Vrin
Encyclopedia
Vrin is a municipality
in the Val Lumnezia. It belongs to the circle of Lugnez/Lumnezia in the district of Surselva
in the canton
of Graubünden
in Switzerland
.
In 1998, the village was awarded the Wakker Prize
for the preservation of its architectural heritage.
The municipality is located in the Lugnez sub-district of the Surselva district in the Upper Lugnez valley at the entrance to the Diesrut pass (source of the Glenner river) and near the Greina
pass. It consists of the settlements of Vrin-dado (1451 m (4,760.5 ft)), Vrin-dadens (main village), Cons, Ligiazun and Sogn Giusep. Additionally, a number of abandoned settlements are part of the municipality, including; Pignola (1685 m (5,528.2 ft)), Puzzatsch, Foppa, Camplun, Vilegn, Schareida, Blengias and Vanescha. The municipalities of Cumbel
, Degen
, Lumbrein
, Morissen
, Suraua
, Vignogn
, Vella
, and Vrin are considering a merger for some time in the future into a new municipality that will be known as Val Lumnezia
.
, the gender distribution of the population was 52.6% male and 47.4% female. The age distribution, , in Vrin is; 38 children or 15.3% of the population are between 0 and 9 years old and 25 teenagers or 10.0% are between 10 and 19. Of the adult population, 21 people or 8.4% of the population are between 20 and 29 years old. 37 people or 14.9% are between 30 and 39, 26 people or 10.4% are between 40 and 49, and 24 people or 9.6% are between 50 and 59. The senior population distribution is 38 people or 15.3% of the population are between 60 and 69 years old, 28 people or 11.2% are between 70 and 79, there are 10 people or 4.0% who are between 80 and 89,and there are 2 people or 0.8% who are between 90 and 99.
In the 2007 federal election
the most popular party was the CVP
which received 45.1% of the vote. The next three most popular parties were the SVP
(29.7%), the FDP
(18.2%) and the SP
(7%).
In general, the Swiss population is well educated. In Vrin about 39.5% of the population (between age 25-64) have completed either non-mandatory upper secondary education or additional higher education (either university or a Fachhochschule
).
Vrin has an unemployment rate of 0.61%. , there were 67 people employed in the primary economic sector and about 27 businesses involved in this sector. 19 people are employed in the secondary sector and there are 5 businesses in this sector. 30 people are employed in the tertiary sector, with 9 businesses in this sector.
The historical population is given in the following table:
Throughout the 20th Century, the village population has steadily decreased. In the 1980s and 90's, Vrin entered a partnership between the village, the Cantonal historic preservation
department and ETH Zürich
to strengthen the village's infrastructure and lead to population growth.
In the 1980s the residents of the village purchased all the free construction land to prevent land speculation
and resultant price increases. The local architect, Gion A. Caminada, was hired to oversee construction.
Meadows were cleared, a butcher
was brought in, a cooperative
was founded and a slaughterhouse
, barns and multi-purpose hall were all added. Most of the structures were built from wood in a log cabin
style.
.
.
The Church of the Immaculate Conception
(St. Maria) and John the Baptist
was consecrated
in 1345. Until 1597 it was a chapel under the authority of the parish church
of St. Vincenz in Pleif (part of the municipality of Vella
).
. The wettest month is August during which time Vrin receives an average of 139 mm (5.5 in) of rain or snow. During this month there is precipitation for an average of 12.7 days. The month with the most days of precipitation is July, with an average of 12.9, but with only 131 mm (5.2 in) of rain or snow. The driest month of the year is February with an average of 59 mm (2.3 in) of precipitation over 12.7 days.
Municipalities of Switzerland
Communes , also known as municipalities, are the smallest government division in Switzerland, numbering 2,596 . While many have a population of a few hundred citizens, the largest cities such as Zürich or Geneva also have the legal status of municipalities...
in the Val Lumnezia. It belongs to the circle of Lugnez/Lumnezia in the district of Surselva
Surselva (district)
Surselva District is an administrative district in the canton of Graubünden, Switzerland. It has an area of and has a population of ....
in the canton
Cantons of Switzerland
The 26 cantons of Switzerland are the member states of the federal state of Switzerland. Each canton was a fully sovereign state with its own borders, army and currency from the Treaty of Westphalia until the establishment of the Swiss federal state in 1848...
of Graubünden
Graubünden
Graubünden or Grisons is the largest and easternmost canton of Switzerland. The canton shares borders with the cantons of Ticino, Uri, Glarus and St. Gallen and international borders with Italy, Austria and Liechtenstein...
in Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
.
In 1998, the village was awarded the Wakker Prize
Wakker Prize
The Wakker Prize is awarded annually by the Swiss Heritage Society to a Municipality of Switzerland for the development and preservation of its architectural heritage....
for the preservation of its architectural heritage.
