Val Fex

The Fex Valley ( Romansh: Val Fex ) is a tributary of the Upper Engadin in the Swiss canton of Graubünden. Politically, it is part of the municipality of Sils im Engadin / Segl.

The valley is one of the highest year-round inhabited valleys in Switzerland. Starting from Sils -Maria ( 1,809 m above sea level. M. ) at the beginning of the valley there are small settlements Vaüglia, Platta, Crasta (1951 m), Vals and Curtin (1973 m), which mostly consist only of a few houses.

The high valley ends at Fexergletscher, which by a ring of mountain peaks such as the Il Chapütschin, La Maonigia, Piz Fora, Piz Güz and the 3,441 m high Piz Tremoggia ( trident ) is surrounded. This is also the headwaters of the valley by flowing Fedacla, formerly temporarily devastated with large water masses Sils.

Well since the 12th century used as pasture, the valley in 1303 was as Fede ( Feda, " sheep ") documentary mention. Since 1538 it belonged to the neighborhood Sils.

In 2000, the Fex Valley counted 101 inhabitants. Two hotels, several guest houses and three full-time and two part-time farmers are available here. Since 1954, the entire valley is under strict protection, private motor vehicle transport is only the few residents allowed. Tourists can use horse-drawn carriages or winter horse drawn sleigh for freight and passenger transport.

For tourists picturesque today, the valley was formerly the starting point for small smuggling across the mountains to and from Italy.

Attractions

Built in 1500, mountain church in Fex - Crasta conserves frescoes by an unknown northern Italian master from 1511.