Welcome to the wild east where almost a thousand lakes and hundreds of valleys wait for you. This is the largest canton and home to the most spectacular mountain passes in the country. You find yourself in a land of ancient stone villages where the people speak Romansh. The landscape is massive and ranges from the deep Rhine **Gorge** to the high peaks of the **Engadin**. **The roads here are a dream for any driver**. You can conquer the Julier, Albula and Flüela passes in one long journey. The Swiss National Park offers a look at a wilderness where nature is left entirely alone. You can visit the glamor of **St. Moritz** or the quiet stone streets of Guarda. The vibe is rugged and high altitude with a focus on the grand scale of the mountains. This is a place for massive adventures and long days on the road. You can find thermal baths in Vals or explore the ancient monastery in **Müstair**. The air is crisp and the light in the high valleys is famous among artists. Graubünden is the king of the mountains. It's a world of discovery that could take a lifetime to see.

Graubünden (canton) highlights

Part of these road trips

Follow the routes that cross this destination

The Scenic Route

The Heritage Drive

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History of Graubünden (canton)

This is the wild eastern frontier where three languages have lived side by side for centuries. The history begins with the **Rhaetian** people who lived in these deep gorges long before the Romans arrived to build the high mountain passes. For much of its history the region was a collection of independent mountain valleys that joined together for mutual protection against the empires of the north and south. The history of the region is a story of the pass and the path. High mountain routes like the **Bernina** and the **Splugen** were the lifelines of the local economy used by pack mules to carry salt and wine across the Alps. This trade brought wealth to the stone villages where houses are decorated with patterns that look like delicate lace. It was a land of tough travelers and resilient farmers who thrived in a world of snow and stone. In the late 1800s the discovery of the health benefits of high altitude air turned the region into the world most famous winter landscape. The glamor of **St. Moritz** drew the global elite but the heart of the province remained in the wild. The creation of a massive national park ensured that much of this wilderness would remain untouched. It is a story of the high and the deep where the road follows ancient trails through the roof of the world.

Graubünden (canton)