Geography
Vrin has an area, , of 71.2 km² (27.5 sq mi). Of this area, 39.3% is used for agricultural purposes, while 7.4% is forested. Of the rest of the land, 0.5% is settled (buildings or roads) and the remainder (52.9%) is non-productive (rivers, glaciers or mountains).The municipality is located in the Lugnez sub-district of the Surselva district in the Upper Lugnez valley at the entrance to the Diesrut pass (source of the Glenner river) and near the Greina
Greina
The Greina is a high mountain pass across the western Lepontine Alps, connecting Sumvitg in the canton of Graubünden in Switzerland and Olivone in the canton of Ticino...
pass. It consists of the settlements of Vrin-dado (1451 m (4,760.5 ft)), Vrin-dadens (main village), Cons, Ligiazun and Sogn Giusep. Additionally, a number of abandoned settlements are part of the municipality, including; Pignola (1685 m (5,528.2 ft)), Puzzatsch, Foppa, Camplun, Vilegn, Schareida, Blengias and Vanescha. The municipalities of Cumbel
Cumbel
Cumbel is a municipality in the district of Surselva in the Swiss canton of Graubünden.-History:Cumbel is first mentioned about 825 as Cumble...
, Degen
Degen, Switzerland
Degen is a municipality in the district of Surselva in the Swiss canton of Graubünden. Until 1983, it was officially known as Igels.-History:...
, Lumbrein
Lumbrein
Lumbrein is a municipality in the district of Surselva in the Swiss canton of Graubünden.-History:The Crestaulta hill near the hamlet of Surin was occupied since at least the early Bronze Age . However, Lumbrein is first mentioned about 850 as in villa Lamarine though this comes from a 16th...
, Morissen
Morissen
Morissen |Surselva]] in the Swiss canton of Graubünden.-Coat of arms:The municipal coat of arms is Gules three Escallops Or. The scallops on the coat of arms represent St. James the Elder who is the patron saint of the village church.-Geography:...
, Suraua
Suraua
Suraua is a municipality in the district of Surselva in the canton of Graubünden in Switzerland. The municipality was formed on January 1, 2002 through the union of Camuns, Surcasti, Tersnaus, and Uors-Peiden.-History:...
, Vignogn
Vignogn
Vignogn is a municipality in the district of Surselva in the canton of Graubünden in Switzerland.-History:Vignogn is first mentioned in 1325 as Vinanne. In 1469 it was mentioned as Viends.-Geography:...
, Vella
Vella
Vella is a municipality in the district of Surselva in the canton of Graubünden in Switzerland.-History:While there is some evidence of a late Bronze Age settlement and coins from the 3rd and 4th Centuries have been found, Vella is first mentioned about 840 as ad sanctum Vincentium [...] in valle...
, and Vrin are considering a merger for some time in the future into a new municipality that will be known as Val Lumnezia
Val Lumnezia
The Val Lumnezia is a Swiss high Alpine valley made up of the main Lumnezia valley, and a side valley, the Valser valley to the south-east. Located at , it forms also Municipality, which is composed of the communities Vella, Vignogn, Degen, Suraua, Vrin, Cumbel, Morissen, Vals and Lumbrein. Its...
.
Demographics
Vrin has a population (as of ) of . , 1.2% of the population was made up of foreign nationals. Over the last 10 years the population has decreased at a rate of -13.2%. Most of the population speaks Romansh (95.6%), with German being second most common ( 4.0%) and Polish being third ( 0.4%)., the gender distribution of the population was 52.6% male and 47.4% female. The age distribution, , in Vrin is; 38 children or 15.3% of the population are between 0 and 9 years old and 25 teenagers or 10.0% are between 10 and 19. Of the adult population, 21 people or 8.4% of the population are between 20 and 29 years old. 37 people or 14.9% are between 30 and 39, 26 people or 10.4% are between 40 and 49, and 24 people or 9.6% are between 50 and 59. The senior population distribution is 38 people or 15.3% of the population are between 60 and 69 years old, 28 people or 11.2% are between 70 and 79, there are 10 people or 4.0% who are between 80 and 89,and there are 2 people or 0.8% who are between 90 and 99.
In the 2007 federal election
Swiss federal election, 2007
Elections to the Swiss Federal Assembly, the federal parliament of Switzerland, were held on Sunday, 21 October 2007. In a few cantons, a second round of the elections to the Council of States was held on 11 November, 18 November, and 25 November 2007...
the most popular party was the CVP
Christian Democratic People's Party of Switzerland
The Christian Democratic People's Party of Switzerland is a Christian democratic political party in Switzerland. It is the fourth-largest party in the National Council, with 31 seats, and the largest in the Council of States, with 15 seats. It has one seat, that of Doris Leuthard, on the Swiss...
which received 45.1% of the vote. The next three most popular parties were the SVP
Swiss People's Party
The Swiss People's Party , also known as the Democratic Union of the Centre , is a conservative political party in Switzerland. Chaired by Toni Brunner, but spearheaded by Christoph Blocher, the party is the largest party in the Federal Assembly, with 58 members of the National Council and 6 of...
(29.7%), the FDP
Free Democratic Party of Switzerland
The Free Democratic Party was a classical liberal political party in Switzerland. It was one of the major parties in Switzerland until its merger with the smaller classical liberal Liberal Party, to form FDP.The Liberals on 1 January 2009....
