Grächen facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Grächen
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 Grächen
Location in Switzerland
Grächen
Location in Canton of Valais
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| Country | Switzerland | |
| Canton | Valais | |
| District | Visp | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 14.27 km2 (5.51 sq mi) | |
| Elevation | 1,619 m (5,312 ft) | |
| Population
(Dec 2020 )
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| • Total | 1,258 | |
| • Density | 88.16/km2 (228.33/sq mi) | |
| Postal code |
3925
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| Surrounded by | Eisten, Embd, Sankt Niklaus, Stalden, Törbel | |
Grächen is a small town, or 'municipality,' located in the beautiful Valais region of Switzerland. It sits high up in the mountains, about 1,620 meters (5,310 ft) above sea level, on a sunny plateau. This charming village is found above St. Niklaus, in the Mattertal valley, with the impressive Mischabel mountains nearby.
Contents
A Look at Grächen's History
Grächen has a long and interesting past. People probably lived in this area as far back as the Stone Age. It was definitely a hunting ground for early people during the Bronze Age. Around the year 750 CE, a group called the Alamanni began to settle in the German-speaking part of Valais, where Grächen is located.
Grächen was first mentioned in official records in 1210. Back then, it was known as de Grachan. Later, in 1250, it was called de Granges. For many years, the farmers of Grächen were under the control of different powerful lords. They had to pay tribute to them. Eventually, in the 19th century, the community gained its independence.
One of Grächen's most famous citizens was Thomas Platter, who lived in the 1500s. He wrote an autobiography about his life. He started as a humble goatherd and became a successful man. He was known for his knowledge of plants, and he was also a publisher and a school director. His son, Felix Platter, became a well-known medical doctor.
Grächen's Geography and Nature
Grächen covers an area of about 14.3 square kilometers (5.5 sq mi). A good portion of this land, about 13.7%, is used for farming. Over half of the area, 53.7%, is covered by forests. About 5.1% of the land has buildings or roads, and 27.5% is unproductive land, like rocky areas or glaciers.
The village is located on a terrace below the Ried Glacier. This glacier stretches for about 5 km (3.1 mi) from Ried to Bärgji. It is about 1 km (0.62 mi) wide. The highest points in the area are the Seetalhorn and Distelhorn mountain peaks.
Grächen's Climate
Grächen has a climate with warm summers and cold, snowy winters. This type of climate is called a humid continental climate. It gets a lot of snow in winter, and the summers are mild. Rain and snow are spread out fairly evenly throughout the year.
| Climate data for Grächen (1991–2020), 1605 (m) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 0.9 (33.6) |
1.5 (34.7) |
5.4 (41.7) |
9.3 (48.7) |
14.0 (57.2) |
18.3 (64.9) |
20.4 (68.7) |
19.8 (67.6) |
15.5 (59.9) |
10.8 (51.4) |
4.7 (40.5) |
1.4 (34.5) |
10.2 (50.4) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | −2.6 (27.3) |
−2.4 (27.7) |
0.8 (33.4) |
4.4 (39.9) |
8.6 (47.5) |
12.6 (54.7) |
14.6 (58.3) |
14.2 (57.6) |
10.3 (50.5) |
6.2 (43.2) |
1.2 (34.2) |
−1.7 (28.9) |
5.5 (41.9) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | −5.4 (22.3) |
−5.6 (21.9) |
−2.7 (27.1) |
0.4 (32.7) |
4.3 (39.7) |
7.9 (46.2) |
9.8 (49.6) |
9.9 (49.8) |
6.5 (43.7) |
3.2 (37.8) |
−1.4 (29.5) |
−4.4 (24.1) |
1.9 (35.4) |
| Average precipitation mm (inches) | 42 (1.7) |
31 (1.2) |
37 (1.5) |
47 (1.9) |
69 (2.7) |
58 (2.3) |
56 (2.2) |
62 (2.4) |
43 (1.7) |
57 (2.2) |
56 (2.2) |
50 (2.0) |
607 (23.9) |
| Average snowfall cm (inches) | 40 (16) |
34 (13) |
25 (9.8) |
19 (7.5) |
4 (1.6) |
0 (0) |
0 (0) |
0 (0) |
0 (0) |
