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 Switzerland's largest canton…
The biggest Swiss canton, which covers 17% of the Confederation, is also the least densely populated. Situated in the far east of the country, it has everything symbolic of Switzerland in one place. Reaching 4,000m at its highest point with Piz Bernina, its traditional pastoral areas and upmarket winter resorts are home to more than 1,000 summits, 150 valleys and no less than 600 lakes.
11,000km of rambling footpaths crisscross this dazzling expanse of nature, providing views here and there that take your breath away. It was in Graubünden that Johanna Spyri set the wonderful Switzerland that was the birthplace of Heidi.
 …and the most unique
Graubünden is the only trilingual Canton, where, together with German and Italian, Romansh has been elevated to the rank of official language. This Latin-based language is spoken by 7% of the Swiss and forms a group of five dialects along with its variants. Even so, you'll be understood everywhere if you greet people with a friendly "allegra", thank them with "grazcha" and take your leave by saying "a revair"…
Trips and detours
 One day, one place…
Chur, the capital of Graubünden, is one of the oldest cities in Switzerland. It's also a unique location that has its own winter and summer resort on its emblematic mountain, Brambrüesch. With 130 restaurants, the old town has Switzerland's highest concentration of taverns of all kinds, from the most typical to the most gastronomic. A break between walks through the pedestrianised streets is the perfect opportunity to discover the local specialities: cheese and the famous Graubünden meat, slowly dried in the invigorating air of the high mountain pastures.
 A must-see
Situated in Engadine, Switzerland's only national park has opted to leave nature to evolve as it pleases. It's best experienced on foot and visitors can admire remarkable specimens of alpine fauna and flora - the chamois, the marmot, the golden eagle… and of course edelweiss!
In the area
 Chur is a natural entry point for the canton's 45 winter sports resorts, which offer visitors 2,200km of alpine ski slopes and nearly as much in cross country skiing. The region is also perfect for all winter sports, from the classics such as skating, luge and bobsleigh to the unexpected games of ice polo and snow golf.
Davos : the city frequented by the planet's most important men and women is also a renowned resort, situated at an altitude of 1,560m and boasting a number of ski slopes, coupled with those of Klosters, which stretch over 300km.
Saint-Moritz : one of the world's oldest resorts, founded in 1864, has become a favourite holiday destination for the stars and royalty. In addition to its magnificent ski slopes, the resort houses the world's only natural bobsleigh piste still in service.
For further information, go to : www.myswitzerland.com
Good plans soon
Good addresses
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Map
Two panoramic trains, the Glacier Express and Bernina Express, travel across the region and link Saint-Moritz with Davos via magnificent landscapes.
- 1803 : Graubünden joins the Swiss Confederation
- 7,105km² : the Canton's surface area
- 187,000 : the population
The recent urbanisation of the area to the north of Chur station means that it is now the heart of the city centre. The station itself has been modernised and extended.
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