# Pitasch

Pitasch is a former municipality in the district of Surselva in the canton of Graubünden in Switzerland. On 1 January 2014 the former municipalities of Pitasch, Castrisch, Ilanz, Ladir, Luven, Riein, Ruschein, Schnaus, Sevgein, Duvin, Pigniu, Rueun and Siat merged into the new municipality of Ilanz/Glion.

## History

Pitasch is first mentioned about 801–50 as Pictaui though this comes from a 16th-century copy of the lost original. In 960 it was mentioned as in Pictaso.

## Geography

Before the merger, Pitasch had a total area of 10.8 km$^2$ (4.2 sq mi). Of this area, 31.4% is used for agricultural purposes, while 49.1% is forested. Of the rest of the land, 1.5% is settled (buildings or roads) and the remainder (18%) is non-productive (rivers, glaciers or mountains).
The former municipality is located in the Ilanz sub-district of the Surselva district. Before 2000 it was part of the Glenner district. It is located south of Ilanz on a terrace between the Val Renastga and the Val da Pitasch on the old road between Castrisch over the Güner Kreuz to Safien.

## Demographics

Pitasch had a population (as of 2011) of 106. As of 2008, 2.7% of the population was made up of foreign nationals. Over the last 10 years the population has decreased at a rate of -0.9%. Most of the population (as of 2000) speaks Romansh(60.2%), with the rest speaking German (39.8%).
As of 2000, the gender distribution of the population was 52.2% male and 47.8% female. The age distribution, as of 2000, in Pitasch is; 19 children or 16.1% of the population are between 0 and 9 years old and 26 teenagers or 22.0% are between 10 and 19. Of the adult population, 8 people or 6.8% of the population are between 20 and 29 years old. 21 people or 17.8% are between 30 and 39, 16 people or 13.6% are between 40 and 49, and 11 people or 9.3% are between 50 and 59. The senior population distribution is 10 people or 8.5% of the population are between 60 and 69 years old, 6 people or 5.1% are between 70 and 79, there is 1 person who is between 80 and 89.
In the 2007 federal election the most popular party was the SVP which received 41.3% of the vote. The next three most popular parties were the FDP (26.5%), the SP (20.9%) and the CVP (11.2%).
In Pitasch about 70.1% of the population (between age 25–64) have completed either non-mandatory upper secondary education or additional higher education (either university or a Fachhochschule).
Pitasch has an unemployment rate of 2.05%. As of 2005, there were 20 people employed in the primary economic sector and about 8 businesses involved in this sector. people are employed in the secondary sector and there are businesses in this sector. 6 people are employed in the tertiary sector, with 3 businesses in this sector.
The historical population is given in the following table:
| year | population |
| 1850 | 96 |
| 1900 | 105 |
| 1950 | 125 |
| 2000 | 118 |

## Heritage sites of national significance

The Swiss Reformed Church building in Pitasch is listed as a Swiss heritage site of national significance.
The Reformed Church was built in the mid-12th century into its current form. The church floorplan is a single nave church with a single half round apse. The interior murals date to about 1420, and on the exterior south wall is a mural of St. Martin and St. Christopher from the studio of the unknown Waltensburg Master which was painted about 1340.
* Exterior of the Church in Pitasch
* Interior of the church
* St. Christopher (Christoforus)