Churwalden facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Churwalden
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Church of Churwalden
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 Churwalden
Location in Switzerland
Churwalden
Location in Canton of Graubünden
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| Country | Switzerland | |
| Canton | Graubünden | |
| District | Plessur | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 48.53 km2 (18.74 sq mi) | |
| Elevation | 1,230 m (4,040 ft) | |
| Population
(Dec 2020 )
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| • Total | 1,936 | |
| • Density | 39.893/km2 (103.32/sq mi) | |
| Postal code |
7075
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| Localities | Passugg, Sagens | |
| Surrounded by | Almens, Chur, Maladers, Malix, Parpan, Praden, Scheid, Trans, Tschiertschen, Vaz/Obervaz | |
Churwalden is a small town, also called a municipality, located in the Plessur Region of the canton of Graubünden in Switzerland. It's a beautiful place in the mountains. Churwalden now includes the areas that used to be separate towns called Malix and Parpan.
Contents
History of Churwalden
Churwalden is a very old place. It was first written about in the year 1149. Back then, it was known by a different name, silva Augeria. Later, in 1191, people started calling it de Curwalde, which is similar to its name today.
Geography and Nature
Churwalden covers an area of about 26.68 square kilometers (about 10.3 square miles). A large part of this land, about 43.8%, is used for farming. Another big part, 39.6%, is covered by forests. Only a small portion, 3.7%, has buildings or roads. The rest, about 12.9%, is land that can't be used for farming or building, like rocky areas or steep slopes.
Location and Surroundings
Churwalden is nestled in a valley. It sits between the main city of the canton, Chur, and a popular holiday spot called Lenzerheide. The town is also close to the Rabiusa river and the Lenzerheide Pass.
Fun Activities in Churwalden
Churwalden is a great place for outdoor activities.
- Skiing: You can easily get to the Lenzerheide skiing area from Churwalden. This area includes slopes like Stätzerhorn, Danis, Scalottas, and Rothorn.
- New Ski Resort: At the end of 2013, the ski resort here was connected to Arosa by a cable car. This created a new, larger ski resort called Arosa Lenzerheide. Now, your ski pass works in both areas!
- Toboggan Run: If you love thrills, Churwalden has the longest summer toboggan run in Switzerland. It's 3.5 kilometers (about 2.2 miles) long and is located at Pradaschier.
How the Municipality Grew
Churwalden is a linear village, meaning it stretches out along a road. It also includes smaller areas called hamlets like Passugg and Araschgen, plus scattered farmhouses. To make things simpler, the towns of Churwalden, Malix, and Parpan decided to join together. They officially became one larger municipality called Churwalden on January 1, 2010.
People and Population
Churwalden has a population of about 2,030 people, based on numbers from December 2015. A small part of the population, about 18.9%, are people from other countries.
Languages Spoken
Most people in Churwalden speak German. About 79.7% of the population uses German as their main language. Turkish is the second most common language, spoken by 3.9% of the people. The third most common language is Romansh, spoken by 2.3% of the population.
Age Groups
The population of Churwalden is made up of different age groups:
- Children and teenagers (0–19 years old) make up 17.0% of the population.
- Adults (20–64 years old) are the largest group, at 65.1%.
- Seniors (over 64 years old) make up 17.9% of the population.
Homes and Buildings
In 2015, there were 918 homes in Churwalden. On average, about 2.17 people lived in each home. Many of the buildings in Churwalden are single-family homes, which means they are houses for just one family. About 59% of all buildings here are single-family homes. Many of the older buildings, about 32%, were built before 1919.
Population Changes Over Time
The number of people living in Churwalden has changed quite a bit over the years. You can see how the population has grown and shrunk in the chart below.
Important Heritage Sites
Churwalden has some very important historical buildings. These are listed as heritage sites of national significance in Switzerland. This means they are protected and valued for their history and culture.
- Church of St. Maria and Michael: This is a Catholic church with a long history.
- Parpan Castle: A historic castle located in the area.
- Wohnturm of the old Churwalden Abbey: This is a special type of old tower house that was part of a former abbey (a monastery).
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Church St. Maria and Michael
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Choir of the church of St. Maria and Michael
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Parpan Castle
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The Abbot's tower of Churwalden Abbey
Education in Churwalden
Many adults in Churwalden have a good education. About 64% of people aged 25-64 have finished either a non-mandatory upper secondary education or have gone on to higher education, like a university or a specialized college (called a Fachhochschule). This shows that education is important in the community.
Economy and Jobs
Churwalden is known as a "semi-touristic community." This means that tourism is an important part of its economy, but it also has other types of businesses.
Jobs in Different Sectors
In 2014, there were 862 people working in Churwalden. Jobs are often grouped into three main types:
- Primary Sector: This includes jobs like farming and forestry. About 102 people worked in 40 businesses in this sector.
- Secondary Sector: This involves manufacturing and construction. About 192 people worked in 32 businesses here.
- Tertiary Sector: This is the largest sector and includes jobs in services, like hotels, shops, and offices. About 568 people worked in 130 businesses in this sector.
Tourism and Local Products
Tourism brings many visitors to Churwalden. In 2015, hotels in the area had over 37,000 overnight stays. About 30% of these visitors came from other countries. Churwalden is also famous for a special local product. The Grischuna Bündnerfleisch, a type of dried meat, is made right here in Churwalden.
Religion
Based on a census from the year 2000, people in Churwalden follow different religions:
- About 39.1% of the population were Roman Catholic.
- About 38.5% belonged to the Swiss Reformed Church.
- A smaller number of people belonged to the Orthodox Church (1.62%) or were Muslim (9.39%).
- Some people belonged to other churches, or did not belong to any church at all.
Images for kids
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Main street in Churwalden
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Aerial view of Churwalden in 1954
See also
In Spanish: Churwalden para niños
