Hotel Meisser, with mountains behind.

Graubünden, Switzerland

by Eve Andersson

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Graubünden is a canton (like a state or province) in eastern Switzerland. This beautiful, mountainous region borders Italy and Austria and contains the famous ski resorts Davos and St. Moritz.

This is the only region where Romansh, an exotic-sounding descendant of Latin, is spoken. One of Switzlerland's four official languages (along with German, Italian, and French), Romansh is spoken by fewer than 70,000 people. Italian and Swiss German are also spoken in Graubünden. The Romansh towns have their own, interesting style of architecture that I have never seen elsewhere.


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Davos

This is an excellent place for skiing, with nice, wide pistes at a variety of difficulty levels. The town of Davos itself is unremarkable.

The town of Davos seen from the Jakobshornbahn gondola. Davos, with mountains behind. Jakobshorn, a skiing region of the Davos Klosters Mountains. Jakobshorn, a skiing region of the Davos Klosters Mountains.

Guarda

This tiny Romansh town (170 residents) is very well-preserved, with an architectural style I've never seen outside Graubünden.

Window, with Romansh designs. Detail, Romansh building. Romansh building. Hotel Meisser, with mountains behind. Romansh building. Detail, Romansh building. Romansh building. Mermaid image on wall of Hotel Meisser. Window, with Romansh designs. Window, with Romansh designs. Window, with Romansh designs. Windows, with Romansh patterns.

Zuoz

Zuoz is about 10 times bigger than Guarda; in other words, it's still quite small. Like Guarda, Zuoz is a lovely Romansh village.

Bear sculpture atop fountain, the village of Zuoz. Romansh house, with typical patterns. Zuoz. Chesa Rageth, a house in Zuoz. Swiss man with swords and a glass of wine, painted on the side of a building. Window. Window. Shutters show a typical Romansh pattern. Window, with typical Romansh adornment, and a crack running through the wall. Window. Pinwheel pattern, a typical Romansh adornment. Zuoz. Pinwheel pattern, a typical Romansh adornment. Zuoz. Pinwheel pattern, a typical Romansh adornment, and a flower. Zuoz. The village of Zuoz.

Chur

Swiss German is spoken in Chur, the capital of the Graubünden canton. This old city has been continuously inhabited for over 5000 years.

Friedenskirche. Herrengasse, Old Town, Chur. Obere Gasse, Old Town, Chur. St. Martinskirche, viewed through an arch on Hofsteig, Old Town, Chur. Window, Reichsgasse, Old Town, Chur. Arcas, Old Town, Chur.

Julier Pass

The Julier Pass, in the Alps, is drivable in the winter and has dramatic scenery.

Julier Pass. Snowy mountains, viewed from the Julier Pass. The village of Savognin, viewed from the Julier Pass.




More photos: View all photos in the directory /photos/switzerland/.
Eve Andersson (eve@eveandersson.com)
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