(18.2%) and the SP
Social Democratic Party of Switzerland
The Social Democratic Party of Switzerland is the largest centre-left political party in Switzerland....
(7%).
In general, the Swiss population is well educated. In Vrin about 39.5% of the population (between age 25-64) have completed either non-mandatory upper secondary education or additional higher education (either university or a Fachhochschule
Fachhochschule
A Fachhochschule or University of Applied Sciences is a German type of tertiary education institution, sometimes specialized in certain topical areas . Fachhochschulen were founded in Germany and later adopted by Austria, Liechtenstein, Switzerland and Greece...
).
Vrin has an unemployment rate of 0.61%. , there were 67 people employed in the primary economic sector and about 27 businesses involved in this sector. 19 people are employed in the secondary sector and there are 5 businesses in this sector. 30 people are employed in the tertiary sector, with 9 businesses in this sector.
The historical population is given in the following table:
| year | population |
|---|---|
| 1850 | 466 |
| 1900 | 366 |
| 1950 | 441 |
| 1960 | 393 |
| 1970 | 333 |
| 1980 | 266 |
| 1990 | 251 |
| 2000 | 249 |
Wakker Prize
Vrin was awarded the Wakker Prize for their integration of modern agricultural buildings into a traditional, historic village. The prize recognizes a project that the village has been involved in for a number of years.Throughout the 20th Century, the village population has steadily decreased. In the 1980s and 90's, Vrin entered a partnership between the village, the Cantonal historic preservation
Historic preservation
Historic preservation is an endeavor that seeks to preserve, conserve and protect buildings, objects, landscapes or other artifacts of historical significance...
department and ETH Zürich
ETH Zurich
The Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich or ETH Zürich is an engineering, science, technology, mathematics and management university in the City of Zurich, Switzerland....
to strengthen the village's infrastructure and lead to population growth.
In the 1980s the residents of the village purchased all the free construction land to prevent land speculation
Speculation
In finance, speculation is a financial action that does not promise safety of the initial investment along with the return on the principal sum...
and resultant price increases. The local architect, Gion A. Caminada, was hired to oversee construction.
Meadows were cleared, a butcher
Butcher
A butcher is a person who may slaughter animals, dress their flesh, sell their meat or any combination of these three tasks. They may prepare standard cuts of meat, poultry, fish and shellfish for sale in retail or wholesale food establishments...
was brought in, a cooperative
Cooperative
A cooperative is a business organization owned and operated by a group of individuals for their mutual benefit...
was founded and a slaughterhouse
Slaughterhouse
A slaughterhouse or abattoir is a facility where animals are killed for consumption as food products.Approximately 45-50% of the animal can be turned into edible products...
, barns and multi-purpose hall were all added. Most of the structures were built from wood in a log cabin
Log home
A log home is structurally identical to a log cabin...
style.
.
Heritage sites of national significance
The Church of S. Maria is listed as a Swiss heritage site of national significanceSwiss Inventory of Cultural Property of National and Regional Significance
The Swiss Inventory of Cultural Property of National and Regional Significance is a register of some 8,300 items of cultural property in Switzerland...
.
The Church of the Immaculate Conception
Immaculate Conception
The Immaculate Conception of Mary is a dogma of the Roman Catholic Church, according to which the Virgin Mary was conceived without any stain of original sin. It is one of the four dogmata in Roman Catholic Mariology...
(St. Maria) and John the Baptist
John the Baptist
John the Baptist was an itinerant preacher and a major religious figure mentioned in the Canonical gospels. He is described in the Gospel of Luke as a relative of Jesus, who led a movement of baptism at the Jordan River...
was consecrated
Consecration
Consecration is the solemn dedication to a special purpose or service, usually religious. The word "consecration" literally means "to associate with the sacred". Persons, places, or things can be consecrated, and the term is used in various ways by different groups...
in 1345. Until 1597 it was a chapel under the authority of the parish church
Parish church
A parish church , in Christianity, is the church which acts as the religious centre of a parish, the basic administrative unit of episcopal churches....
of St. Vincenz in Pleif (part of the municipality of Vella
Vella
Vella is a municipality in the district of Surselva in the canton of Graubünden in Switzerland.-History:While there is some evidence of a late Bronze Age settlement and coins from the 3rd and 4th Centuries have been found, Vella is first mentioned about 840 as ad sanctum Vincentium [...] in valle...
).
Weather
Vrin has an average of 121.1 days of rain or snow per year and on average receives 1143 mm (45 in) of precipitationPrecipitation (meteorology)
In meteorology, precipitation In meteorology, precipitation In meteorology, precipitation (also known as one of the classes of hydrometeors, which are atmospheric water phenomena is any product of the condensation of atmospheric water vapor that falls under gravity. The main forms of precipitation...
. The wettest month is August during which time Vrin receives an average of 139 mm (5.5 in) of rain or snow. During this month there is precipitation for an average of 12.7 days. The month with the most days of precipitation is July, with an average of 12.9, but with only 131 mm (5.2 in) of rain or snow. The driest month of the year is February with an average of 59 mm (2.3 in) of precipitation over 12.7 days.