Samedan (, German: [sɐˈmeːdən]) is a town and municipality in the Maloja Region in the Swiss canton of Grisons. It is served by Samedan railway station on the Rhaetian Railway network and by the Samedan Airport.
Samedan | |
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 Coat of arms | |
Location of Samedan  | |
  Samedan  Samedan | |
| Coordinates: 46°32′N 9°52′E / 46.533°N 9.867°E | |
| Country | Switzerland |
| Canton | Graubünden |
| District | Maloja |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | Gemeindepräsident Jon Fadri Huder (as of 2008) |
| Area | |
| • Total | 113.80 km2 (43.94 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 1,721 m (5,646 ft) |
| Population (31 December 2018)[2] | |
| • Total | 2,924 |
| • Density | 26/km2 (67/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC+01:00 (Central European Time) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+02:00 (Central European Summer Time) |
| Postal code(s) | 7503 |
| SFOS number | 3786 |
| ISO 3166 code | CH-GR |
| Surrounded by | Bergün/Bravuogn, Bever, Celerina/Schlarigna, Lanzada (IT-SO), La Punt Chamues-ch, Pontresina, Sankt-Moritz, Sils im Engadin/Segl, Silvaplana |
| Twin towns | Le Mont-sur-Lausanne (Switzerland) |
| Website | www SFSO statistics |
History
edit
Samedan is first mentioned in 1137–1139 as Samadene, and in 1156 as Samadn. For 1288 there is evidence of a residential tower in the upper part of the village. In 1462 Samedan became the seat of lower jurisdiction. In the Swabian War of 1499, the village burned down. In 1551 the parish of Samedan, one of three large parishes in the Upper Engadin, converted to Protestantism. From the 16th century onwards, some families, especially the von Salis and von Planta, became very wealthy and had magnificent houses built in the village. They owed their financial success, among other things, to their political offices, but also to emigration and mercenary service abroad.
In the 19th century, trade and commerce developed earlier and faster in Samedan than anywhere else in the Engadin. Tourism began circa 1830: Hotels were built, mountains were climbed for the first time, and English tourists had an English church erected in 1872 (it was demolished in 1965). A golf course was built in 1893; the Muottas-Muragl-Bahn (a funicular railway) was constructed in 1907.
The first power station was built in 1888 and a major hospital in 1895. Banks and a printer settled in Samedan. In 1903 the town was connected to the Rhaetian Railway; it soon became the most important railway junction in the Engadin. The airfield was opened in 1937; the Protestant school, today's Academia Engiadina, in 1943. On 1 October 1943, Samedan was mistakenly bombed by American planes. Luckily, nobody was hurt. From the 1980s, the formerly Romansh farming village developed into a modern service centre, in which German speakers outnumber Romansh speakers.[4]
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A photograph of Samedan in the circa 1870s -
Another photographic view of Samedan in the circa 1870s -
Aerial view (1954)
Geography
edit
Samedan has an area, (as of the 2004/09 survey) of 113.8 km2 (43.94 sq mi).[5] Of this area, about 15.5% is used for agricultural purposes, while 9.7% is forested. Of the rest of the land, 1.9% is settled (buildings or roads) and 72.9% is unproductive land. Over the past two decades (1979/85-2004/09) the amount of land that is settled has increased by 34 ha (84 acres) and the agricultural land has decreased by 120 ha (300 acres).[6]
