Bregaglia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Bregaglia
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 Bregaglia
Location in Switzerland
Bregaglia
Location in Canton of Graubünden
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| Country | Switzerland | |
| Canton | Graubünden | |
| District | Maloja | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 251.45 km2 (97.09 sq mi) | |
| Population
(Dec 2020 )
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| • Total | 1,556 | |
| • Density | 6.1881/km2 (16.027/sq mi) | |
| Localities | Bondo, Ca d'Farett, Castasegna, Muntac, Roticcio, Soglio, Spino, Stampa and Vicosoprano | |
Bregaglia is a municipality in the Maloja Region of the Grisons canton in Switzerland. It was created in 2010 when five smaller towns joined together. These towns are Bondo, Castasegna, Soglio, Stampa, and Vicosoprano. All of them are located in the beautiful Val Bregaglia valley.
Bregaglia is special because it's the only Italian-speaking municipality in Switzerland where most people are Protestant.
Contents
History of Bregaglia
Bregaglia was formed by combining several older towns. Each of these towns has its own interesting past.
Bondo's Past
The town of Bondo has a long history. It was first mentioned by name in 1380. In 1552, the Protestant Reformation changed the religion of many people in the village.
Sadly, in 1621, during a time of conflict, Spanish soldiers burned Bondo to the ground. About 248 buildings were destroyed. But the people of Bondo didn't give up! They rebuilt their town with new streets.
Castasegna and its Chestnuts
Castasegna was first mentioned in 1374. This town is famous for having the largest chestnut forest in Europe, called Brentan. In fact, the name Castasegna means "chestnut grove." You can even see a chestnut tree on the town's coat of arms!
Other Historic Towns
- Soglio was first mentioned in 1186.
- Stampa was first mentioned after 1354.
- Vicosoprano was first mentioned in 1096.
Geography and Nature
Bregaglia covers a large area of about 251 square kilometers (97 square miles). A small part of this land, about 14%, is used for farming. Forests cover about 21% of the area. Only a tiny part, less than 1%, has buildings or roads. The rest, about 63%, is wild, undeveloped land.
People of Bregaglia
Bregaglia has a population of about 1,552 people. Around 13% of the people living here are from other countries.
In Bregaglia, children and teenagers (up to 19 years old) make up about 16% of the population. Adults (20-64 years old) are about 59%, and seniors (over 64 years old) are about 24%.
Most households in Bregaglia have about two people living in them.
Population Over Time
The chart below shows how the population of the different towns that now form Bregaglia has changed over many years.
Important Historic Buildings
Several buildings in Bregaglia are considered very important national heritage sites. These include:
- The Castelmur medieval fortress in Bondo.
- The S. Maria church and the Palazzo Salis in Bondo.
- Several old houses in Soglio: Casa Antonio No. 139, Casa Battista no. 131, Casa Di Mezzo No. 137, and Cas’Alta No. 120.
- The Palazzo Castelmur in Stampa.
The S. Maria church in Castelmur has a Romanesque bell tower. The S. Maria church in Bondo also has a Romanesque bell tower and beautiful old paintings from the 1400s. The famous painter Varlin is buried in the nearby cemetery.
The Palazzo Salis is a grand building started in 1765. The Casa Battista in Soglio is now a hotel.
What People Do for Work
In 2014, about 896 people worked in Bregaglia.
- About 104 people worked in farming and related jobs.
- Around 306 people worked in manufacturing and construction.
- The largest group, 486 people, worked in service jobs like tourism, shops, and hotels.
Tourism is important here. In 2015, hotels in Bregaglia had over 41,000 overnight stays. Many visitors came from other countries.
There is also a power plant in Castasegna, run by Elektrizitätswerk der Stadt Zürich (EWZ).
Famous People from Bregaglia
The Salis family is a very old and important family from Soglio. Their family symbol is even on the municipality's coat of arms.
The Giacometti family, famous artists, come from Stampa. Some of the most well-known members are:
- Giovanni Giacometti (1868–1933)
- Augusto Giacometti (1877–1947), Giovanni's cousin
- Alberto Giacometti (1901–1966), Giovanni's son
- Diego Giacometti (1902–1985), Giovanni's son
- Bruno Giacometti (1907-2012), Giovanni's son
Climate in Bregaglia
Bregaglia experiences a fair amount of rain throughout the year.
- Soglio gets rain on about 102 days a year, with May being the wettest month.
- Vicosoprano has rain on about 111 days a year, also with May being the wettest month.
Images for kids
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Castelmur Castle, an old Roman station and medieval fortress
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Swiss Reformed Church di Nossa Donna
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The outside of Hotel Palazzo Salis
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The dining room inside Hotel Palazzo Salis
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Palazzo Castelmur
See also
In Spanish: Bregaglia para niños
