Val Müstair

Val Müstair
Country Switzerland Canton Graubünden District Inn 46°36′N 10°25′E / 46.6°N 10.417°E / 46.6; 10.417Coordinates: 46°36′N 10°25′E / 46.6°N 10.417°E / 46.6; 10.417
Population	1,641 (December 2008[update])
- Density	8 /km2 (21 /sq mi)
Area	198.65 km2 (76.70 sq mi)
Postal code	7537
SFOS number	3847
Val Müstair

Val Müstair is a municipality in the district of Inn in the Swiss canton of Graubünden. It was formed on 1 January 2009 through the merger of Tschierv, Fuldera, Lü, Valchava, Santa Maria Val Müstair and Müstair.

Demographics

The municipality has, as of 2008^[update], a population of 1,641.^[1]

Geography

Coordinates: 46°35′N 10°25′E / 46.583°N 10.417°E / 46.583; 10.417 The Val Müstair (German: Münstertal, Italian: Val Monastero) is a mountain valley in the Swiss Alps. It connects the Pass dal Fuorn (Ofenpass, 2,149 m (7,051 ft)) with the Italian province of Bolzano-Bozen and the Vinschgau (914 m (2,999 ft)).

The Benedictine Convent of Saint John at Müstair (monastery), a World Heritage site, was probably founded by Charlemagne, sharing history with its neighbor, the Marienberg Abbey.

The most important villages in the Val Müstair are: Tschierv (1,660 m (5,446 ft)), Valchava (1,412 m (4,633 ft)), Sta. Maria (1,375 m (4,511 ft)), Müstair (1,247 m (4,091 ft)) (all Swiss) and Taufers im Münstertal in Bolzano-Bozen. There are no other inhabited connected valleys, but the road over the Umbrail Pass (and the Stelvio Pass) is connected with Sta. Maria.

The largest part of the valley is part of the Swiss canton of Graubünden. A small part lies within the region of Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol. The border is located at approximately 1245 meter between Müstair (1247 meter) and Taufers im Münstertal (1240 meter).

The river in the valley is the Rom (Il Rom or Rombach).

Language

The majority of the population in the new municipality speaks Romansh, with a large German speaking minority. The following table lists the historical language distribution of the formerly independent municipalities and also for the combined municipality:

Heritage sites of national significance

The Benedictine Convent of Saint John is both listed as a Swiss heritage site of national significance and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.^[2]

Weather

Müstair village has an average of 86.7 days of rain per year and on average receives 690 mm (27.2 in) of precipitation. The wettest month is August during which time Müstair receives an average of 86 mm (3.4 in) of precipitation. During this month there is precipitation for an average of 9.3 days. The month with the most days of precipitation is May, with an average of 10, but with only 80 mm (3.1 in) of precipitation. The driest month of the year is February with an average of 33 mm (1.3 in) of precipitation over 9.3 days.^[3]

The higher elevation village of Sta. Maria Val Müstair has an average of 94.6 days of rain per year and on average receives 801 mm (31.5 in) of precipitation. The wettest month is August during which time Sta. Maria Val Müstair receives an average of 105 mm (4.1 in) of precipitation. During this month there is precipitation for an average of 10.6 days. The driest month of the year is February with an average of 34 mm (1.3 in) of precipitation over 10.6 days.^[3]

References

External links

• Turissem Val Müstair -- Tourist office
• Convent of St. John
• Online map

v • d • e Municipalities in the district of Inn, Switzerland Ardez | Ftan | Guarda | Lavin | Ramosch | Samnaun | Scuol | Sent | Susch | Tarasp | Tschlin | Val Müstair | Zernez Canton of Graubünden | Districts of Canton Graubünden | Municipalities of the canton of Graubünden