Laax facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Laax/Lags
Laax in August 2008
Coat of arms
Laax/Lags Location in Switzerland Show map of Switzerland Laax/Lags Location in Canton of Graubünden Show map of Canton of Graubünden
Country	Switzerland
Canton	Graubünden
District	Surselva
Area
• Total	31.71 km2 (12.24 sq mi)
Elevation	1,050 m (3,440 ft)
Population  (Dec 2020 )
• Total	1,974
• Density	62.252/km2 (161.23/sq mi)
Postal code	7031
Surrounded by	Glarus Süd (GL), Falera, Flims, Ruschein, Sagogn, Schluein

Laax (also called Lags in the local Romansh language) is a small town in the Surselva Region of Switzerland. It's located in the canton of Graubünden, known for its beautiful mountains and valleys. Laax is a popular place for holidays, especially for skiing and snowboarding in winter.

History of Laax

Seal of the "Freie von Laax", 1727

Laax was first mentioned around the years 1290–98 as Lags. However, its history goes back even further.

Early Mentions of Laax

In 765 AD, a bishop named Tello of Chur mentioned Laax in his will. He gave part of a nearby area, Flims, to a monastery. This shows Laax was already known back then.

Becoming an Independent Village

The village of Laax appeared in church records in 1290. By 1525, Laax became officially independent. It even had its own church parish.

Freedom and Special Rights

In 1428, the people of Laax, known as the "Freie von Laax" (Free People of Laax), bought their freedom. They bought it from Count Rudolf VII of Werdenberg-Sargans. This gave them special rights and freedoms. They could hold markets and collect tolls, which was very unusual at the time.

New Church and Modern Times

In 1677, a new church in Laax was dedicated. It was named after two saints, Saint Gallus and Saint Otmar. Later, in 1851, Laax joined the Ilanz district. Tourism started to grow in Laax around 1962, making it a popular destination.

Geography of Laax

Laax Lake

Aerial view of Laax in 1949

Laax covers an area of about 31.7 square kilometers (12.2 square miles). A large part of this land is used for farming (35.8%). Another big part is covered by forests (30.6%). About 3.6% of the land has buildings or roads. The rest (29.9%) is made up of rivers, mountains, or glaciers.

Location and Landscape

Laax is located in the Surselva Region. The area stretches from the main village up to Plaun and the Vorab mountain. This whole area is one valley, and its river eventually flows into the famous Rhine river.

Villages and Hamlets

The municipality of Laax includes the main village of Laax. It also has smaller settlements called hamlets. These hamlets are Salums, Cons, Laax Murschetg, and Laax Dorf. The main ski lifts are found in Laax Murschetg.

Local Features

A small, pretty lake called Laaxersee (or Lag Grond) is right in the village. From Laax, you can see amazing views of the Signina mountains to the south. To the north, you can see the Flimserstein rock formation. The village has useful facilities for visitors and locals. These include a swimming pool, a small supermarket, a post office, and several shops, like a bakery.

Population and People of Laax

Laax has a population of about 1,920 people (as of 2016). Over the last ten years, the number of people living in Laax has grown quite a bit.

Languages Spoken

Most people in Laax speak German (about 50.3%). The second most common language is Romansh (about 40.1%). Portuguese is the third most spoken language (about 3.9%).

Age Groups in Laax

In 2000, about 8.9% of the population were children aged 0 to 9. Teenagers aged 10 to 19 made up about 12.8% of the population. The largest group was adults aged 20 to 59. About 9.6% of the population were seniors aged 60 to 69.

Education and Jobs

Most people in Switzerland are well educated. In Laax, about 74.6% of adults (aged 25–64) have finished high school or gone on to higher education. This could be a university or a specialized college.

Laax has a low unemployment rate, which means most people who want to work can find jobs. In 2005, many people worked in the tourism industry. This includes hotels, restaurants, and ski resorts.

Religious Beliefs

In 2000, most people in Laax were Roman Catholic (about 68.5%). About 20.9% belonged to the Swiss Reformed Church. A small number of people belonged to other churches, including the Orthodox Church or were Muslims. Some people did not belong to any church.

Historical Population Growth

The table below shows how the population of Laax has changed over time:

Laax in Books

Laax is also featured in fiction! Two chapters of the English novel Angel by Sebastian Michael are set almost entirely in Laax. These chapters are called No Rainbow and The Legend of The Fall.

See also

In Spanish: Laax para niños