Graubünden
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- The title of this article contains the character ü. Where it is unavailable or not wanted, the name may be written as Graubuenden.
| Kanton Graubünden Chantun Grischun Cantone dei Grigioni |
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| Capital | Chur | ||
| Population (2003) | 185,700 (Ranked 15th) | ||
| - Density | 26 /km² | ||
| Area | 7105 km² (Ranked 1st) | ||
| Highest point | Piz Bernina 4049 m | ||
| Joined | 1803 | ||
| Abbreviation | GR | ||
| Languages | German, Romansh, Italian | ||
| Executive | Regierungsrat Regenza, Governo (5) |
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| Legislative | Grosser Rat, cussegl grond, Grand Consiglio (120) | ||
| Municipalities | 211 municipalities | ||
| Districts | 11 Bezirke | ||
| Website | www.GR.ch | ||
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Graubünden ' is the biggest and is farthest to the east of the cantons of Switzerland. The name means "Gray Union" in German.
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[change] Geography
The area of the canton is 7,105 km². Only one third of this land is used for farming. Forests cover 20% of the total area. The canton has many mountains that make up the highlands of the Rhine and Inn river valleys. Many of its scenic areas are part of the Swiss National Park or the Ela Nature Park.
There are many important peaks in the Grison Alps, including the Tödi at 3,614 meters and the highest peak Piz Bernina at 4,049 meters. Many of the mountain ranges feature huge glaciers, such as at the Adula, the Albula, the Silvretta, the Bernina, the Bregaglia and the Rätikon ranges. The mountain ranges in the central area contain many of the deepest vallies in Switzerland.
The canton borders Liechtenstein to the north, Austria to the north and the east, Italy to the south, and the cantons of St. Gallen to the northwest; Glarus and the canton of Uri to the west, and Ticino to the southwest. The capital city is Chur. Davos and St. Mortiz are world-famous resorts and can be found in this area.
[change] History
Most of the lands of the canton were once part of a Roman province called Raetia that was established in 15 BC. The area later was part of the lands of the diocese at Chur.
In 1367 the League of God's House was founded to resist the rising power of the Bishop of Chur. This was followed by the making of the Grey League, sometimes called Oberbund, in 1395 in the Upper Rhine valley. The name Grey League is derived from the homespun grey clothes worn by the people. The name of this league later gave its name to the canton of Graubünden.
The first step towards the naming of the canton into Graubünden was when the league of the Ten Jurisdictions allied with the League of God's House in 1450. In 1471, the two leagues aligned with the Grey League. This meant that the leagues allied with the Swiss Confederation. The Habsburgs were defeated at Calven Gorge and Dornach, helping the Swiss confederation and the allied leagues of the canton of Grisons to be recognized.
The last traces of the bishop of Chur's jurisdiction were abolished in 1526. The Musso war of the 1520 drove the Three Leagues closer to the Swiss Confederacy. The lands of the canton of Graubünden were part of the Helvetic Republic, but the "perpetual ally" of Switzerland became a canton in 1803. The constitution of the canton dates from 1892.
The arms of the three original leagues are now all part of the coat of arms of the canton.
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[change] Culture
The Graubünden are known for a dried-beef delicacy called Bündnerfleisch and for a nut and honey pie known as Bündner Nusstorte. Another specialty, made mostly in the western part of Grison, is Capuns, a filling meal of meat, cheese and salad leaves.
[change] Economy
Agriculture and tourism make up most of the canton's economy. Agriculture combines forests and mountain pasturage in summer, particularly of sheep and goats. Tourism is mainly in the mountains, usually around the towns of Davos/Arosa, Laax and St. Moritz/Pontresina. There are a great number of other resorts people visiting the country can go to in the canton.
There is wine production around the capital Chur. Chur is also the center of industry. In the southern valleys of Mesolcina/Misox and Poschiavo there is corn (maize) and chestnut farming.
[change] Demographics
The languages spoken in Graubünden are German in the northwest, Romansh in the Engadin and around Disentis/Mustér), and Standard Italian in the valleys Mesolcina/Misox, Calanca, Val Bregaglia, and Poschiavo.
The main religions are Protestantism and Catholicism. Both are well-represented in the canton, with Roman Catholics forming a slight majority.
[change] Districts
Graubünden is divided into 11 districts:
[change] Municipalities
There are 209 municipalities in Graubünden (as of April 2004):
[change] Other websites
- Official Page (German) (Italian)
- Official Statistics
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