Val Müstair

Val Müstair (german: Münstertal) is a municipality in the Engiadina Bassa/Val Müstair Region in the Swiss canton of Graubünden. It was formed on 1 January 2009 through the merger of Tschierv, Fuldera, Lü, Valchava, Santa Maria Val Müstair and Müstair.

Demographics

Val Müstair has a population (as of ) of .

Geography

The Val Müstair ( German: ''Münstertal'', it, Val Monastero) is a mountain valley in the Swiss Alps. It connects the Fuorn Pass, () with the Italian province of South Tyrol and the Vinschgau ().

The Benedictine Convent of Saint John at Müstair (''monastery''), a World Heritage Site, was probably founded by Charlemagne, sharing history with its neighbor, the Marienberg Abbey.

The most important villages in the Val Müstair are: Tschierv (), Valchava (), Sta. Maria (), Müstair () (all Swiss) and Taufers im Münstertal in South Tyrol. There are no other inhabited connected valleys, but the road over the Umbrail Pass (and the Stelvio Pass) is connected with Sta. Maria.

The largest part of the valley is part of the Swiss canton of Graubünden. A small part lies within the Italian province of South Tyrol. The border is located at approximately 1245 meter between Müstair (1247 meter) and Taufers im Münstertal (1240 meter).

The river in the valley is the Rom (''Il Rom'' or ''Rombach'').

Naming convention

Contrary to the common notion, where the beginning of a valley is referred as the "upper valley" and the end as the "lower valley", in Val Müstair these are referred to as "inner" and "outer" respectively. This is often reflected in location names.

For instance, the valley is traditionally divided into three thirds:
* Terzal d'Aint (inner third) with Tschierv, Fuldera and Lü
* Terzal d'Immez (middle third) with Valchava and Sta. Maria
* Terzal d'Oura (outer third) with Müstair
Incidentally, this division corresponds to the first three plateaus occurring on the Swiss part of the valley.

Language

The majority of the population in the new municipality speaks Romansh, with a large German speaking minority. The following table lists the historical language distribution of the formerly independent municipalities and also for the combined municipality:

Heritage sites of national significance

The Benedictine Convent of Saint John is both listed as a Swiss heritage site of national significance and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Weather

Müstair village has an average of 86.7 days of rain per year and on average receives of precipitation. The wettest month is August during which time Müstair receives an average of of precipitation. During this month there is precipitation for an average of 9.3 days. The month with the most days of precipitation is May, with an average of 10, but with only of precipitation. The driest month of the year is February with an average of of precipitation over 9.3 days., the Müstair village weather station elevation is 1248 meters above sea level.

The higher elevation village of Sta. Maria Val Müstair has an average of 94.6 days of rain per year and on average receives of precipitation. The wettest month is August during which time Sta. Maria Val Müstair receives an average of of precipitation. During this month there is precipitation for an average of 10.6 days. The driest month of the year is February with an average of of precipitation over 10.6 days.

Tourism

There is a small amount of car parking in the village. It is the starting point for a number of hiking trails. Above Tschierv, at the mountain Minschuns, is a little ski resort. In 2009, during the International Year of Astronomy, a new public observatory Alpine Astrovillage Lü-Stailas was inaugurated. The center is equipped with robotic telescopes for direct observations, as well as for astrophotography. The equipment is also used to provide introductory courses for amateur astronomers. The Astrovillage is located on a terrace at an elevation of .

Sports

Val Müstair has hosted several stages of the Tour de Ski, a cross-country skiing stage event.

Notable residents

Donna Leon, Usonian crime novelist.

Notes and references

See also

* Nature parks in Switzerland

External links

Cumün da Val Müstair
Official website
Turissem Val Müstair
Tourism office
Convent of St. JohnOnline mapAlpine Astro Village
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Val Mustair

Municipalities of Graubünden
Mustair
Mustair
Mustair
Cultural property of national significance in Graubünden
World Heritage Sites in Switzerland
Ski areas and resorts in Switzerland