Val Vignun
Encyclopedia
The Val Vignun is an alpine valley
in the Swiss
Canton of Graubünden
. It also forms a connection netween the Misox valley and the Rheinwald
valley, parallel to the San Bernardino Pass
.
Val Vignun stretches in a northeasterly direction from San Bernardino towards the Val Curciusa
, which is a side valley of the Rheinwald
. It is about 5 kilometers long and is drained by the Ri de Fontanalba, which flows into the Moesa
near San Bernardino.
A well-marked trail leads from the village of San Bernardino in several stages to the Alpine hut Cassina de Vignun , where the real Alpine valley begins. The valley rises evenly to the pass of Strec de Vignun , where it connects to the Val Curciusa. The European Watershed
runs across the Strec de Vignun pass.
The mighty rock Motta Caslasc rises to a height of 2300 m in the middle of the valley, between two alluvial plains. The rocky knoll has dimensions of approximately 100 by 60 meters. At the northern and southern edges of the plateau, terraces are found that were probably artificially created. A feudal castle can be ruled out, on the grounds of the high altitude. Perhaps this was high-altitude settlement from an indefinite period, used for defense or escape. Remains of walls have not been identified.
The Piz Uccello
lies north of the valley and can be reached using a marked mountain path. To the south lies the Piz de la Lumbreida. Apart from several alpine huts, and possibly the Motta Caslasc, the valley has not been developed. Because of its exceptional beauty, the area of the San Bernardino Pass and Val Vignun as a landscape is considered of national importance.
Valley
In geology, a valley or dale is a depression with predominant extent in one direction. A very deep river valley may be called a canyon or gorge.The terms U-shaped and V-shaped are descriptive terms of geography to characterize the form of valleys...
in the Swiss
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....
Canton 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...
. It also forms a connection netween the Misox valley and the Rheinwald
Rheinwald
The Rheinwald is a valley in the Canton of Graubünden in Switzerland...
valley, parallel to the San Bernardino Pass
San Bernardino Pass
San Bernardino Pass is a high mountain pass in the Swiss Alps connecting the Hinterrhein and the Mesolcina valleys between Thusis and Bellinzona . Located in the far eastern side of the Western Alps it is not to be confused with the Great St. Bernard Pass and the Little St. Bernard Pass...
.
Val Vignun stretches in a northeasterly direction from San Bernardino towards the Val Curciusa
Val Curciusa
The Val Curciusa is an alpine valley in Graubünden, Switzerland. In the region of the San Bernardino Pass, it provides a connection between the Rheinwald valley and the Misox valley.- Location :...
, which is a side valley of the Rheinwald
Rheinwald
The Rheinwald is a valley in the Canton of Graubünden in Switzerland...
. It is about 5 kilometers long and is drained by the Ri de Fontanalba, which flows into the Moesa
Moesa
The Moesa is a 47 km river, a tributary of the Ticino, which flows through the Swiss cantons of Graubünden and Ticino.It rises in Val Vignun near the San Bernardino Pass and descends, along with the A13 motorway, through the Val Mesolcina towards Roveredo, where it receives the rivers Calancasca...
near San Bernardino.
A well-marked trail leads from the village of San Bernardino in several stages to the Alpine hut Cassina de Vignun , where the real Alpine valley begins. The valley rises evenly to the pass of Strec de Vignun , where it connects to the Val Curciusa. The European Watershed
European Watershed
The European Watershed is the line which divides the drainage basins of the major rivers of Germany: the Rhine, which originates in the Swiss Alps and empties into the North Sea via the Netherlands, and the Danube, which originates in the Black Forest and flows eastward emptying into the Black...
runs across the Strec de Vignun pass.
The mighty rock Motta Caslasc rises to a height of 2300 m in the middle of the valley, between two alluvial plains. The rocky knoll has dimensions of approximately 100 by 60 meters. At the northern and southern edges of the plateau, terraces are found that were probably artificially created. A feudal castle can be ruled out, on the grounds of the high altitude. Perhaps this was high-altitude settlement from an indefinite period, used for defense or escape. Remains of walls have not been identified.
The Piz Uccello
Piz Uccello
Piz Uccello is a mountain in the Lepontine Alps, situated near the San Bernardino Pass in the canton of Graubünden, Switzerland.-External links:*...
lies north of the valley and can be reached using a marked mountain path. To the south lies the Piz de la Lumbreida. Apart from several alpine huts, and possibly the Motta Caslasc, the valley has not been developed. Because of its exceptional beauty, the area of the San Bernardino Pass and Val Vignun as a landscape is considered of national importance.