Canton of Grisons

Graubünden (German: Graubünden; French: Graubünden; Italian: Grigioni; in Romansh: Grischun) is the canton located in the southeast of Switzerland, the largest and the least densely populated of the 26 cantons of Switzerland. It is also the only canton that has three official languages: German, Italian and Romansh.

Geography

The area of the canton is 7,105 km². Only a third of this area is considered productive. Forests cover about 20% of the total area. The canton is almost entirely mountainous; includes the upper part of the Rhine and Eno valleys. The highest point is the Bernina at 4,048 m.

The valleys of the central part are very deep, some of them are considered the deepest in Europe.

The canton is bordered by the principality of Liechtenstein and Austria to the north, Italy to the southeast, the cantons of St. Gallen and Glarus to the northwest, the canton of Uri to the west, and the canton of Ticino to the southwest. The capital is Chur (Chur). The world-renowned cities of Klosters, Davos and Sankt Moritz are also located in the canton of Grisons, with the eastern Engadine valley standing out as the Swiss territory that preserves the most natural environment.

History

View of the Engadina Valley

A large part of the territory of the canton was integrated in antiquity in the Roman province called Recia, which was founded in 15 BC. C. This region was part of the Diocese of Chur.

In 1367 the League of the House of God (Ca' di Dio, Cadi, Gottes Haus) was founded with the order to resist against the growing power of the Bishop of Chur. On this date another league, the Gray League (Lega Grigia, Grauer Bund) or also Oberbund, was created in 1395 in the valley of the Rhine river The name Liga Gris derives from the gray clothing of the autochthonous population, an appeal that later gave its name to the canton. In 1436 a third league, the League of Ten Administrations (Lega delle Dieci Giurisdizioni, Zehngerichtebund), was founded by the inhabitants of the former county of Toggenburg, which had become independent. after the extinction of the Toggenburg dynasty.

The first step towards the cantonal constitution was taken when the League of Ten Administrations allied with the League of the House of God in 1450. In 1471 the two leagues allied with the Gray League to form the Three Leagues.

With the extinction of the Toggenburg dynasty, the Habsburgs inherited the Toggenburg possessions in 1496, contributing to the three leagues allying themselves with the Swiss Confederation. The Habsburgs were defeated twice, which helped the confederation and the allied leagues in the canton of Grisons, which were recognized.

The last remains of the jurisdiction of the Bishop of Chur were abolished in 1526, in 1583, Saint Charles Borromeo was there as apostolic visitor, conversing with the Lutherans, and confronting a movement of witches and sorcerers. The territories of the canton became part of the Helvetic Republic; in 1803 the territory was declared a canton. The cantonal constitution dates from 1892.

Economy

Agriculture and tourism are the cornerstones of the canton's economy. The primary sector is mainly based on forestry and grazing goats and sheep. Tourism is concentrated in the mountains, especially around the cities of Davos, Arosa, Laax, Sankt Moritz and Pontresina. There are several towns that are known for their beauty and tourism, mainly in the narrow valley of the Engadine.

Around Chur there is an important wine industry.

Demographics

230px German Italian Romanche

The languages spoken in the canton of Grisons are: German 74%, Romansh 15% and Italian around 15% (the sum is greater than 100, because there is a good percentage of the bilingual population). The most important religion is Christianity, with the two most important branches being Protestantism and Catholicism. From a religious point of view, the population is practically divided into two equal parts.

Districts

Map of the Grisones districts

The canton is divided into the following districts:

• Albula
• Bernina
• Hinterrhein
• Imboden
• Inn
• Landquart
• Maloja
• Moesa
• Plessur
• Prettigovia/DavosPrättigau/Davos)
• Surselva