Graubünden

Graubünden ( Swiss German Graubünda / Graubünden, Romansch Grischun? / I [ ɡʁiʒun ], Italian Grigioni [ ɡridʒo ː ni ], French Grisons ) is a German, Romansh and Italian-speaking canton of Switzerland and is located entirely within the Alps. The capital is Chur.

• 3.1 languages
• 3.2 Religions - confessions

• 4.1 legislative
• 4.2 executive
• 4.3 judiciary
• 4.4 administrative units

• 8.1 Cities and towns
• 8.2 districts

• 9.1 Grisons cuisine

Name and Coat of Arms

The canton of Grisons bears the name of the formerly politically weightiest of the Three Leagues from which it arises. Founded in 1367 Grey League ( split plate, white / black) was first mentioned in 1442, presumably a nickname of the Zurich and Austrian, who was acquired by the covenant people before 1486. The name for the Three Leagues otherwise mentioned all the frets appear in the 15th century. In the 16th century, was transferred from humanists of the name of the Roman province of Raetia as Raetia to the area of the Three Leagues. 1799 Frets of Napoleon were incorporated as Canton Raetia Switzerland. The name is still common for institutions such as the Rhaetian Railway, or the Rhaetian Museum in Churchill today. The designation for Rhaeto- Romance language derived from the fact Grison. Since the constitution of the modern canton of the Swiss Confederation in 1803, the name Graubünden 's official. The cantonal coats of arms is made in accordance composed of the coat of arms of the Three Leagues; See also flag and coat of arms of the canton of Graubünden.

Geography

• Highest point: Piz Bernina ( 4,049 m asl. )
• Lowest point: the Moësa on the border with the Canton of Ticino (260 m asl. )

The canton forms as the largest canton in Switzerland whose southeastern part and is dominated by mountain landscapes. Due to the geographical conditions, it is the most sparsely populated canton of Switzerland and is, despite its size of the population terms only the 14th.

Common cantonal borders has Graubünden in south-west with the canton of Ticino, in the west with Uri, in the north of Glarus and St. Gallen. Graubünden is the border between Switzerland and Liechtenstein, as well as Austria ( provinces of Vorarlberg and Tyrol ) in the north, the Italian South Tyrol and Lombardy in the east to the south. Besides Graubünden borders only St. Gallen to three different neighbors.

Is drained Graubünden for the most part from the Rhine with its springing in Grisons Anterior Rhine headwaters and Rhine. The east of the country, the Engadine, drained Inn, which also arises in the Grisons. Beyond the main Alpine ridge lie the Po to be drained and Italian-speaking southern valleys of Grisons: Misox with the Calancatal, the Bregaglia and Poschiavo. The easternmost part of the country, the Munster, drained the Adige. The three basins of the North Sea, the Mediterranean and the Black Sea meet, near the Inn- source close to the Lunghin Pass above Maloja, the three watershed. From there flows northwards Julia, which leads via the Rhine to the North Sea, to the south the Maira, whose water comes over the Po into the Mediterranean, and to the east of the Inn, which flows into the Danube and thus flows into the Black Sea.

In the canton of Grisons, there are 150 valleys, 615 lakes ( as 1500 lakes in Switzerland), 937 mountain peaks up to the Piz Bernina at 4,049 m as well as the largest prehistoric landslide in the world, which is still visible in Flims. The whole complex of mountain ranges to the Rhine and Innquellgebiet called Grison Alps.

Fauna and Flora

In the canton of Graubünden about 300 bird species are known. They are documented in the reference book The Birds of Graubünden.

Population

The inhabitants are called Grisons.

Languages

The only canton in Switzerland Graubünden has three official languages ​​: German, Romansh and Italian. At the same time it is the only canton in which Romansh is an official language. Because of these and hence of cultural diversity, but also because of its shape and nature of the canton is also referred to as Little Switzerland within Switzerland.

