Cleaving through the Alps Autor(en): [s.n.] Objekttyp: Article Zeitschrift: The Swiss observer : the journal of the Federation of Swiss Societies in the UK Band (Jahr): - (1984) Heft 1811 PDF erstellt am: 29.09.2021 Persistenter Link: http://doi.org/10.5169/seals-687113 Nutzungsbedingungen Die ETH-Bibliothek ist Anbieterin der digitalisierten Zeitschriften. Sie besitzt keine Urheberrechte an den Inhalten der Zeitschriften. Die Rechte liegen in der Regel bei den Herausgebern. Die auf der Plattform e-periodica veröffentlichten Dokumente stehen für nicht-kommerzielle Zwecke in Lehre und Forschung sowie für die private Nutzung frei zur Verfügung. Einzelne Dateien oder Ausdrucke aus diesem Angebot können zusammen mit diesen Nutzungsbedingungen und den korrekten Herkunftsbezeichnungen weitergegeben werden. Das Veröffentlichen von Bildern in Print- und Online-Publikationen ist nur mit vorheriger Genehmigung der Rechteinhaber erlaubt. 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There have been many finds from the Bronze Age and the later La Tène period in excavations carried out, for instance, in the Cleaving area around Trun. The Celts deeply influenced the local culture of that epoch, as is revealed by many place-names. The peoples who settled here are collectively designated as Rhaetians. A period that was of great importance for this area began in the year 15 BC, when Rhaetia was conquered by the Romans. through The Latin language of the ad- new ministrators later mingled with the existing local languages to produce Rhaeto-Romanic, or Romansh. Today the inhabitants of the Surselva speak Romansh with the exception of a few the German-speaking enclaves, such as those of Alps the so-called Walser, who entered this area from the Valais in the fourteenth century and now live, for instance, in the Obersaxen re- gion. THE valley of the Vorderrhein, or Hither small town of Ilanze is famous for its fruit, and Ruined castles scattered over the whole Rhine as it used to be called, running from in autumn large amounts of butter and valley also tell us something of the Middle Oberalp towards Chur, has two names. In cheese are brought down from the Alpine Ages and their rulers. German-speaking parts it is mostly known as pastures into the villages. The history of the Surselva was for the Grisons Oberland, but the local in- Agriculture, profiting from these favour- centuries largely determined by the habitants prefer the original Romansh name able climatic conditions, plays an important Lucomagno Pass, which ranked among the of Surselva. role in the whole valley. so-called imperial passes. At the eastern end of the valley there is the But the sequestered situation is more Historians are well informed about the old landslide area of Flims with its dense apparent than real. In spite of the high early Middle Ages, as valuable documents forest, and the country above this forest mountains all around, access is easy and pre- have survived from those times. (selva) is known as the Surselva. sents no problems. Among them is the famous Tello will of The Surselva is part of a huge furrow that The motorist coming from Reichenau can 765, with which Bishop Tello left his lands cleaves the chain of the Alps, running from choose between the comfortable road between Flims and Somvix to the monastery the Lake of Constance to the Lake of through Flims and the more picturesque of Disentis. Geneva. route through Versam, which passes high The valley population seems to have en- It is only at the Gotthard that a line of com- above the Rhine gorge. joyed a high degree of emancipation at all munication crosses the Alps from north to Postal coaches run from Ilanz, mid-point of times. In 1424 the Grey League was founded south. the valley, to Flims, Ladir, Obersaxen, Riein, in Trun and brought the local inhabitants The Surselva is bounded to the north by Siat, Vais and Vrin. extensive liberties. the mighty chain of Tödi that rises abruptly to Far below, along the Vorderrhein, a line of In 1471 this league joined forces with two heights of 3,400 metres and more. Rhaetian Railways hurries past bizarre chalk others, the Gotteshausbund (League of There are only very few paths over these formations to Disentis. God's House) and Zehngerichtebund mountains and roads were never built over The Furka-Oberalp Railway continues (League of Ten Jurisdictions), thereby form- them. from there, making for Andermatt and thence ing a Rhaetian state. But to the south there are a number of side through the new Furka Tunnel into the Valais. Feudal dominion gradually lost its hold. valleys with numerous villages and with slopes Göschenen can also be reached by rail The next few centuries nevertheless brought on which brown wooden barns enliven the from Andermatt in a matter of minutes. The periods of unrest, as for instance during what landscape. road from Disentis over the Lucomagno Pass is known as the Bündner Wirren, the Grison The barrier of the landslide of Flims to the into the Ticino is closed in winter. disorders, the plague years and the French east keeps off most of the raw winds that blow Circles of stone and ritual rocks with man- invasion (1799). from this quarter. made depressions are found in many places In the course of the nineteenth century the This geographical situation results in a mild in the Surselva and bear witness to some of region recovered and made attempts to climate that often has more of the character of the earliest human settlements in the valley. develop new social patterns. In some areas it southern parts than of the inhospitable Alps. It is impossible today to determine with any proved possible to create new jobs, so that the Grapes grow up to considerable altitudes certitude the original significance of these, in sheltered situations, the area around the stone monuments. Were they aids to Tum to Page IS 17 A uiem o/ the nil/age o/ Segnes which belongs to the commune o/Disentis valley-dwellers were always farmers, living on Factory workers are also employed by the From Page 17 the land they cultivated. Emser Werke at Domat/Ems. young men were not compelled to emigrate And agriculture - constantly undergoing Since the Second World War a few power or to enter foreign military service. modernisation - is still an important stations have been erected in the valley and The building of new roads and later of the economic factor today. The trades, based on have provided work for many young people line of Rhaetian Railways from Ilanz to old handicraft traditions, have also both during the building phase and under Disentis (1912) brought a modest prosperity developed. operational conditions. to the Surselva. Many towns and villages derive benefit Tourism is today one of the chief economic But it was only after the Second World from small and medium enterprises such as stays of life in the valley. Once places like War, when tourism began its boom in all parts building and transport companies, garages Sedrun, Disentis, Breil/Brigels and of the country, that the existence of the valley- and product distribution firms. Obersaxen had evolved into holiday resorts dwellers was assured. Industry has not been able to establish with a respectable infrastructure, smaller The agriculture of the Surselva has profited itself, with the sole exception of the textile villages began to follow suit, and in most cases at all times from the favourable climate. The factory at Trun. their efforts were crowned with success. Touring... on skis SPRINGTIME skiing in his own, then skis down new possibility of mutual assistance. Swiss mountain climbing Switzerland first became popular slopes having no designated runs. Just such team-work, such schools provide a choice of when the higher mountain re- Powder snow, common in dependence on one another, is guided ski tours at all levels of gions, which had snow as late as January, is found in the higher re- indeed an unforgettable ability for the challenging peaks May or even June, became gions even in late spring. Yet one experience that many people in of the Swiss Alps. A fascinating accessible after the construction mustn't forget the danger our mechanised world can no experience that lives on in of railways and ski lifts. involved. longer have. memory. The real sportsman however Ski tours ought never be Prerequisites for a 2,000-4,000 experiences even greater satisfac- attempted alone! Skiing as a meter ski tour consists of con- tion if he climbs a mountain on group considerably increases the fident, experienced skiing ability and physical fitness. Year-round intensive training always pays off. BARGAIN hunters looking for a BACKGROUND IN PSYCHOLOGY Before beginning a tour, the last minute skiing holiday, should skier should be contact Interhome, who have OR MEDICINE thoroughly familiar with the equipment: rope, apartments available in climbing iron, pickaxe, climbing Switzerland during March and We are /ooAv'np forSw/'ss German peop/e fo wor/r as harness and, above all, the April.