Engadin (Grisons, Switzerland)

The resort Engadin St. Moritz is situated on the southern side of the Swiss Alps, at 1,800 meters above sea level. The incomparable harmony of its lake scenery has made the Engadin known throughout the world as the "festival hall of the Alps". The valley has plenty of sunny days, and it has mineral springs and a very pleasant climate. Piz Bernina is the only four-thousander in the eastern Alps (4,049 m. altitude). Piz Palü, Piz Corvatsch, Corviglia and Diavolezza are among its other well-known peaks and skiing areas. Engadin St. Moritz has a fascinating cultural heritage - Romansch as its official main language, German spoken in St. Moritz, Italian in the neighboring valleys, French at the Club Med, lots of English for example at the Cresta Run, cricket and polo. Giovanni Segantini and the Giacomettis, Friedrich Nietzsche, Richard Wagner, Hermann Hesse, Thomas Mann, Arturo Toscanini, Richard Strauss, Herbert von Karajan and many other famous personalities from the worlds of the arts and culture have contributed to the myth und nimbus of this valley. 'Schlittedas', 'Chalandamarz', an own architectural style (the 'Engadine house'), and the famous Engadine nut tart are also a part of it all. The region's 13 towns work well together, complement one another, and jointly support regional offers - for example the extensive network of hiking and cross-country skiing trails, the Engadin cross-country skiing, inline skating and windsurfing marathons, etc. Further attractions complete the offer - horse racing and polo competitions on the Lake of St. Moritz, the Cresta Run and Olympic Bob Run (1928 and 1948), the music festival Snow & Symphony, the Gourmet Festival and OpernFestival, St. Moritz' Olympic skiing jump and the Ski World Cup and World Championships downhill runs (1934, 1948, 1974, 2003) and famous rail excursions such as Glacier Express and Bernina Express. In summer this is enhanced by yet more leisure opportunities such as mountain biking, hiking, golfing, tennis, sailing, and Switzerland's only National Park - all reachable within minutes!