| Canton of Grisons | |
 | |
Location  | |
Coat of arms and flag   | |
| State | Switzerland |
|---|---|
| Capital | Chur |
| Surface | 7,105 km² |
| Inhabitants | 197 550 (Dec 2016) |
| Tourism site | |
| Institutional website | |
Canton of Grisons is an administrative division of the Swiss Confederation.
To know
Graubünden is a mountainous canton which is dominated by the valleys of theEngadine and the Rhine. In addition, these have many side valleys that offer hidden and isolated splendors. From the Grisons rivers flow towards the Mediterranean Sea, the North Sea and the Black Sea; is considered the watershed ofEurope. It is a spectacular landscape, which is home to the the only national park in Switzerland. Graubünden combines wild and rugged landscapes with charming villages and a unique Romansh culture. The capital is the ancient Chur which has existed since Roman times ("Latin: Curia"). It is a small town with a completely cobbled old neighborhood with painted shutters. Like the rest of the canton it is modest; but some of the best outdoor sports in the world are practiced here and there are ancient mountain towns, breathtaking views, three official languages and a distinct culture.
Geographical notes
The River Reno forms a border with the rest of the Switzerland, the Liechtenstein and theAustria.
Spoken languages
Graubünden is the only canton in Switzerland to be officially trilingual: German, Italian and Romansh are spoken in several areas.
The German it is today the most widespread language in the canton. It is spoken as a first language by three quarters of the people. The spoken variant is a higher Alemannic dialect commonly called "Bündnerdeutsch". It is, even more so than most dialects in Switzerland, very different from standard German and mostly not understandable to Germans. However, all the locals also speak standard German.
The Romansh it is the second most spoken language in the canton. It was originally spoken in a larger area, now it is only spoken in a couple of valleys in Graubünden with around 30,000 native speakers remaining divided into five different dialects. Although the number of Romansh speakers is small, it is still an official language of Switzerland. Swiss francs are noted in this language and the Swiss public broadcaster has its own Romansh radio and television channel ("Radiotelevisiun Svizra Rumantscha"). As a traveler, you are unlikely to find yourself in any situation where you would need to speak Romansh. Being such a small minority, most native speakers are bilingual in German.
There are four valleys in the south of the canton near the border with Ticino is Italy who speak Italian.
As elsewhere in Switzerland, not everyone will be able to understand and speak Italian and few English. However, most young people will have learned a certain level of Italian and English at school and especially in tourist areas you shouldn't have any problems communicating.
Territories and tourist destinations
Urban centers
Other destinations
- Bernina - Italian-speaking district with the famous Bernina pass and Val Poschiavo
- Swiss National Park
- Val Bregaglia
How to get
There are no airports in Graubünden, so the easiest option is to take the train from Zurich or Milan, where there are international airports. You can also take the train to Zurich Bahnhof from other European cities, as it is an international train station.
How to get around
The Rhätische Bahn is the backbone of rail transport in Graubünden. Some lines are also operated by the Swiss Federal Railways (SBB), the Matterhorn Gotthard Railway and Thurbo. Trains are almost always on time and can take you to almost any place. Services are frequent, usually at least once an hour. Post buses will take you from the train stations to the villages.
Here A network map of the Grisons public transport system can be found.
It is worth buying a network ticket if you plan to travel to the canton. There is, for example, Allegra 1-day Travel Pass, GraubündenPass (2 days out of 5/5 days out of 14) o BÜGA (monthly or annual subscription).
What see
- Benedictine Convent of San Giovanni in Müstair. Unesco heritage in theEngadine Oriental.
- Vals. Thermal bath
Itineraries
What to do
- Bernina railway. The highest natural-grip railway in the Alps, as well as one of the steepest in the world, heritage ofUNESCO.
- Ski. It is the most popular winter sport in Graubünden. There are locations throughout the Engadine valley, Sankt Moritz is the most famous, but also in the Prättigau valley, Davos and Klosters, and in the Surselva valley. Flims Laax Falera is among the largest. In addition to these larger towns, there are many smaller towns found throughout the Grisons. There are 2,200 km of ski slopes in the canton.
- Hiking. It is the main summer activity. Cable cars, railways and ski lifts can help you get on or off at certain points, or you can walk it alone on the many trails that wind through the mountains, valleys and lakes of the Grisons. The views are absolutely stunning. One of the most famous hikes in this part of the Alps is the Via Spluga.
At the table
Traditional Romansh foods include Capuns, Rosti and Pizokel. Rosti is cooked with fried potato strips and melted cheese on top. From time to time, bacon and a fried egg are added on top of the Rosti.
Drinks
There beer it is the most popular alcoholic drink in Graubünden. Beer Calanda Bräu is produced in Chur. Even the Wine it is produced in the canton. Von Salis grow vines in the villages Malans, Jenins is Maienfeld, which is unusual for Switzerland.
Me too' mineral water it is bottled in the Grisons. The water Valser is bottled in Vals and Calanda Wasser is bottled in Lenzerheide. TheApple juiceAvailable in alcoholic and non-alcoholic forms, it is a refreshing apple drink, similar to cider.
Safety
As far as crime is concerned, there is nothing to fear if the normal principles of common sense are observed. There may be areas of Chur which could be dangerous after dark.
As for hiking, mountaineering, rafting, etc. their safety rules must be strictly adhered to. Normal hiking trails are usually marked in yellow, mountain hiking trails with white-red-white stripes can be challenging!
Other projects
Wikipedia contains an entry concerning Canton of Grisons
Commons contains images or other files on Canton of Grisons
