The Wakker Prize 2025 is awarded to the Graubünden municipality of Poschiavo

lip/max. The Swiss Heritage Department has awarded the Graubünden municipality of Poschiavo the Wakker Prize 2025. Internal Security recognizes Poschiavo as a “model for the successful interaction between tradition, progress and a sense of community”, as it announced on Tuesday .

Poschiavo is located at the foot of the southern slope of the Bernina Pass. It uses its peripheral location as an opportunity and combines independence, construction culture and sustainable development into a model for the future of mountain regions, according to Homeland Security. Historic buildings and contemporary architecture, innovative projects and a diverse cultural offering would create quality of life and combat migration.

A mountain village with Mediterranean charm

Each year, the Wakker Prize rewards a municipality which particularly stands out for its urban landscape and urban development. The associated prize, amounting to 20,000 francs, is more of a symbolic nature, estimates Internal Security: “The value of this prize lies rather in the public recognition of exemplary performance.”

In Poschiavo, a once-thriving trading town between Graubünden and Italy, Homeland Security sees a piece of history reflected. After an economic downturn in the late 18th century, many residents emigrated to seek their fortune as pastry chefs in European cities. They brought back prosperity and an urban style. This is evidenced by the elegant patrician houses, the “Palazzi”, which still shape the urban landscape today. Together with the historic structure of Poschiavo, they are now included in the Federal Inventory of Swiss Sites of National Importance (ISOS) worthy of protection.

The architecture of the place shows that deep sectarian divisions once crossed it. Since the Reformation, Poschiavo was built mainly by Protestants, the surrounding villages by Catholics. The frequent prosperity of the Reformed Church is reflected in the cityscape: Poschiavo is reminiscent of noble Italian cities. The rather simple and rustic wooden and stone houses of the Catholic villages that surround it are reminiscent of the steep mountains in the surrounding area.

According to Homeland Security, Poschiavo is also a model for the prudent use of building culture. The new buildings rely on traditional principles to preserve the urban landscape. The Maiensäss outside the village center would also continue to be used and maintained.

Mayor Giovanni Jochum is satisfied with this award. It honors the work of many residents, he said in a community release. As an example, he cites, among other things, the restoration of terraced landscapes with dry stone walls, which are now used again for growing vegetables and aromatic herbs. “There are young people coming back,” Jochum said on SRF. There were waves of emigration in the mid-19th and 20th centuries. Since 1990, the population has increased again. “The small size of the valley allows them to do something of their own.”

But at the same time, it is impossible for young people to graduate from high school in Poschiavo. Even today, young people have to move to Chur, Samedan or Zuoz.

According to Mayor Jochum, Poschiavo has a greater cultural offering than other comparable towns. “It’s thanks to the volunteer work of individuals,” Jochum said. The entire population participates.

Isolation as a model

Homeland Security welcomes the fact that Poschiavo has made its isolation a model of regional independence. The municipality offers its own hospital, district heating systems, schools, a library, a cultural offer, in short: a considerable basic offer for the approximately 3,500 inhabitants.

“This independence is a decisive factor in the fight against migration, which affects many mountain regions,” we said in a press release. Poschiavo proves that a strong community and smart planning are essential elements of a future worth living.