Your property in Graubünden
From spacious and modern apartments in famous ski resorts through to larger homes with land parcels in quiet rural villages, prospective buyers have a wide choice when it comes to property in Graubünden.
Parts of Graubünden are classified as a holiday area, meaning international buyers are free to purchase properties as second residences. The valleys, however, do require a residency permit.
Inside Graubünden
This eastern canton in Switzerland is home to some of the country’s most prestigious towns, including Davos, St Moritz, and Chur.
The area also has extensive rural landscapes complete with lush pastures that help to produce its famous cheeses.
The high alpine area to the south of the canton attracts mountaineers and winter sports enthusiasts, while ski resorts such as Samnaun on the Austrian border provide exceptional slopes.
Landscape
The canton, which is the largest in Switzerland and borders both Austria and Italy, is largely made up of ski resorts.
Outside these, the canton has a vast network of valleys and lakes connected by alpine passes, as well as a plethora of picturesque villages.
Education
The canton has a number of international schools for families considering relocating to the area.
The Lyceum Alpinum Zuoz, near St Moritz, is an internationally renowned boarding school that offers the International Baccalaureate, while the Hochalpines Institut in Ftan is an international secondary school and sports academy.
For further education, the University of St Gallen is nearest to Graubünden, however, universities in Lugano, Bern and Zurich could be within a 2-3 hour drive depending on where in Graubünden you lived.
Activities and Entertainment
Graubünden comes to life in winter thanks to its numerous and sought-after ski resorts, which attracts skiers and snowboarders from around the world.
The canton boasts 937 mountains, 150 valleys, 61 lakes and Switzerland’s only national park, making it a truly remarkable place for those who love the great outdoors. The wonderful Flims, the Alpine oases of Lenzerheide and the ski resort of Arosa, with its lakes and walking trails, are just some of the must-see locations.
Across its towns and villages, the canton has some wondrous architecture and historical sites to explore, including Martinskirche, the iconic church in Chur, the 1,000-year-old Schloss Tarasp castle in Scuol and the Kloster St Johann monastery in Müstair.
Art and Culture
Graubünden stands out for its awe-inspiring events, including the St Moritz International White Turf Horse Race, which takes place on a frozen lake, and the town’s equally jaw-dropping Snow Polo World Cup, while during Schlittéda in the Engadine, horse-drawn sleds rush riders through snowy villages.
Away from the snow, Arosa and Lenzerheide have classic car racing festivals, Davos hosts a classical music festival and Churer Fest, during summer in Chur, features concerts, food and family fun.
Plenty of museums and galleries are spread across the area, including Chur’s Bünder Kunstmuseum, the Kirchner Museum in Davos and Palazzo Castlemur in Val Bregaglia.
Food and Drink
With its multiple alpine resorts, fondue and raclette commonly feature on menus across the canton, however, its range of fantastic restaurants, pubs and cafés also take inspiration from neighbouring European countries and global cuisine, with its various Michelin-starred restaurants pushing the boundaries of gastronomic creativity.
The canton produces a vast range of local ingredients, leading to exceptional local dishes such as capuns, which wrap food in Swiss chard, Graubünden barley soup, pizzoccheri (buckwheat noodles with potatoes and vegetables), and the delightful Graubünden nut tart for those with a sweet tooth.
Graubünden’s vineyards predominantly grow red Pinot Noir grapes in the Bünder Herrschaft and wider valleys of the Maienfeld region, while the white Muller-Thurgau, Chardonnay and Pinot Gris grapes account for much of the remaining production here.
Accessibility
The country’s efficient and well-connected high-speed rail network provides excellent access to and across Graubünden.
The nearest international airport is in Zurich, while the private airfield of Samedan is 5 kilometres from St Moritz.