It is “the fascinating story of a once-flourishing trading center between Graubünden and Italy,” Swiss Internal Security wrote in a press release on Tuesday. In other words, Poschiavo made the most of the economic collapse of the 18th century.
At this time, many people emigrated after Napoleon took Valtellina. They sought their fortune as pastry chefs in European metropolises. When they returned, they brought with them an urban touch. Elegant patrician houses, also known as “palaces”, were built and still shape the cityscape today.
They are included in the federal inventory of Swiss sites of national importance worthy of protection. To keep it that way, new construction must be based on traditional principles in accordance with the municipality’s building regulations.
Isolated and independent
With its 3,500 inhabitants, Poschiavo is located in the Bernina region. The route through Switzerland passes only over the pass of the same name. The community benefits from this isolation: there is a hospital, district heating systems, schools, a library and a wide cultural offering. Here you just have to invent and define yourself, said Mayor Giovanni Jochum (FDP) about Keystone-SDA.
-This independence is a decisive factor against the migration that many mountain regions face. “It is a place where people live, work and enjoy meeting, the very embodiment of homeland security,” said the association’s general director David Vuillaume, explaining the awards ceremony.
Poschiavo also continues to develop the surrounding nature. 90 percent of all agricultural land is certified organic. This makes the village a pioneer in this sector. Additionally, traditional terraced landscapes are restored and used to grow vegetables and herbs.
The Wakker Award is recognition of this commitment, Homeland Security said. It’s invaluable, Jochum says.