Before 2017, the municipality was located in the Oberengadin sub-district of the Maloja district in the central Oberengadin valley along the Inn river. After 2017 it was part of the Maloja Region. It consists of the village of Samedan and the hamlet of Punt Muragl, the upper section of the Val Bever as well as an exclave that includes nearly the entire Val Roseg, a valley surrounded by the highest mountains of the canton: Piz Bernina, Piz Scerscen and Piz Roseg. Until 1943 Samedan was known as Samaden.[7]
Demographics
edit
Samedan has a population (as of December 2020[update]) of 2,923.[8] As of 2013[update], 23.6% of the population are resident foreign nationals. Over the last 3 years (2010–2013) the population has changed at a rate of 1.31%. The birth rate in the municipality, in 2013, was 8.3 while the death rate was 7.0 per thousand residents.[6]
As of 2013[update], children and teenagers (0–19 years old) make up 18.1% of the population, while adults (20–64 years old) are 64.6% and seniors (over 64 years old) make up 17.3%.[6]
In 2013 there were 1,423 private households in Samedan. Of the 489 inhabited buildings in the municipality, in 2000, about 21.9% were single family homes and 47.6% were multiple family buildings. Additionally, about 22.5% of the buildings were built before 1919, while 9.4% were built between 1991 and 2000.[9] In 2012 the rate of construction of new housing units per 1000 residents was 31.86. The vacancy rate for the municipality, in 2014[update], was 2.14%.[6]
Historic population
editThe historical population is given in the following chart:[10]
Languages
editMost of the population (as of 2000[update]) speaks German (61.5%), with Romansh being second most common (16.7%) and Italian being third (14.9%).[11] Originally, the entire population spoke the Upper-Engadin Romansh dialect of Putèr. Due to increasing trade with the outside world, Romansh usage began to decline in the 19th century. In 1880, only 47% spoke Romansh as a first language, while in 1910, it was 45% and in 1941, it was 42%. The Romansh-speaking percentage dropped until, in 1970, only 31% spoke it as their first language. In the 1980s, Romansh speakers increased slightly, but since then, the proportion has decreased. However, in 2000, there were 42% who understood Romansh even if it was not their first language.
| Languages | Census 1970 | Census 1980 | Census 1990 | Census 2000 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number | Percent | Number | Percent | Number | Percent | Number | Percent | |
| German | 1,096 | 42.6% | 1,140 | 44.7% | 1,567 | 54.5% | 1,886 | 61.5% |
| Romansh | 791 | 30.7% | 841 | 32.9% | 649 | 22.6% | 511 | 16.7% |
| Italian | 561 | 21.8% | 451 | 17.7% | 476 | 16.6% | 458 | 14.9% |
| TOTAL | 2,574 | 100% | 2,553 | 100% | 2,875 | 100% | 3,069 | 100% |
Politics
editIn the 2015 federal election the most popular party was the SVP with 23.8% of the vote. The next three most popular parties were the FDP (22.5%), the BDP (19.6%) and the SP (16.4%). In the federal election, a total of 821 votes were cast, and the voter turnout was 42.3%.[13]
In the 2007 federal election the most popular party was the SP which received 30.6% of the vote. The next three most popular parties were the SVP (28.7%), the FDP (28.2%) and the CVP (10.4%).[11]
Education
editIn Samedan about 75.7% of the population (between age 25–64) have completed either non-mandatory upper secondary education or additional higher education (either university or a Fachhochschule).[11]
Transportation
edit
It is the administrative center of the upper Engadin region, and services include a regional hospital (Spital Oberengadin), a major RhB railway station with regular trains towards Pontresina, Chur and St. Moritz, and a regional airport (Engadin Airport). Both the Bernina Express and Glacier Express trains pass Samedan.
The funicular Muottas-Muragl-Bahn leads to the top of Muottas Muragl (2454 m).
