Graubünden

The Grisons or Graubünden,Names include:

 , Swiss Standard German: , German Standard German: ;
 Romansh:





 ;
  ;
  . more formally the canton of the Grisons or the canton of Graubünden, is the biggest and is farthest to the east of the cantons of Switzerland. The name means "Gray Union" in German and the canton lies entirely in the Alps. In Switzerland it hosts the biggest number of tourists each year.
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. Moritz are world-famous resorts and can be found in this area.

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 against the 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.

Private cars were only allowed in the canton of Graubünden after several votings in 1926.

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 pasta and a little bit of meat, rolled into Chard leaves, eventually baked like a gratin with cheese.

Economy
Agriculture and tourism make up most of the canton's economy. Agriculture combines forests and mountain pasturage in summer, mostly beef but also sheep and goats. Tourism is all around the canton, mainly around the towns of Davos/Arosa, Flims and St. Moritz/Pontresina, which are important in both winter and summer. There are many 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.

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.

Districts
Graubünden is divided into 11 districts:
 Albula
 Bernina
 Hinterrhein
 Imboden
 Inn
 Landquart
 Maloja
 Moesa
 Plessur
 Davos
 Surselva

Municipalities
There are 209 municipalities in Graubünden (as of April 2004):

 Almens
 Alvaneu
 Alvaschein
 Andeer
 Andiast
 Ardez
 Arosa
 Arvigo
 Ausserferrera
 Avers
 Bergün/Bravuogn
 Bever
 Bivio
 Bonaduz
 Bondo
 Braggio
 Breil/Brigels
 Brienz/Brinzauls
 Brusio
 Buseno
 Calfreisen
 Cama
 Castaneda
 Castasegna
 Castiel
 Casti-Wergenstein
 Castrisch
 Cauco
 Cazis
 Celerina/Schlarigna
 Chur
 Churwalden
 Clugin
 Conters im Prättigau
 Cumbel
 Cunter
 Davos
 Degen
 Disentis/Mustér
 Domat/Ems
 Donat
 Duvin
 Falera
 Fanas
 Feldis/Veulden
 Felsberg
 Fideris
 Filisur
 Fläsch
 Flerden
 Flims
 Flond
 Ftan
 Fuldera
 Furna
 Fürstenau
 Grono
 Grüsch
 Guarda
 Haldenstein
 Hinterrhein
 Igis
 Ilanz
 Innerferrera
 Jenaz
 Jenins
 Klosters-Serneus
 Küblis
 La Punt-Chamues-ch Laax
 Ladir
 Langwies
 Lantsch/Lenz
 Lavin
 Leggia
 Lohn
 Lostallo
 Lü
 Lüen
 Lumbrein
 Luven
 Luzein
 Madulain
 Maienfeld
 Maladers
 Malans
 Malix
 Marmorera
 Masein
 Mastrils
 Mathon
 Medel (Lucmagn)
 Mesocco
 Molinis
 Mon
 Morissen
 Mulegns
 Müstair
 Mutten
 Nufenen
 Obersaxen
 Pagig
 Parpan
 Paspels
 Peist
 Pignia
 Pigniu
 Pitasch
 Pontresina
 Portein
 Poschiavo
 Praden
 Pratval
 Präz
 Ramosch
 Rhäzüns
 Riein
 Riom-Parsonz
 Rodels
 Rongellen
 Rossa
 Rothenbrunnen
 Roveredo
 Rueun
 Ruschein
 Saas
 Safien
 Sagogn
 Salouf
 Samedan
 Samnaun
 San Vittore
 Santa Maria in Calanca
 Santa Maria Val Müstair
 Sarn
 Savognin
 Says S-chanf
 Scharans
 Scheid
 Schiers
 Schlans
 Schluein
 Schmitten
 Schnaus
 Scuol
 Seewis im Prättigau
 Selma
 Sent
 Sevgein
 Siat
 Sils im Domleschg
 Sils im Engadin/Segl
 Silvaplana
 Soazza
 Soglio
 Splügen
 St. Antönien
 St. Martin
 St. Moritz
 St. Peter
 Stampa
 Stierva
 Sufers
 Sumvitg
 Sur
 Suraua
 Surava
 Surcuolm
 Susch
 Tamins
 Tarasp
 Tartar
 Tenna
 Thusis
 Tiefencastel
 Tinizong-Rona
 Trans
 Trimmis
 Trin
 Trun
 Tschappina
 Tschiertschen
 Tschierv
 Tschlin
 Tujetsch
 Tumegl/Tomils
 Untervaz
 Urmein
 Valchava
 Valendas
 Vals
 Valzeina
 Vaz/Obervaz
 Vella
 Verdabbio
 Versam
 Vicosoprano
 Vignogn
 Vrin
 Waltensburg/Vuorz
 Wiesen
 Zernez
 Zillis-Reischen
 Zizers
 Zuoz

Notes

References

Other websites

 Official Page 
 Official Statistics
 Official Tourism Board for Switzerland Holidays in Graubünden