Albula/Alvra
{{Infobox Swiss town
| subject_name = Albula/Alvra
| municipality_type = municipality
| image_photo = Mon Dorf.jpg
| image_caption = Mon village from the air
| imagepath_coa = CHE Albula-Alvra COA.svg
| imagepath_flag = CHE Albula-Alvra Flag.svg
| languages =
| canton = Graubünden
| iso-code-region = CH-GR
| district = Albula
|coordinates = {{coord|46|38|N|9|33|E|display=inline,title}}
| postal_code = 7084,7450,51,58,59,72,92
| municipality_code = 3542
| area = 93.93
| elevation = 1231|elevation_description=
| population = 1347 | populationof = 2013 | popofyear = 2013
| website = www.albula-alvra.ch
| mayor = |mayor_asof=|mayor_party=
| mayor_title = |list_of_mayors =
| places =
| demonym =
| neighboring_municipalities= Riom-Parsonz, Salouf
| twintowns =
|}}
Albula/Alvra is a municipality in the Albula Region in the canton of Graubünden (Grisons) in Switzerland. On 1 January 2015, the former municipalities of Alvaschein, Mon, Stierva, Tiefencastel, Alvaneu, Brienz/Brinzauls, and Surava merged to form the new municipality of Albula/Alvra.[http://www.bfs.admin.ch/bfs/portal/de/index/infothek/nomenklaturen/blank/blank/gem_liste/03.html Amtliches Gemeindeverzeichnis der Schweiz] published by the Swiss Federal Statistical Office {{in lang|de}} accessed 2 January 2013
History
=Alvaschein=
{{Main|Alvaschein}}
The first mention of the municipality came in 1154, on the occasion of the construction of nunnery named Alvasinis.{{HDS|1409|Alvaschein}} It became subordinate to the Princes-Bishop of Chur in 1282. In 1367, it belonged to the municipality of Gotteshausband. The inhabitants finally bought their freedom from the Princes-Bishop in 1732. Nearly the whole community was destroyed in a fire in 1745. It has been the seat of the district of the same name since 1851.
=Mon=
{{Main|Mon}}
Mon is first mentioned around 1001-1200 as de Maune. In 1281, it was mentioned as Mans.{{HDS|1410|Mon}} Until 1943, Mon was known as Mons.[http://www.bfs.admin.ch/bfs/portal/de/index/infothek/nomenklaturen/blank/blank/gem_liste/03.html Amtliches Gemeindeverzeichnis der Schweiz] published by the Swiss Federal Statistical Office {{in lang|de}} accessed 23 September 2009
=Stierva=
{{Main|Stierva}}
Stierva is first mentioned in 841 Seturiuo.{{HDS|1412|Stierva}} Until 1943, Stierva was known as Stürvis.
=Tiefencastel=
{{Main|Tiefencastel}}
Tiefencastel is first mentioned in 831 as in Castello Impitinis. Starting around in the 14th century, it was known as Tüffenkasten.{{HDS|1413|Tiefencastel}}
=Alvaneu=
{{Main|Alvaneu}}
Alvaneu is first mentioned in 1244 as Aluenude. In 1530, it was mentioned as Allweneü.{{HDS|1415|Alvaneu}}
On 20 March 2007, Peter Martin Wettler, a media expert and resident of Zurich was appointed Prince of Belfort by the village's authorities. He was to serve for one year with a mandate to improve tourism and the local economy.{{cite news |first= Isobel |last= Leybold-Johnson |title= Mountain village converts to a princedom |url= http://www.swissinfo.org/eng/front/detail/Mountain_village_converts_to_a_princedom.html?siteSect=105&sid=7637921&cKey=1174402887000 |newspaper= Swissinfo |date= March 20, 2007|accessdate=24 September 2009}}
=Brienz/Brinzauls=
{{Main|Brienz/Brinzauls}}
Brienz/Brinzauls is first mentioned around 840 as Brienzola.{{HDS|3243|Brienz/Brinzauls}}
By the 12th century, the village was an economic center for the Bishop of Chur. The Lords of Brienz were first mentioned as the owners of a fortified tower in the village in 1259. In 1526, it separated from the parish of Lantsch/Lenz to become a parish. In 1725, Surava separated from Brienz/Brinzauls to form its own parish. Until 1851, the village was part of the Herrschaft of Belfort. Between 1869 and 1883, Brienz/Brinzauls and Surava were united into a single political municipality.