Municipalities and counties are autonomous to define their own official and school languages, but the Canton enforces policies, in particular to support minority languages ​​Romansh and Italian. According to Article 16 of the Grisons Language Act of 2006 shall apply municipalities where at least 40 % of the population speak the ancestral idiom, as officially monolingual, and communities where at least 20 % speak its traditional idiom, as an officially bilingual.

The German dialects Graubünden belong to two groups of Swiss German:

• The High Alemannic German Grisons, which is spoken in the region Chur, in the Grisons, the five villages, and in the Domleschg; these dialects spread forth in the High Middle Ages and the early modern period from the north ( Lake Constance and the Rhine Valley ) or northwest ( Walen - Seeztal ) and superimposed originally Romansh settlement area.
• The most Alemannic Walser German, which is spoken in the populated from the Valais in the High Middle Ages Walser villages, especially in Prättigau, Davos and the Schanfigg and several exclaves or enclaves ( Avers, Mutten, Obersaxen, Rheinwald, Safien - Tschappina, Vals ), the following the withdrawal of the Romansh language today, however, partially spatial connection found to the high- Alemannic.
• The dialect of Samnaun part, however, the only dialect in Switzerland, for Bairischen, especially for Tirolean.

The Switzerland widely known term " Huara beautiful" comes from the Grisons in the word origin according Idiotikon the root word " horrendous " and therefore not be described as akin to a nasty expletive, which also applies in the St. Gallen Rhine Valley.

In Romansh, which is spoken in various parts of the canton (predominantly in the Surselva, in parts Mittelbünden, in the Engadin and the Val Müstair ), there are both five regional written dialects (so-called idioms ), namely Sursilvan ( Sursilvan ) Sutselvisch ( Sutsilvan ) Surmeirisch ( Surmiran ) Oberengadinisch ( turkey ) and Unterengadinisch ( Vallader ) and a unified written language RG, which was only created in the 1980s as art language. Münstertalisch ( Jawor ) has no written language tradition. In the Münstertal schools was taught until the introduction of RG in Unterengadinisch.

The Italian dialects in Misox and Calancatal, Bergell, in Bivio and Poschiavo belong to the Alpine Lombard.

At least since the mid-19th century, when the federal government in the train of the implementation of the Law on the homelessness the canton of Grisons, a large number Yenish zuwies forcibly, Graubünden also has a statistically unidentified ( throughout Switzerland, estimated at 35,000 people) population Yenish native language. The Jeni is recognized minority language in Switzerland and thus also in Grisons, but has no official status.

Resident population by language ( 2000 census ):

• German: 127'755 (68%)
• Romansh: 27'038 (14%)
• Italian: 19'106 (10%)
• Other: 13'159 (8%)

Language majority in the Grisons 2000

Actual distribution of the national languages ​​in Graubünden 2000

Dissemination of Romansh

By 2003, the Canton of Grisons had issued his school books in seven languages ​​, alongside German and Italian in all five Romansh dialects font. 2003 decided the Grisons Parliament to issue the Roman teaching aids only in RG. This decision was, however, already in 2013 reversed in principle.

Religions - faiths

Due to the sovereignty of the individual communities could determine their denomination autonomous in the 16th century each community. Vial was the first Reformed congregation in Canton, then followed St.Antönien, later others. Thus Grisons is one of the traditional joint cantons.

Predominantly Catholic are the Vorderrheintal with the Damphreux (without Waltensburg and Gruob ) Above the stone (without Bivio ) and the median Landwassertal (without Berguen ), Misox and Poschiavo.

Mostly are reformed Prättigau, the Schanfigg and the upper Landwassertal, in the Upper Rhine Valley, the Shams, the Rheinwald, Safiental and Avers, the Engadine ( Scuol and without Samnaun ), the Bergell and the Munster (without Müstair ).

Mixed confessional are the five villages and regions Imboden and the Domleschg and the Churwaldnertal.

