The canton's coat-of-arms, with a stylised ibex, reflects the arms of the original three 'leagues' (bünden)

In the east of the country, it's the largest of Switzerland's 23 cantons. The two branches of the headwaters of the river Rhine – the Vorderrhein  and the Hinterrhein  – as well as the headwaters of the river Inn (which flows into the Danube and the Black Sea) cut deeply through the mountains of the Alps. The many side valleys, often steep-sided, make for difficult communication between the various regions. Difficult access, not so long ago, meant that valleys and even individual villages, had their own language or dialect. The canton, as a binding entity, works in three of Swizerland's four national languages. Because of the diversity, or perhaps simply because the landscape differs from where I live, I find Grischun the most attractive of the cantons and so often return several times a year. The canton has changed over the years, like everywhere else, so my photos sometimes look a little old-fashioned. However, I hope you find them worth looking at.
Better still, go there and see for yourself!

Very roughly: Vorderrhein in green, Hinterrhein in pink, Inn in purple, Italian-speaking region (with south-flowing waters) in light blue.
 Hover your mouse over the map

I have tried to colour the canton, while at the same time showing, by shadowing, the structure of the valleys and mountain ranges. Think of the ups and downs if walking between Poschiavo, in the south, to Disentis in the west!

The two Rhines meet near Domat-Ems, before the cantonal capital of Chur, and then flow north along the western border of Liechtenstein. The Albula forms a great arc from Davos before joining the Hinterrhein at Thusis.

The Inn valley, known as the Engadin, begins at Maloja, and the river then flows north-east into Austria. It is a very pretty area, with many interesting buildings.
Tourism is the mainstay of the economy.

The presentation sequence of the photos:



When viewing the photos one-by-one you can use the mouse wheel or the left and right arrows to go forwards or backwards, or you can click on the left or right of the page itself.

 

Along the trails :

an ibex
(steinbock/ capricorn/ bouquetin)

 

  menu page of this presentation
  story : a winter visit
  more maps of Andeer and Avers
  the photos of this presentation
  The Engadine near Scuol in November 2001
  A walk from Juppa to Cröt in the Avers valley
  A walk from Bellinzona to Ilanz via the San Bernadino pass
  Martigny to Martina (1980): Rhone, Rhine and Inn
  Bellinzona to Germany (2009)