== Glacier melt and landslide concerns ==
On 9 May 2023, all residents were ordered to evacuate the village due to the determination by geologists that {{convert|2000000|m3|cuft}} of rock from the mountain above was expected to collapse into the valley that includes the village.{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-65533681|title=Swiss village of Brienz told to flee imminent monster rockslide|date=9 May 2023|via=www.bbc.com}} At that time, the population of the village was less than 100 residents. The entire village sits upon a layer of saturated soft-rock permeated by glacial melt from the mountains above.{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.pbs.org/video/glacier-express-dw28wi/ |title=Epic Train Journeys {{!}} Glacier Express {{!}} Episode 1 |type=Television production |language=en |minutes=18-23 |access-date=2025-05-30 |via=PBS (www.pbs.org)}} The growth of and consequential increase in pressure on the water deposit below has led the 150-meter thick layer above to slide southwards at a rate of roughly 1.5 meters annually. This has frequently caused damage to and the destruction of infrastructure in the region. Areas at higher elevations on the mountain to the north are moving at a far faster rate of 3 to 10 meters per year. Landslides and falling rocks are thus a frequent hazard for residents and the Albula rail line, which services the village; it is estimated that nearly 10 billion cubic meters of rock are moving in its direction.
A researcher at the University of Cambridge attributed the impending collapse, expected within a week to 24 days, to climate change that is driving glacier melt in the Alps.{{Cite web|url=https://www.cnn.com/2023/05/10/europe/switzerland-brienz-alpine-rockslide-intl/index.html|title=Evacuations ordered as rock teeters over Swiss village|first=Nadine|last1= Schmidt|first2=Caolán|last2=Magee|date=10 May 2023|website=CNN}} Simon Löw, emeritus professor of Engineering Geology at ETH Zurich, disputed a link to climate change, citing the lack of thawing permafrost and any correlation between annual rainfall and the speed at which the slope slides.{{Cite web |date=2023-05-10 |title=Drohender Bergsturz - Brienz (GR): Kurz-Rückkehr von Bewohnern abgesagt |trans-title=Brienz/Brizauls: Short return of residents cancelled |url=https://www.srf.ch/news/schweiz/drohender-bergsturz-brienz-gr-kurz-rueckkehr-von-bewohnern-abgesagt |access-date=2023-05-31 |website=Schweizer Radio und Fernsehen (SRF) |language=de}} On the night of 15 and 16 June, a major rockfall occurred, stopping short of the village.{{Cite web |last=SRF/Keystone-SDA/jdp |date=2023-06-16 |title=Huge landslide narrowly misses Swiss mountain village |url=https://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/business/evacuated-village-spared-as-enormous-rock-masses-fall-in-brienz/48595332 |access-date=2023-06-28 |website=SWI swissinfo.ch |language=en}} Municipal officials ended the evacuation of the village on 3 July, while emphasizing that future evacuations could remain necessary.{{Cite web |date=2023-07-03 |title=Phase Gelb in Brienz - Evakuierung aufgehoben: Bevölkerung darf zurück nach Brienz |trans-title=Phase Yellow in Brienz/Brinzauls - Evacuation lifted, people can return to Brienz |url=https://www.srf.ch/news/schweiz/phase-gelb-in-brienz-evakuierung-aufgehoben-bevoelkerung-darf-zurueck-nach-brienz |access-date=2023-08-07 |website=Schweizer Radio und Fernsehen (SRF) |language=de}}
In 2024, the movement of an additional 1.2 million cubic meters of rock was detected.{{Cite web |date=2024-11-09 |title=Sous la menace d'un nouvel éboulement, Brienz (GR) se prépare encore à évacuer ses habitants |url=https://www.rts.ch/info/regions/autres-cantons/2024/article/sous-la-menace-d-un-nouvel-eboulement-brienz-gr-se-prepare-encore-a-evacuer-ses-habitants-28689534.html |access-date=2025-05-30 |website=rts.ch |language=fr}} It was thought that the relatively slow movement of the rock mass could give villagers additional time, in the range of several months, but a sudden collapse, like that of 2023, was not ruled out; such an event would give no time for the inhabitants of the village to flee.