Graubünden (Swiss Canton)

Valleys north and south of the Alps. Rivers flowing in all directions. Three languages and many dialects. A paradise for snow and ice sports. In summer, 615 lakes, over 900 peaks and 150 valleys to discover. The Canton of Graubünden in south-eastern Switzerland is a world of its own.

The canton's capital, Chur, is a small town with a beautiful historic centre. It is well worth stopping off here before setting off to explore the largest Swiss canton.

On the terroir side, this is the land of a real star: dried meat. Beautiful pieces of prime beef seasoned and dried in the fresh air of the Alps for ten to fifteen weeks. A star that should of course be enjoyed with a good loaf of farmhouse bread and a glass of local wine, as the canton has 320 hectares of cultivated vineyards.

The beauty of the Graubünden Rhine Valley can be discovered on foot, by bicycle or in a horse-drawn carriage along a wine route that passes through idyllic locations.

The Romans already enjoyed the wine of the Graubünden Rhine Valley, but the Pinot Noir, today a typical grape variety of the region, was only introduced in the 17th century, when young soldiers and farmers' sons brought back plants from Burgundy and the local winegrowers noticed that the climate and the schistose soils were perfectly suited to this variety.

Graubünden is also home to the Swiss National Park in the Engadine, where nature reigns supreme over 170 square kilometres, but where humans still have a small place on 80 kilometres of hiking and educational trails.

It is strictly forbidden to leave the marked paths, but you can observe ibexes, chamois, marmots, hares, lizards and birds in a totally unspoilt environment.