Falera

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Falera

Canton	Graubünden
District	Surselva
Coordinates	46°51′N, 9°32′E
Population	546 (December 2004)
Area	22.35 km²
Elevation	1220 m
Postal code	7153
Website	www.falera.net
Falera

Falera is a municipality in the district of Surselva in the Swiss canton of Graubünden.

Most known for its ancient church, Falera is a village of beauty. Falera is also a part of the Alpenarena along with the towns of Flims and Laax and is the most secluded of the three. During the winter, tourists can enjoy the fresh alpine snow or spend the day by a nice warm fire. In the summer, there is the opportunity to go biking and to hike along some very scenic paths.

Falera

[edit] History

Falera is a town of rich culture and history. In 1800 B.C., a settlement was started on the Mutta. This came during the Bronze Age and was very significant in the early development of what today is Switzerland. The first actual mention of a church in Falera was in 840-841 but the church was not built until 1491- about 650 years later! The church was built on the foot of the Mutta and was named after St. Remigius. Around the church are strange stone pillars, arranged geometrically, that are said to date around 1500 B.C. Later, in the year 1903, another church was built. This church was built directly in the village and was named the Herz-Jesu-Kirche or "Heart of Jesus Church" . It, along with the original Falera church, are still standing today and the main attractions of Falera.

[edit] Falera today

Today, Falera is mostly overshadowed by the other two villages of the Alpenarena: Laax and Flims. The village, as of December 2004, has a small population of about 546 people. Most people that have apartments in Falera do not live there year-round, but rather use them as vacation homes and weekend trips. The main language spoken isRomansh, a Romance language that is said to have descended from vulgar Latin. Falera is looking to stay as a traditional Swiss village in the future.