{{Cite journal |last=Walser |first=Charlotte |date=2024-11-19 |title=Brienz évacué : certains ne reviendront jamais |journal=24 heures |language=fr |issue=270 |pages=15}} Efforts were made in 2024 to reduce pressure on the deposit prior to its eventual collapse. Civil engineers sought to drain the meltwater deposit by tunneling underneath both layers and the mountain above. On November 9, 2024, it was announced that there was a serious fear of the collapse of about 5 million cubic meters of land, and an urgent need for an emergency evacuation of the village.{{Cite web |title=Drohender Felssturz: Information der Bevölkerung von Brienz GR |url=https://www.srf.ch/news/schweiz/felsschutt-in-bewegung-brienz-gr-bereiten-sie-sich-umgehend-auf-evakuierung-vor |access-date=2025-05-30 |website=Schweizer Radio und Fernsehen (SRF) |language=de}} A new evacuation for the village's 91 residents, as well as their pets and livestock, was ordered to be carried out by November 17 at the latest.{{Cite web |last=Keystone-SDA |date=2024-11-17 |title=Evakuierung von Bündner Bergdorf Brienz offiziell abgeschlossen {{!}} Nau.ch |url=https://www.nau.ch/news/schweiz/evakuierung-von-bundner-bergdorf-brienz-offiziell-abgeschlossen-66863898 |access-date=2025-05-30 |website=Nau |language=de-CH}} Personal belongings and the retable of the village's 500 year old church were transported out of the village as well.{{Cite web |date=2024-11-16 |title=Et si le village grison de Brienz était définitivement abandonné? |url=https://www.rts.ch/info/regions/autres-cantons/2024/article/et-si-le-village-grison-de-brienz-etait-definitivement-abandonne-28696937.html |access-date=2025-05-30 |website=rts.ch |language=fr}} Since then, access to the village and its immediate environs has been prohibited, and it has been classified as a "red zone" by cantonal authorities.
In December 2024, government and cantonal officials from Grisons announced that they were prepared to offer 90% of the financing necessary to relocate the village's population.{{Cite web |title=Umsiedlung in Brienz GR: Bund und Kanton übernehmen 90 Prozent der Kosten |url=https://www.watson.ch/!429869312 |access-date=2025-05-30 |website=watson.ch |language=de}} Although the 2023 evacuation lasted only 51 days, this one is expected to last far longer, and may possibly be permanent.{{Cite web |title=Umsiedlungspläne für Bündner Bergdorf Brienz werden konkreter |url=https://www.srf.ch/news/schweiz/drohender-felssturz-in-brienz-umsiedlungsplaene-fuer-buendner-bergdorf-brienz-werden-konkreter |access-date=2025-05-30 |website=Schweizer Radio und Fernsehen (SRF) |language=de}} Even if, in the future, the village is deemed safe for public access, funds will be available for those who do not feel comfortable in their return.
=Surava=
{{Main|Surava}}
Surava is first mentioned about 1580 as Surraguas.{{HDS|1418|Surava}}
Geography
File:Brienz-Brinzauls Dorf.jpg
Based on the 2009 survey, the former municipalities that make up Albula/Alvra had an area of {{Swiss area|3542|mi=on}}.{{Swiss area data|3542|QUELLE}} Of this area, {{convert|26.37|km2|mi2|abbr=on}} or 28.1% was used for agricultural purposes, while {{convert|43.53|km2|mi2|abbr=on}} or 46.3% was forested. Of the rest of the land, {{convert|2.62|km2|mi2|abbr=on}} or 2.8% was settled (buildings or roads), {{convert|0.99|km2|mi2|abbr=on}} or 1.1% was either rivers or lakes and {{convert|20.46|km2|mi2|abbr=on}} or 21.8% was unproductive land.[http://www.bfs.admin.ch/bfs/portal/de/index/themen/02/03/blank/data/gemeindedaten.html Swiss Federal Statistical Office-Land Use Statistics] 2009 data {{in lang|de}} accessed 15 January 2015
Of the built up area, housing and buildings made up 0.9% and transportation infrastructure made up 1.3%. Out of the forested land, 41.3% of the total land area is heavily forested and 2.1% is covered with orchards or small clusters of trees. Of the agricultural land, 1.0% is used for growing crops and 8.6% is pastures and 18.5% is used for alpine pastures. Of the water in the municipality, 0.2% is in lakes and 0.8% is in rivers and streams. Of the unproductive areas, 6.4% is unproductive vegetation and 15.4% is too rocky for vegetation.