Economy
editAs of 2012[update], there were a total of 2,891 people employed in the municipality. Of these, a total of 26 people worked in 8 businesses in the primary economic sector. The secondary sector employed 500 workers in 51 separate businesses. Finally, the tertiary sector provided 2,365 jobs in 335 businesses. In 2013 a total of 31.9% of the population received social assistance.[6]
Heritage sites of national significance
editThe Catholic Church of the Sacred Heart and the Library of Fundaziun de Planta are listed as Swiss heritage sites of national significance.[14]
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Church of the Sacred Heart -
Biblioteca da la Fundaziun de Planta
Climate
editKöppen-Geiger climate classification classifies its climate as subarctic (Dfc). Between 1961 and 1990 Samedan had an average of 95.5 days of rain per year and on average received 700 mm (28 in) of precipitation. The wettest month was August during which time Samedan received an average of 99 mm (3.9 in) of precipitation. During this month there was precipitation for an average of 11.5 days. The driest month of the year was February with an average of 25 mm (0.98 in) of precipitation over 5 days.[15]
| Climate data for Samedan (1981–2010) Extremes (1901–present) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °C (°F) | 12.9 (55.2) |
11.7 (53.1) |
14.1 (57.4) |
21.0 (69.8) |
28.0 (82.4) |
32.0 (89.6) |
30.5 (86.9) |
29.2 (84.6) |
25.1 (77.2) |
21.4 (70.5) |
17.0 (62.6) |
13.4 (56.1) |
32.0 (89.6) |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | −1.6 (29.1) |
0.5 (32.9) |
3.7 (38.7) |
7.4 (45.3) |
12.9 (55.2) |
16.4 (61.5) |
19.3 (66.7) |
18.7 (65.7) |
14.9 (58.8) |
10.9 (51.6) |
3.7 (38.7) |
−1.2 (29.8) |
8.8 (47.8) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | −9.1 (15.6) |
−7.8 (18.0) |
−2.8 (27.0) |
1.6 (34.9) |
6.6 (43.9) |
9.9 (49.8) |
12.2 (54.0) |
11.5 (52.7) |
7.9 (46.2) |
3.8 (38.8) |
−2.7 (27.1) |
−7.5 (18.5) |
2.0 (35.6) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | −17.1 (1.2) |
−16.9 (1.6) |
−10.5 (13.1) |
−4.7 (23.5) |
−0.2 (31.6) |
2.5 (36.5) |
4.3 (39.7) |
4.1 (39.4) |
0.9 (33.6) |
−3.0 (26.6) |
−9.3 (15.3) |
−14.6 (5.7) |
−5.4 (22.3) |
| Record low °C (°F) | −36.9 (−34.4) |
−35.1 (−31.2) |
−30.0 (−22.0) |
−21.7 (−7.1) |
−18.6 (−1.5) |
−9.5 (14.9) |
−5.4 (22.3) |
−6.7 (19.9) |
−11.6 (11.1) |
−21.4 (−6.5) |
−29.9 (−21.8) |
−34.4 (−29.9) |
−36.9 (−34.4) |
| Average precipitation mm (inches) | 28 (1.1) |
20 (0.8) |
26 (1.0) |
39 (1.5) |
78 (3.1) |
90 (3.5) |
93 (3.7) |
99 (3.9) |
73 (2.9) |
68 (2.7) |
61 (2.4) |
36 (1.4) |
713 (28.1) |
| Average snowfall cm (inches) | 52.4 (20.6) |
38.9 (15.3) |
32.5 (12.8) |
23.5 (9.3) |
6.3 (2.5) |
0.6 (0.2) |
0.3 (0.1) |
0.3 (0.1) |
1.2 (0.5) |
8.1 (3.2) |
40.8 (16.1) |
49.9 (19.6) |
254.8 (100.3) |
| Average precipitation days (≥ 1.0 mm) | 5.3 | 4.2 | 4.8 | 6.0 | 9.3 | 10.3 | 10.0 | 10.5 | 7.8 | 7.6 | 7.0 | 6.0 | 88.8 |
| Average snowy days (≥ 1.0 cm) | 9.1 | 7.4 | 7.6 | 5.8 | 1.5 | 0.3 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.6 | 2 | 6.8 | 9.1 | 50.4 |
| Average relative humidity (%) | 77.9 | 73.5 | 71.2 | 69.7 | 69.5 | 69.6 | 70.3 | 72.5 | 73.4 | 74.9 | 78.2 | 79.7 | 73.4 |
| Mean monthly sunshine hours | 117 | 121 | 140 | 138 | 158 | 176 | 200 | 180 | 154 | 140 | 106 | 103 | 1,733 |
| Source 1: MeteoSwiss [16] | |||||||||||||
| Source 2: KNMI[17] | |||||||||||||
Cultural references
editThe Upper Engadine Cultural Archives is housed in the Chesa Planta in Samedan.
