Savognin

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Savognin

Canton	Graubünden
District	Albula
Coordinates	46°35′N, 09°35′E
Population	957 (December 2004)
Area	22.23 km²
Elevation	1207 m
Postal code	7460
SFOS number	3539
Website	www.savognin.ch
Savognin

Savognin (in local dialect Suagnign, Italian Savognino, German official name, until 1890 Schweiningen) is a municipality in the district of Albula in the canton of Graubünden in Switzerland.

The stately town, the main community of Oberhalbstein (or Surses) valley, is a beloved foreign tourist destination in both summer and winter. The official language is the Romansh dialect Surmiran.

1 Geography
2 History
- 2.1 Coat of Arms
3 Population
- 3.1 Economy and Transportation
4 Tourist Attractions
5 Miscellaneous
6 Resources

[edit] Geography

Savognin lies in a wide depression called Sotgôt, which forms the lower part of the Surses valley (also called Oberhalbstein).

The municipal area includes a piece of the main valley between Mount Piz Arblatsch (elev. 3203m, highest point in the municipality) in the southwest and Mount Piz Mitgel (elev. 3159m) in the northeast. As the three old churches indicate, the town was developed in multiple centers: by the river Julia, on the plain rising toward the left hand slope, and along the elevated main road on the right hand slope. The strong construction between 1965 and 1975 filled in the spaces between these village parts, and extended the developed area on the right side of the valley.

In 1997, 32.7% of the municipal area was used for agriculture, forests accounted for 36.2%, 3% was developed, and 28.2% was unproductive.

Neighboring municipalities are Cunter, Tiefencastel, Filisur, Tinizong-Rona, Mulegns, and Riom-Parsonz.

[edit] History

An important Bronze Age settlement is located on the Padnal hill to the south of town. In multiple excavations, many discoveries have been made, mostly from the period between 1800 and 1000 B.C.

At least since the time of the Romans, important travel routes have passed through the Julier and Septimer passes. Savognin came into the possession of the Bishops of Chur in the 13th century. As part of the court of Oberhalbstein, for which Savognin acted as principal town and rural area, the town became a member of the League of God's House. After its sale in 1552, the valley attained full sovereignty as part of the Free State of the Three Leagues.

The cattle industry and traffic through the passes formed the economic framework of the community since the Middle Ages. Periods of increase, for example, after Mount Crap Ses was blown up in 1777, or when the Julier Road was improved between 1820 and 1840, were always followed by periods of decrease, most recently from too much competition after the opening of the Gotthardbahn in 1882. At this stage Savognin was thrown back to being a peasants' village, and missed the next connection to the development of tourism. Jenische families were granted citizenship in the middle of the 19th century, as part of the Law for the fight against Homelessness. The ascent to foreign vacation destination began only in the 1960s, with the construction of hotels, vacation apartments and aerial ropeways; the village was changing.

[edit] Coat of Arms

Blazon: Red, sectioned by a silver-bordered blue river-strip, in the upper portion, two silver bells, in the lower, one.

The coat of arms symbolizes the location along the river and the three churches of the town.

[edit] Population

Population Growth
Year	Population
1643	430
1802	365
1850	469
1900	444
1950	766
1980	852
2004	957

At the time of the 2000 census, 53.1% chose Romansh as their main language, 36.6% chose German, and 3.6% chose Italian. 12.2% were foreign. 71 people were employed in agriculture, 122 in industry and trade, and 423 in services.

[edit] Economy and Transportation

As seat of the district administration, district hospital, and secondary school, Savognin forms the center of the valley. The most important sector is tourism; in one year about 200,000 rooms are let. The ski areas on Mounts Piz Martegnas and Val Nandro are accessible by mulitiple aerial lifts.

Savognin is one Highway 3, which goes from Chur to Engadin via Lenzerheide and the Julier pass. A post route also follows this highway. Most trips end in Bivio, some drive on to St. Moritz. An additional post route connects the nearby villages of Riom, Parsonz, and Salouf.

[edit] Tourist Attractions

Savognin has three Catholic churches of the Baroque period.

Parish church Nossadonna, built 1643; has additional Gothic features.
Church Son Martegn, built in 1677 in the Central Form style, with a cross-shaped base. Has a monumental fresco painted in 1681 by Carlo Nuvolone from Milan.
Church Son Mitgel, built in 1663, an eight-sided Central Form building with an older steeple, altars from 1693-94,

as well as stately citizens' homes, such as the Peterelli House on the main street, and the Amilcar House near the parish church, with its south-german-influenced half-timbered style. The Julia bridge in the community of Sot Curt is from 1682. A regional museum was established in a 16th century farmhouse in 1982.

[edit] Miscellaneous

The Italian painter Giovanni Segantini lived in Savognin between 1886 and 1894, and developed his style there. He is famous for his landscapes with Mounts Piz Curver and Piz Tiossa in the background.