Demographics
The total population of Albula/Alvra ({{as of|{{Swiss populations YM|CH-GR}}|lc=on}}) is {{Swiss populations|CH-GR|3542}}.{{Swiss populations ref|CH-GR}}
Historic population
Colors=
id:lightgrey value:gray(0.9)
id:darkgrey value:gray(0.8)
ImageSize = width: auto height:500 barincrement:45
PlotArea = top:20 left:40 bottom:90 right:35
Legend = columns:3 left:20 top:70 columnwidth:160
AlignBars = justify
DateFormat = x.y
Period = from:0 till:1700
TimeAxis = orientation:vertical
AlignBars = justify
ScaleMajor = gridcolor:darkgrey increment:300 start:0
ScaleMinor = gridcolor:lightgrey increment:60 start:0
Colors=
id:AL value:yellowgreen legend:Alvaschein
id:MO value:green legend:Mon
id:ST value:blue legend:Stierva
id:TI value:red legend:Tiefencastel
id:AV value:yellow legend:Alvaneu
id:BR value:orange legend:Brienz/Brinzauls
id:SU value:coral legend:Surava
PlotData=
color:yellowgreen width:30 mark:(line,white) align:center
bar:1850 from: 0 till:156 text:"156" color:AL
bar:1860 from: 0 till:137 text:"137" color:AL
bar:1870 from: 0 till:150 text:"150" color:AL
bar:1880 from: 0 till:140 text:"140" color:AL
bar:1890 from: 0 till:144 text:"144" color:AL
bar:1900 from: 0 till:276 text:"276" color:AL
bar:1910 from: 0 till:165 text:"165" color:AL
bar:1920 from: 0 till:181 text:"181" color:AL
bar:1930 from: 0 till:208 text:"208" color:AL
bar:1940 from: 0 till:178 text:"178" color:AL
bar:1950 from: 0 till:208 text:"208" color:AL
bar:1960 from: 0 till:185 text:"185" color:AL
bar:1970 from: 0 till:235 text:"235" color:AL
bar:1980 from: 0 till:149 text:"149" color:AL
bar:1990 from: 0 till:145 text:"145" color:AL
bar:2000 from: 0 till:154 text:"154" color:AL
bar:1850 from: 156 till:311 text:"155" color:MO
bar:1860 from: 137 till:302 text:"165" color:MO
bar:1870 from: 150 till:290 text:"140" color:MO
bar:1880 from: 140 till:265 text:"125" color:MO
bar:1890 from: 144 till:263 text:"119" color:MO
bar:1900 from: 276 till:388 text:"112" color:MO
bar:1910 from: 165 till:269 text:"104" color:MO
bar:1920 from: 181 till:299 text:"118" color:MO
bar:1930 from: 208 till:318 text:"110" color:MO
bar:1940 from: 178 till:298 text:"120" color:MO
bar:1950 from: 208 till:313 text:"105" color:MO
bar:1960 from: 185 till:276 text:"91" color:MO
bar:1970 from: 235 till:321 text:"86" color:MO
bar:1980 from: 149 till:215 text:"66" color:MO
bar:1990 from: 145 till:212 text:"67" color:MO
bar:2000 from: 154 till:240 text:"86" color:MO
bar:1850 from: 311 till:490 text:"179" color:ST
bar:1860 from: 302 till:478 text:"176" color:ST
bar:1870 from: 290 till:467 text:"177" color:ST
bar:1880 from: 265 till:458 text:"193" color:ST
bar:1890 from: 263 till:441 text:"178" color:ST
bar:1900 from: 388 till:538 text:"150" color:ST
bar:1910 from: 269 till:406 text:"137" color:ST
bar:1920 from: 299 till:431 text:"132" color:ST
bar:1930 from: 318 till:462 text:"144" color:ST
bar:1940 from: 298 till:450 text:"152" color:ST
bar:1950 from: 313 till:463 text:"150" color:ST
bar:1960 from: 276 till:406 text:"130" color:ST
bar:1970 from: 321 till:435 text:"114" color:ST
bar:1980 from: 215 till:328 text:"113" color:ST
bar:1990 from: 212 till:312 text:"100" color:ST
bar:2000 from: 240 till:368 text:"128" color:ST
bar:1850 from: 490 till:625 text:"135" color:TI
