Cross-country skiing
Bivio
Surses
Bivio
Bivio lies on the Julier and Septimer passes and thus at the crossroads of various languages and cultures. The historic pass routes, Marmorera reservoir and many winter- sport options make Bivio an attractive holiday resort and stage point.
The municipality of Bivio (officially known by its German name of Stalla up to 1902, Rhaeto-Romanic Beiva) is the highest-altitude village in Surses/Oberhalbstein in Graubunden and Switzerland’s only Italian-speaking district north of the Alpine watershed.
The history of Bivio (meaning crossroads) is inseparably linked to two Roman passes, the Septimer (into Bergell) and Julier (into the Engadine). In those times, both could be crossed with carts and at times were of European importance. In addition, the Stallerberg is an important regional link from the Walser settlement of Avers to Juf.
As part of the Septimer route, Bivio was a goods-transfer point and horse-changing station. Important influences came from Bergell in the south, which explains why the village has been trilingual since the Middle Ages: as well as the official language of Italian, most of the population of Bivio have a command of German and Rhaeto-Romanic. There are several versions of German and Italian and language experts have counted up to seven languages and dialects spoken in Bivio. «The village of 260 inhabitants doubtless has the strangest linguistic set-up in the whole of Europe», to quote a notable scholar.
For many years Bivio lived from pass traffic and animal husbandry; however a sharp slump arrived with the opening of the Albula Railway in 1903. The first skilift opened in1959 and Bivio now boasts an especially family-friendly ski region with wide pistes and three lifts at altitudes between 1769 and 2560 m. It is also a popular departure point for ski tours to the surrounding 300 m peaks. In summer, the different Alpine passes attract hikers to the area.
The history of Bivio (meaning crossroads) is inseparably linked to two Roman passes, the Septimer (into Bergell) and Julier (into the Engadine). In those times, both could be crossed with carts and at times were of European importance. In addition, the Stallerberg is an important regional link from the Walser settlement of Avers to Juf.
As part of the Septimer route, Bivio was a goods-transfer point and horse-changing station. Important influences came from Bergell in the south, which explains why the village has been trilingual since the Middle Ages: as well as the official language of Italian, most of the population of Bivio have a command of German and Rhaeto-Romanic. There are several versions of German and Italian and language experts have counted up to seven languages and dialects spoken in Bivio. «The village of 260 inhabitants doubtless has the strangest linguistic set-up in the whole of Europe», to quote a notable scholar.
For many years Bivio lived from pass traffic and animal husbandry; however a sharp slump arrived with the opening of the Albula Railway in 1903. The first skilift opened in1959 and Bivio now boasts an especially family-friendly ski region with wide pistes and three lifts at altitudes between 1769 and 2560 m. It is also a popular departure point for ski tours to the surrounding 300 m peaks. In summer, the different Alpine passes attract hikers to the area.
Highlights
- Marmorera reservoir- - in 1954, the historic Marmorera fell victim to construction of the reservoir. The village was rebuilt in a scenic location above the reservoir.
- Exploratour, geology trail from the Julierpass to Bivio, a geological outcrop gives an insight into the earth’s history; hikers travel from the continent onto the bed of the ocean which here once separated Africa and Europe.
- Alp Flix, high moorland of national importance.
- Lungin Pass, sends its waters on a voyage to three oceans.
- Avers – peaceful and scenic high valley with the Walser settlement of Juf, at 2126 m altitude the highest permanently inhabited village in Europe.
Bivio lies on the Julier and Septimer passes and thus at the crossroads of various languages and cultures. The historic pass routes, Marmorera reservoir and many winter- sport options make Bivio an attractive holiday resort and stage point.
The municipality of Bivio (officially known by its German name of Stalla up to 1902, Rhaeto-Romanic Beiva) is the highest-altitude village in Surses/Oberhalbstein in Graubunden and Switzerland’s only Italian-speaking district north of the Alpine watershed.
The history of Bivio (meaning crossroads) is inseparably linked to two Roman passes, the Septimer (into Bergell) and Julier (into the Engadine). In those times, both could be crossed with carts and at times were of European importance. In addition, the Stallerberg is an important regional link from the Walser settlement of Avers to Juf.
As part of the Septimer route, Bivio was a goods-transfer point and horse-changing station. Important influences came from Bergell in the south, which explains why the village has been trilingual since the Middle Ages: as well as the official language of Italian, most of the population of Bivio have a command of German and Rhaeto-Romanic. There are several versions of German and Italian and language experts have counted up to seven languages and dialects spoken in Bivio. «The village of 260 inhabitants doubtless has the strangest linguistic set-up in the whole of Europe», to quote a notable scholar.
For many years Bivio lived from pass traffic and animal husbandry; however a sharp slump arrived with the opening of the Albula Railway in 1903. The first skilift opened in1959 and Bivio now boasts an especially family-friendly ski region with wide pistes and three lifts at altitudes between 1769 and 2560 m. It is also a popular departure point for ski tours to the surrounding 300 m peaks. In summer, the different Alpine passes attract hikers to the area.
The history of Bivio (meaning crossroads) is inseparably linked to two Roman passes, the Septimer (into Bergell) and Julier (into the Engadine). In those times, both could be crossed with carts and at times were of European importance. In addition, the Stallerberg is an important regional link from the Walser settlement of Avers to Juf.
As part of the Septimer route, Bivio was a goods-transfer point and horse-changing station. Important influences came from Bergell in the south, which explains why the village has been trilingual since the Middle Ages: as well as the official language of Italian, most of the population of Bivio have a command of German and Rhaeto-Romanic. There are several versions of German and Italian and language experts have counted up to seven languages and dialects spoken in Bivio. «The village of 260 inhabitants doubtless has the strangest linguistic set-up in the whole of Europe», to quote a notable scholar.
For many years Bivio lived from pass traffic and animal husbandry; however a sharp slump arrived with the opening of the Albula Railway in 1903. The first skilift opened in1959 and Bivio now boasts an especially family-friendly ski region with wide pistes and three lifts at altitudes between 1769 and 2560 m. It is also a popular departure point for ski tours to the surrounding 300 m peaks. In summer, the different Alpine passes attract hikers to the area.
Highlights
- Marmorera reservoir- - in 1954, the historic Marmorera fell victim to construction of the reservoir. The village was rebuilt in a scenic location above the reservoir.
- Exploratour, geology trail from the Julierpass to Bivio, a geological outcrop gives an insight into the earth’s history; hikers travel from the continent onto the bed of the ocean which here once separated Africa and Europe.
- Alp Flix, high moorland of national importance.
- Lungin Pass, sends its waters on a voyage to three oceans.
- Avers – peaceful and scenic high valley with the Walser settlement of Juf, at 2126 m altitude the highest permanently inhabited village in Europe.
