Grischun

Grischun, known in German as Graubünden and in Italian as Grigioni, is a canton of Switzerland. It is the easternmost canton and the largest by area, covering about 7,105 square kilometers. The capital is Chur, one of the oldest towns in the country.

Grischun has a population of around 198,000. The canton recognizes three official languages: German, Romansh, and Italian. Romansh, spoken mainly in the southern and eastern valleys, comprises several dialects, such as Sursilvan, Vallader, and Puter; German is predominant in most districts, and Italian is spoken in certain southern valleys near the border with Italy.

Geography: The region is highly mountainous, including parts of the Alps and the Engadin and Val Müstair valleys. The Inn and Rhine rivers rise in the canton. Notable transport routes include the Julier and Septimer passes, and the Bernina Pass, which is traversed by the Bernina Line of the Rhaetian Railway.

History and government: The area was part of Raetia in late antiquity. It joined the Swiss Confederation in 1803 under the Act of Mediation and became a canton with the federal constitution in 1848. The canton's name in Romansh is Grischun. The official languages reflect its multilingual identity.

Economy and culture: Tourism is the dominant economic sector, centered on ski resorts in Davos and St. Moritz and on the Engadin valley, along with hydroelectric power and agriculture. The Rhaetian Railway's Albula and Bernina lines, including the Bernina Express, are UNESCO World Heritage. The canton preserves a distinct Romansh culture and language heritage within a multilingual Swiss state.