bar:1860 from: 478 till:638 text:"160" color:TI
bar:1870 from: 467 till:658 text:"191" color:TI
bar:1880 from: 458 till:667 text:"209" color:TI
bar:1890 from: 441 till:640 text:"199" color:TI
bar:1900 from: 538 till:795 text:"257" color:TI
bar:1910 from: 406 till:647 text:"241" color:TI
bar:1920 from: 431 till:661 text:"230" color:TI
bar:1930 from: 462 till:700 text:"238" color:TI
bar:1940 from: 450 till:720 text:"270" color:TI
bar:1950 from: 463 till:790 text:"327" color:TI
bar:1960 from: 406 till:712 text:"306" color:TI
bar:1970 from: 435 till:745 text:"310" color:TI
bar:1980 from: 328 till:605 text:"277" color:TI
bar:1990 from: 312 till:551 text:"239" color:TI
bar:2000 from: 368 till:598 text:"230" color:TI
bar:1850 from: 625 till:979 text:"354" color:AV
bar:1860 from: 638 till:1002 text:"364" color:AV
bar:1870 from: 658 till:1027 text:"369" color:AV
bar:1880 from: 667 till:981 text:"314" color:AV
bar:1890 from: 640 till:961 text:"321" color:AV
bar:1900 from: 795 till:1177 text:"382" color:AV
bar:1910 from: 647 till:1054 text:"407" color:AV
bar:1920 from: 661 till:1082 text:"421" color:AV
bar:1930 from: 700 till:1141 text:"441" color:AV
bar:1940 from: 720 till:1202 text:"482" color:AV
bar:1950 from: 790 till:1265 text:"475" color:AV
bar:1960 from: 712 till:1108 text:"396" color:AV
bar:1970 from: 745 till:1166 text:"421" color:AV
bar:1980 from: 605 till:984 text:"379" color:AV
bar:1990 from: 551 till:931 text:"380" color:AV
bar:2000 from: 598 till:1001 text:"403" color:AV
bar:1850 from: 979 till:1170 text:"191" color:BR
bar:1860 from: 1002 till:1207 text:"205" color:BR
bar:1870 from: 1027 till:1361 text:"334" color:BR
bar:1880 from: 981 till:1281 text:"300" color:BR
bar:1890 from: 961 till:1107 text:"146" color:BR
bar:1900 from: 1177 till:1335 text:"158" color:BR
bar:1910 from: 1054 till:1203 text:"149" color:BR
bar:1920 from: 1082 till:1230 text:"148" color:BR
bar:1930 from: 1141 till:1316 text:"175" color:BR
bar:1940 from: 1202 till:1388 text:"186" color:BR
bar:1950 from: 1265 till:1437 text:"172" color:BR
bar:1960 from: 1108 till:1220 text:"112" color:BR
bar:1970 from: 1166 till:1287 text:"121" color:BR
bar:1980 from: 984 till:1079 text:"95" color:BR
bar:1990 from: 931 till:1043 text:"112" color:BR
bar:2000 from: 1001 till:1118 text:"117" color:BR
bar:1850 from: 1170 till:1329 text:"159" color:SU
bar:1860 from: 1207 till:1377 text:"170" color:SU
bar:1890 from: 1107 till:1244 text:"137" color:SU
bar:1900 from: 1335 till:1483 text:"148" color:SU
bar:1910 from: 1203 till:1363 text:"160" color:SU
bar:1920 from: 1230 till:1414 text:"184" color:SU
bar:1930 from: 1316 till:1514 text:"198" color:SU
bar:1940 from: 1388 till:1630 text:"242" color:SU
bar:1950 from: 1437 till:1640 text:"203" color:SU
bar:1960 from: 1220 till:1415 text:"195" color:SU
bar:1970 from: 1287 till:1487 text:"200" color:SU
bar:1980 from: 1079 till:1271 text:"192" color:SU
bar:1990 from: 1043 till:1253 text:"210" color:SU
bar:2000 from: 1118 till:1368 text:"250" color:SU
Climate
