Grächen

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Grächen
Canton	Valais
District	Visp
Coordinates	46°10′N, 7°49′E
Population	1367 (December 2002)
Area	14.29 km²
Elevation	1619 m
Postal code	3925
SFOS number	6285
Website	www.gemeinde-graechen.ch
Grächen

Signs in Grächen

Grächen is a municipality in the district of Visp in the canton of Valais in Switzerland.

The village is situated at an altitude of 1620 meters and has 1320 habitants (as of 2004).

[edit] History

Settlements in the area of Grächen probably date back to neolithic times. It certainly was a hunting ground for early Bronze Age alpine people(celts[1]). Around 750 (CE), the Alamanni started to settle in the upper (German-speaking) part of what is now the canton of Valais.

The first documented mentioning of Grächen ("de Grangis") dates back to 1295. Grächen developed into a community of farmers in servitude and paying tribute to various feudal lords, until they finally reached their independence as a community (from the Bishop of Sion) in the 19th century.

Thomas Platter, a famous citizen of 16th century Grächen, published his autobiography describing a life from humble beginnings as a goatherd to a fulfilled existence as lord of a manor, master of herbal lore, publisher and school director. His son Felix Platter became a famous medical doctor and anatomist.

[edit] Tourism

In the 20th century, Grächen changed from a farming community to a popular tourist destination. In 1937, 7000 visitors spent the night there, today, some 500,000 visitors do.

Grächen is situated on the Monte Rosa tour hiking trail and provides for a natural stop between Saas-Fee and Europahütte. It is also a base for many daytrip hiking trips.