James Bond escapes from Blofeld's base at Piz Gloria to Samedan in Ian Fleming's On Her Majesty's Secret Service where he is rescued by his future wife, Tracy.
The nineteenth century campaigner for women's rights and the repeal of the Contagious Diseases Acts, Josephine Butler, holidayed in Samedan in 1881 preferring it to Pontresina. She walked extensively with friends whilst her husband, because of his rheumatism, painted and sketched. He preached at the local Protestant church, which was largely run by another English clergyman Mr Eardley.[18]
References
edit- ^ a b "Arealstatistik Standard - Gemeinden nach 4 Hauptbereichen". Federal Statistical Office. Retrieved 13 January 2019.
- ^ "Ständige Wohnbevölkerung nach Staatsangehörigkeitskategorie Geschlecht und Gemeinde; Provisorische Jahresergebnisse; 2018". Federal Statistical Office. 9 April 2019. Retrieved 11 April 2019.
- ^ Hotel Bernina. baukultur.gr.ch (in German)
- ^ Samedan in German, French and Italian in the online Historical Dictionary of Switzerland.
- ^ Arealstatistik Standard - Gemeindedaten nach 4 Hauptbereichen
- ^ a b c d e Swiss Federal Statistical Office – Regional portraits accessed 2 May 2016
- ^ Amtliches Gemeindeverzeichnis der Schweiz published by the Swiss Federal Statistical Office (in German) accessed 23 September 2009
- ^ "Ständige und nichtständige Wohnbevölkerung nach institutionellen Gliederungen, Geburtsort und Staatsangehörigkeit". bfs.admin.ch (in German). Swiss Federal Statistical Office - STAT-TAB. 31 December 2020. Retrieved 21 September 2021.
- ^ Swiss Federal Statistical Office STAT-TAB – Thema 09 – Bau- und Wohnungswesen (in German) accessed 5 May 2016
- ^ Swiss Federal Statistical Office STAT-TAB Bevölkerungsentwicklung nach institutionellen Gliederungen, 1850–2000 (in German) accessed 27 April 2016
- ^ a b c Swiss Federal Statistical Office accessed 20 October 2009
- ^ Swiss Federal Statistical Office, Wohnbevölkerung am wirtschaftlichen Wohnsitz nach institutionellen Gliederungen, Hauptsprache und Nationalität, 1970–2000 (in German) accessed 6 September 2016
- ^ Swiss Federal Statistical Office – Nationalratswahlen 2015: Stärke der Parteien und Wahlbeteiligung nach Gemeinden Archived 2 August 2016 at the Wayback Machine (in German) accessed 18 July 2016
- ^ "Swiss inventory of cultural property of national and regional significance". A-Objects. Federal Office for Cultural Protection (BABS). 1 January 2017. Retrieved 6 September 2017.
- ^ "Temperature and Precipitation Average Values-Table, 1961–1990" (in German, French, and Italian). Federal Office of Meteorology and Climatology – MeteoSwiss. Archived from the original on 27 June 2009. Retrieved 8 May 2009., the weather station elevation is 1708 meters above sea level.
- ^ "Climate Norm Value Tables". Climate diagrams and normals from Swiss measuring stations. Federal Office of Meteorology and Climatology (MeteoSwiss). Archived from the original on 14 May 2013. Retrieved 23 January 2013. The weather station elevation is 1708 meters above sea level.
- ^ "Samedan extreme values". KNMI. Retrieved 8 November 2011.
- ^ Diary of stay in the Engadine held at Women's Library London
External links
edit- Official website (in German)
- Samedan in Romansh, German, French and Italian in the online Historical Dictionary of Switzerland.