Tiefencastel has an average of 98.6 days of rain per year and on average receives {{convert|784|mm|in|abbr=on}} of precipitation. The wettest month is August during which time Tiefencastel receives an average of {{convert|110|mm|in|abbr=on}} of precipitation. During this month there is precipitation for an average of 10.8 days. The month with the most days of precipitation is June, with an average of 11.3, but with only {{convert|92|mm|in|abbr=on}} of precipitation. The driest month of the year is February with an average of {{convert|35|mm|in|abbr=on}} of precipitation over 10.8 days.{{cite web|url=http://www.meteoswiss.admin.ch/web/de/klima/klima_schweiz/tabellen.html |title=Temperature and Precipitation Average Values-Table, 1961-1990 |accessdate=8 May 2009 |publisher=Federal Office of Meteorology and Climatology - MeteoSwiss |language=German, French, Italian |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090627163841/http://www.meteoswiss.admin.ch/web/de/klima/klima_schweiz/tabellen.html |archivedate=27 June 2009 }}, the weather station elevation is 885 meters above sea level.
Heritage sites of national significance
Parts of the UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Rhaetian Railway in the Albula / Bernina Landscapes run through the municipality.
The Carolingian-era church of St. Peter Mistail in Alvaschein, the baroque Church of St. Franziskus/S. Francestg in Mon and the parish church of St. Stefan/S. Stefan in Tiefencastel are listed as Swiss heritage sites of national significance. The village of Alvaschein is part of the Inventory of Swiss Heritage Sites.[http://www.bevoelkerungsschutz.admin.ch/internet/bs/de/home/themen/kgs/kgs_inventar.html Swiss inventory of cultural property of national and regional significance] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090501142322/http://www.bevoelkerungsschutz.admin.ch/internet/bs/de/home/themen/kgs/kgs_inventar.html |date=2009-05-01 }} 21.11.2008 version, {{in lang|de}} accessed 25-Sep-2009
The Capuchin built church of St. Franziskus/S. Francestg dates from 1643 to 1648. The frescoes were finished by Johann Rudolf Sturn, but in 1915 were partially painted over. However, following the renovation in 1975, the original frescoes are once again visible.
The church of St. Stefan/S. Stefan was first mentioned in 1343. In 1650 it was rebuilt and expanded by the Capuchin monks. During this renovation it was given extensive wood carvings and paintings.
File:2007 10 Albulabahn 01 Tiefencastel Filisur 01.JPG|UNESCO World Heritage Site Rhaetian Railway in the Albula / Bernina Landscapes
File:Mistail Apostel.jpg|Church of S. Peder E Conturn or St. Peter Mistail in Alvaschein
File:Mon kirche.jpg|Church of St. Franziskus/S. Francestg in Mon
File:Pfarrkirche Tiefencastel.jpg|Parish church of St. Stefan/S. Stefan in Tiefencastel
References
{{Reflist|colwidth=30em}}
External links
{{Commons category}}
- {{HDS|1409|Alvaschein}}
- {{HDS|1410|Mon}}
- {{HDS|1415|Alvaneu}}
- {{HDS|1418|Surava}}
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20141216185005/http://alvaneu.ch/ Gemeinde Alvaneu]—official site of Alvaneu {{in lang|de}}
- [http://www.bad-alvaneu.ch Bad Alvaneu]—Alvaneu thermal baths {{in lang|de}}
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20041010195907/http://www.surava.ch/ Surava Official website] {{in lang|de}}
{{Municipalities of the Albula Region}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:Municipalities of Graubünden
Category:Cultural property of national significance in Graubünden