Monasteries there in Müstair, Disentis, Cazis and Ilanz.

Constitution and Administration

So far, Grisons cantonal constitutions has three. The earlier- adopted in 1854 and 1892, today dates from 2003.

For the Federal Parliament Grisons canton sends as any full two representatives in the Senate and in accordance with its share of the population five deputies to the National Council.

Legislature

Legislative authority is the Great Council, which has 120 members and is elected by the people according to Majorzverfahren fixed for four years.

The people directly involved in the legislative process: 4000 voters or one seventh of the municipalities can amend the constitution require 3,000 voters, or one eighth of the communities, a law or an amendment to propose ( popular initiative ) and 1,500 voters, or one tenth of the municipalities may require that to submit to the referendum on a statute enacted by the Grand Council Act or any such amendment is ( referendum). Amendments to the Constitution are subject to mandatory referendum.

Executive

The Government (formerly the Small Council ) is composed of five members and is also elected by the people in Majorzverfahren likewise four years. The Bureau changed every year in rotation.

The current incumbent government councils and their respective departments are:

Head of the State Chancellery is giant since 1990 Claudio.

Judiciary

The highest courts of the canton are the Cantonal Court ( in particular responsible for civil and criminal matters) and the Administrative Court ( in particular responsible for public law disputes). About a merging of these two hierarchically equivalent courts is discussed. Lower instances are the eleven district courts and 39 district presidents.

Administrative units

Graubünden is the canton in which the 178 municipalities - in 2001 there were still 212 - historically have the most pronounced municipal autonomy of Switzerland. Autonomy also enjoy the circles that consist of a small number of municipalities or exceptionally from a single community. They are also the constituencies of the Great Council, in which the large councils are still partially elected on the traditional rural communities. The districts, however, are purely administrative organs of the canton without internal autonomy.

Economy and Tourism

The indispensable for the permanent settlement of some valleys mountain farming survived thanks to niche production and subsidies. Eight percent of the population work in agriculture and forestry, with 50 percent of the farms were organic. The biggest growth after the turn of the millennium reaches the export industry, 24 percent of the population work in industry and commerce. The most important industry is the service sector, particularly tourism with a very high proportion of the Grisons gross domestic product of around 14 percent.

Tourism, originally a summer activity was already completed in 1865 by the Grisons development of winter tourism, the focal points are the regions of Upper Engadine, Davos / Klosters, Arosa, Lenzerheide and Flims. It is also worth of spa tourism in Vals, Scuol and Andeer and Alvaneu. Graubünden is the canton with the highest density of castles and has the Benedictine Convent of St. John in Müstair, the village Soglio and the Church of Zillis cultural heritage of world-class. New additions pushed the structure is the Rhaetian Railway in the Albula valley. The railway line over the Bernina Pass is of great architectural importance, while the Tectonic Sardona is listed as a World Heritage Site. Since 1991, the Salginatobelbrücke the road from Schiers to Schuders so far the only world monument in Switzerland. This award was given by the ASCE.

Traffic

The traffic specific since ancient times the population of the canton. The trade was an important economic factor; already during the Roman era carts crossed the Julier Pass. 1387 commissioned by the Bishop of Chur the Bergeller nobles Jakob von Castelmur expand the Septimerpass to a motorable road.

At the beginning of the 20th century there were in the canton of Grisons streets in the length of 1000 kilometers, but the motorized individual was vehemently opposed. 1903 issued the " Little Council " of the Canton only cars of doctors and ambulances driving a permit to Grisons streets. On October 13, 1907 9110 voters voted against the admission of cars in 2074 were in favor. Nevertheless, the Council continued its earlier authorization practices and decided on 14 May 1910 to open the road from the Tardisbrücke at Landquart to Chur all the traffic. Another referendum made ​​this grant reversed later an absolute ban was enforced. 1919 Postbus courses were rejected Grisons streets. It was only on June 21, 1925 approved the Grisons sovereign just a template that allowed driving on the roads with cars to eight seats.