8 (3.1) |
32 (13) |
47 (19) |
209 (82) |
| Average precipitation days (≥ 1.0 mm) | 6.6 | 5.9 | 6.1 | 6.3 | 9.0 | 9.1 | 8.9 | 9.2 | 6.5 | 6.8 | 6.8 | 7.4 | 88.6 |
| Average snowy days (≥ 1.0 cm) | 6.2 | 6.0 | 3.8 | 2.4 | 0.6 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.1 | 1.1 | 4.1 | 7.1 | 31.4 |
| Average relative humidity (%) | 63 | 63 | 61 | 61 | 64 | 64 | 63 | 65 | 67 | 67 | 68 | 65 | 64 |
| Source: MeteoSwiss | |||||||||||||
Grächen's Coat of Arms
The coat of arms for Grächen has a special design. It shows three golden cliffs rising from the bottom, with three green pine trees growing from them. This design represents the natural beauty of the area, with its mountains and forests.
Population and Community Life
Grächen has a population of about 1,258 people. Most people in Grächen speak German as their first language. A small number of people also speak Dutch or French.
In 2000, about 70% of the people living in Grächen were born there. Many others were born in the same canton, or elsewhere in Switzerland. A small percentage of the population was born outside of Switzerland.
The community has a mix of age groups. In 2000, about 26% of the population were children and teenagers (0-19 years old). Adults (20-64 years old) made up about 60%, and seniors (over 64 years old) made up about 13.6%.
Most households in Grächen have an average of 2.6 people. There are also some households with just one person, and others with five or more people.
The number of people living in Grächen has changed over time. Here's a look at the historical population:
Economy and Jobs in Grächen
Grächen has a diverse economy. In 2008, many people worked in the service industry, which includes hotels, restaurants, and shops. There were also jobs in construction and agriculture.
Many people who live in Grächen travel to other towns for work. However, some people also commute into Grächen for their jobs. Most people use private cars to get to work, while some use public transportation.
Tourism and Fun Activities
In the 20th century, Grächen transformed from a farming village into a popular place for tourists. In 1937, about 7,000 visitors stayed overnight. Today, that number has grown to around 500,000 visitors each year!
Grächen is a great spot for hiking and mountaineering. It's located on the famous Monte Rosa tour hiking trail, making it a natural stopping point between Saas-Fee and Europahütte.
The village also has its own ski resort. It offers about 40 km (25 mi) of slopes for skiing and snowboarding. The resort has 11 ski lifts, a restaurant, and offers lessons. The ski season usually runs from mid-December to early April. The ski area is located between 1,619 and 2,864 meters high.
Grächen is also popular because it's close to two other major ski resorts: Zermatt and Saas-Fee.
Sports Events
Grächen has even hosted big sports events! In 2019, it was the location for the UCI Mountain Bike Marathon World Championships. This is a major international competition for mountain biking.
Religion in Grächen
Most people in Grächen are Roman Catholic. A smaller number belong to the Swiss Reformed Church. There are also a few people who belong to other Christian churches, or other religions like Islam or Buddhism. Some people do not belong to any church.
Education for Grächen's Students
In Grächen, many people have completed their high school education. Some have also gone on to higher education at a university or a specialized college.
The school system in Valais allows young children to attend one year of non-mandatory Kindergarten. In the 2010-2011 school year, Grächen had one kindergarten class with 18 students. Students then attend six years of primary school. Grächen had 5 primary school classes with 104 students. After primary school, students go to secondary school. All secondary students from Grächen attend schools in a nearby town.
See also
In Spanish: Grächen para niños
