we now call Grisons. These groups were called leagues, and they worked together for protection and support. Their union helped shape the area into the canton it is today.

The three leagues eventually joined with the Old Swiss Confederacy, which helped them become recognized as part of Switzerland. In later years, Grisons faced challenges from other powers but managed to keep its independence. By 1803, Grisons officially became a canton of Switzerland, and it has continued to develop since then.

Government

The Grand Council is the main law-making group in Grisons. It has 120 members who are chosen by people in 39 different areas every four years. These members meet in Chur, the capital city.

The government of Grisons has five leaders who are also chosen by the people. They serve for four years and can be chosen for up to three times. The rules for Grisons were last updated in 2003, and they focus on keeping freedom, peace, and fairness while helping everyone live well and protecting the environment. These rules also support using many languages and keeping different cultures.

Politics

The Grisons, also known as Graubünden, has its own way of voting in big elections for Switzerland. Different groups, or parties, take turns being popular there. Sometimes a party might not even appear on the ballot in some elections.

^a FDP was called FDP before 2009, but after 2009 it became FDP.The Liberals.

^b "*" shows that the party was not on the ballot in this part of Switzerland.

Political subdivisions

The Grisons has several regions, each with its own main town. These regions include Albula, Bernina, Engiadina Bassa/Val Müstair, Imboden, Landquart, Maloja, Moesa, Plessur, Prättigau/Davos, Surselva, and Viamala Region.

There are 100 towns or areas called municipalities in the Grisons as of January 2025.

Demographics

The people who live in the Grisons are called Bündner. As of the end of 2020, about 200,000 people lived there. Many of these people practice either Catholicism or Protestantism, with a slightly more people choosing Catholicism.

The Grisons is special because it has three official languages: German, Italian, and Romansh. Most people speak German, but many also speak Romansh, especially in certain areas. Romansh has several different dialects and is one of Switzerland’s national languages.

Economy

Agriculture plays a big role in keeping remote valleys populated and cared for, with support from both national and local authorities. About eight percent of people work in farming and forestry, and half of what they produce is organic. Farmers grow food and take care of animals like cows, sheep, and goats, especially in the mountains during summer. Some areas also grow wine, corn, and chestnuts, thanks to warmer weather.

Many people also work in industry and services. About twenty-four percent are in industry jobs, and sixty-eight percent work in services. Tourism is very important, making up fourteen percent of the money the area earns. Popular places for visitors include Davos, Klosters, Lenzerheide, Arosa, Flims, St. Moritz, and Pontresina, where people enjoy skiing and other outdoor activities. St. Moritz has been a famous winter spot since 1864 and has hosted big winter sports events.

Transport

The Grisons canton has many important mountain passes, especially for travel going north to south. Moving people and goods through this area has always been challenging. Old paths from Roman times can still be seen on places like the Julier Pass. Real roads began appearing around 1816, and some of these old roads are still well kept today.

The Grisons does not have major rail lines crossing the Alps like other parts of Switzerland. The main railway runs through the Rhine Valley and ends at Chur station. The Rhaetian Railway connects most areas of the canton. Public transport reaches even very small villages, with buses and trains working together to serve everyone. Some famous train routes, like the Glacier Express and the Bernina Express, travel through this area. In winter, some mountain roads close, but others stay open. The Engadin valley has its own airport, Samedan Airport, but it does not have regular flights. People in the Grisons often fly from Zurich Airport or airports in Italy like Malpensa Airport, Linate Airport, and Bergamo Airport.

Culture

See also: List of cultural property of national significance in Switzerland: Graubünden

The Grisons is a very diverse part of Switzerland, but it shares a strong mountain culture. People there live in small, isolated villages, much like in the famous story Heidi by Johanna Spyri. Traditional customs include moving animals between high and low pastures each season, called Alpine transhumance, and celebrating Chalandamarz when winter ends.

The area has many old castles and ruins. One famous castle is Tarasp, which watches over a valley. There are also three important places chosen as World Heritage Sites: the Benedictine Convent of Saint John, the Swiss Tectonic Arena Sardona, and the beautiful Rhaetian Railway through the Albula and Bernina mountains.

The Grisons is known for special foods. One popular dish is dried beef called Bündnerfleisch. There are also special sausages like Salsiz, cheeses, and dishes such as Capuns, which are dumplings filled with meat and wrapped in chard leaves. Another tasty food is Maluns, made from boiled potatoes mixed with flour and fried. In the valley of Poschiavo, people enjoy Pizzoccheri, which are noodles made from buckwheat. A favorite dessert is Bündner Nusstorte, a pastry with walnuts and honey.

Wines are made in some parts of the Grisons, especially around Fläsch and Malans, where many types of grapes grow. The biggest brewery is Calanda Bräu in Chur.

The Grisons has its own radio station, Radiotelevisiun Svizra Rumantscha, which is part of the Swiss Broadcasting Corporation. Important newspapers include Die Südostschweiz (in German) and La Quotidiana (in Romansh).

Nature

The Grisons helped bring back animals like the ibex in the early 1900s. These animals had almost disappeared from the Alps except for a small area in Italy. Later, they also brought back the bearded vulture and lynx in the 2000s, though lynx are still not very common.