The approval of automobiles demanded the expansion of the road network, but what the Canton lacked the financial resources. Only in 1935 did the Confederation Alpine cantons to help and made 126 million francs available, 35 received Grisons. Thus the four main Alpine roads were expanded; including the " Upper Street " over the Julier Pass. The cantonal road network today covers 163 km national roads, 597 km main roads and 835 km connecting roads.

The main valleys and the large tourist resorts in Graubünden be operated by the Rhaetian Railway. The canton is traversed in a north-south direction from the A13 motorway. Most important passes between North and South are now the San Bernardino between the Rhine and the forest Misox and the Julier Pass into the Engadin.

History

During the Iron Age existed on the territory of modern Graubünden especially Celtic, Rhaetian and lepontische cultures. Apart from the Italian southern valleys, the area belonged about 15 BC to the 5th century the Roman Empire ( province of Raetia, later province of Raetia I). To 536/537 fell Raetia ( the territory of the former province of Raetia I) to the Frankish Empire. To 806/807 the diocese of Chur from the Archdiocese of Milan was reclassified to the Archbishopric of Mainz.

In the 10th and 11th centuries Raetia was part of the duchy of Swabia. During the High Middle Ages it came to territorial formation. Among the most important Territiorialherren grew, the bishop of Chur and Disentis Monastery. Smaller territories were formed or acquired from various counts and lords. In the south, the Visconti family reached a strong position (later Duchy of Milan ).

The Late Middle Ages is characterized by political independence of many ( legal ) communities that could bind many of sovereignty itself. They united in several frets ( Gotteshausbund 1367 Upper or Grey League in 1395, Ten Jurisdictions in 1436 ). These collars were found from 1450 into an independent state formations together ( Free State of the Three Leagues ). The frets were different contracts (since 1497 ) an equal partner of the Swiss Confederation ( formally facing site). Since 1512 decreed the frets on the south adjoining subject territories Chiavenna, and Bormio, Valtellina.

The Grisons subject territories fell in 1797 to the Cisalpine Republic. 1799/1800 came the remaining area as Canton Raetia to the Helvetic Republic, 1803 Canton Graubünden Switzerland.

On March 5, 1972, the woman vote and suffrage was introduced.

Political Structure

Cities and towns

The following municipalities in the canton had more than 5000 people at 31 December 2012:

The municipality consists of the country Quart former municipalities Igis and Mastrils since 1 January 2012. She had about 8,500 inhabitants at that time.

Districts

The canton of Graubünden is divided into eleven districts. They essentially correspond to the natural landscape areas. ( The districts are further divided into 39 counties ):

• Albula with the circles Alvaschein, Belfort, Berguen Surses
• Bernina with the circles and Brusio Poschiavo
• Behind the Rhine with the circles Avers, Domleschg, Rheinwald, Schams and Thusis
• Imboden with the circles and Rhazuns Trins
• Inn with the circles Sur Tasna, Ramosch, Suot Tasna and Val Müstair
• Landquart with the circles, five villages and Maienfeld
• Maloja with the circles Bergell and Upper Engadine
• Moësa with the circles circle Calanca, Misox and Roveredo
• Plessur with the circles Chur, Chur Walden and Schanfigg
• Prättigau- Davos, Davos circles, Jenaz, Klosters, Kublis, Luzein, Schiers and Buchen
• Surselva with the circles Cadi / Disentis, Ilanz, Lumnezia / Damphreux, Ruis and Safien

Culture

Grisons cuisine

The canton of Graubünden has developed a unique cuisine, which differs from other Swiss regional cuisines. Typical local products are the air-dried cured beef and other dried meat specialties such as Salsiz or Andutgel. Typical dishes are capuns, Plain in Pigna, Pizokel, Maluns, the nut tart and the Grisons barley soup. As a typical Grisons beverage of the Röteli.