Schams

The Schams ( Romansh: Val Schons ) is a section of the background the Rhine valley in the Swiss canton of Graubünden.

Geography

The Shams forms the middle of the three Talk buntings along the Hinterrheins. From Rheinwald it is separated by the Rofflaschlucht, down the valley, the Via Mala forms the border against the Domleschg / Heinz mountain. Behind The Rhine flows through the valley in predominantly south to north and falls from 1,094 m at the output of Rofla where from the right opens the Val Ferrera, to 883 m at the Raniabrücke.

On both flanks Schams is limited by 3000 m high mountain ranges. Highest elevations are in the West Pizzas d' Anarosa (3000 m), the Bruschghorn ( 3056 m) and the distinctive Piz Bever ( 2998 m ) in the east, on the border of stone above, the Piz Curvér ( 2972 m).

The largest settlements are located near the river. The relatively evenly to the Piz Bever rising left-side slope, the Schamserberg ( Muntogna da Schons ) is used for agriculture at all levels up to about 2200 m. Above the villages a zone of pastures, about to close extensive Alpine meadows to. On the right-hand slope, where the valley floor up to the down -reaching forest predominates, there are no settlements except mountain pastures.

Communities

In the valley bottom the larger villages are Andeer ( with fractions Clugin and Pignia ) Zillis (including the fraction Reischen ) and Donat, all at altitudes 940-1020 m. On Schamserberg are on a lower level ( 1100-1200 m), the fraction of the community Casti Casti - Wergenstein and Donater fractions Pazen and Farden, on promising upper Schamserberg to around 1500 m altitude finally wage, Mathon and Wergenstein.

The circle Shams are a total of eight municipalities, in addition to the already mentioned, in the Val Ferrera Ferrera and Rongellen at the northern exit of the Via Mala.

The court community Shams, a member of the Grey League, closed joined the Reformation. In the valley was almost exclusively spoken until the mid 20th century, the Romansh idiom Sutsilvan before a partly dramatic change began, which captured the conveniently located places Zillis and Andeer and the Val Ferrera especially. Where the share of the predominantly German speaking in 2000 was over 80 %; on Schamserberg behauptetet Romansh still a slight majority.

Traffic

By Shams important since Roman times, transit route of the Lower road from Chur to Spliigen and San Bernardino Pass, today's highway A13 runs. The transitions into the stone above, Pass da Surcarungas, Špunda Surses and Pass da Schmorras, never had greater significance.

Public transport opens up the valley with the Postbus Eilkursen Chur -Bellinzona stopping in Zillis and Andeer. For local transport there is a line on the Schamserberg and the obverse.