{{about|the town|the pass between Italy and Switzerland|Splügen Pass}} {{Infobox Swiss town | subject_name = Splügen | image_photo = Splügen01.JPG | municipality_type = former | imagepath_coa = Splügen wappen.svg | imagepath_flag = Flag of Splügen.gif | pixel_coa = | languages = | canton = Graubünden | iso-code-region = CH-GR | district = Viamala |coordinates = {{coord|46|33|N|9|19|E|display=inline,title}} | postal_code = 7435 | municipality_code = 3694 | area = 60.49 | elevation = 1475|elevation_description= | population = {{Swiss populations NC|CH-GR|3694}} | populationof = {{Swiss populations YM|CH-GR}} | popofyear = {{Swiss populations Y|CH-GR}} | website = www.gemeinde-spluegen.ch | mayor = Walter Mengelt|mayor_asof=|mayor_party= | mayor_title = |list_of_mayors = | places = Medels im Rheinwald | demonym = | neighboring_municipalities= Madesimo (IT-SO), Mesocco, Nufenen, Safien, Sufers | twintowns = |}} '''Splügen''' (Romansh: ''Spleia'', Italian: ''Spluga'') is a former municipality in the Viamala Region in the Swiss canton of Graubünden. On 1 January 2006 Splügen incorporated its neighbouring municipality of Medels im Rheinwald. On 1 January 2019 the former municipalities of Hinterrhein, Nufenen and Splügen merged to form the new municipality of Rheinwald.
In 1995, the Swiss Heritage Society bestowed the Wakker Prize to Splügen.
==History== Splügen is first mentioned about 840 as ''cella in Speluca''.<ref name=HDS/>
==Geography== thumb|left|Splügen Splügen has an area, {{As of|2006|lc=on}}, of {{convert|60.5|km2|sqmi|abbr=on}}. Of this area, 38.3% is used for agricultural purposes, while 17.8% is forested. Of the rest of the land, 1% is settled (buildings or roads) and the remainder (42.9%) is non-productive (rivers, glaciers or mountains).<ref name=SFSO/>
Before 2017, the municipality was located in the Rheinwald sub-district, of the Hinterrhein district, after 2017 it was part of the Viamala Region.<ref>[https://www.bfs.admin.ch/bfs/de/home/grundlagen/agvch.assetdetail.1666963.html Swiss Federal Statistical Office - Amtliches Gemeindeverzeichnis der Schweiz - Mutationsmeldungen 2016] accessed 16 February 2017</ref> It consists of the village of Splügen and since 1 January 2006, Medels im Rheinwald. It is a ''haufendorf'' (an irregular, unplanned and quite closely packed village, built around a central square) located on a ridge between the Splügen pass and San Bernardino pass.
The Splügen Pass road leads from Splügen to Chiavenna and rises to a height of {{convert|2020|m|ft|sp=us}}. The Italian name for the pass is ''Passo dello Spluga''. The pass is closed in winter nowadays and the whole route hosts a number of historically interesting spots that can be reached on a common multiday hike between Thusis and Chiavenna,<ref>{{in lang|en}} [http://en.graubuenden.ch/hiking-switzerland/trekking/50-via-spluga-thusis-chiavenna.html Hiking Switzerland Graubünden ''Via Spluga'' cultural history route] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110706233800/http://en.graubuenden.ch/hiking-switzerland/trekking/50-via-spluga-thusis-chiavenna.html |date=6 July 2011 }}</ref> passing the two gorges Roflaschlucht and Viamala north of Splügen.
==Demographics== Splügen has a population (as of {{Swiss populations date|CH-GR}}) of {{Swiss populations|CH-GR|3694}}.{{Swiss populations ref|CH-GR}} {{as of|2008}}, 10.7% of the population was made up of foreign nationals. Over the last 10 years the population has decreased at a rate of -8.3%.<ref name=SFSO>[http://www.bfs.admin.ch/bfs/portal/en/index/regionen/02/key.html Swiss Federal Statistical Office] accessed 06-Oct-2009</ref>
{{As of|2000}}, the gender distribution of the population was 50.0% male and 50.0% female.<ref name=GR_Numbers>[http://www.gr.ch/DE/institutionen/verwaltung/dvs/awt/dienstleistungen/volkswirtschaftlichegrundlagen/Seiten/default.aspx Graubunden in Numbers] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090924000647/http://www.gr.ch/DE/institutionen/verwaltung/dvs/awt/dienstleistungen/volkswirtschaftlichegrundlagen/Seiten/default.aspx |date=24 September 2009 }} {{in lang|de}} accessed 21 September 2009</ref> The age distribution, {{As of|2000|lc=on}}, in Splügen is; 25 people or 13.2% of the population are between 0 and 9 years old. 22 people or 11.6% are 10 to 14, and 3 people or 1.6% are 15 to 19. Of the adult population, 8 people or 4.2% of the population are between 20 and 29 years old. 35 people or 18.5% are 30 to 39, 20 people or 10.6% are 40 to 49, and 15 people or 7.9% are 50 to 59. The senior population distribution is 28 people or 14.8% of the population are between 60 and 69 years old, 21 people or 11.1% are 70 to 79, there are 11 people or 5.8% who are 80 to 89, and there are 1 people or 0.5% who are 90 to 99.<ref name=Population>[http://www.gr.ch/DE/institutionen/verwaltung/dvs/awt/dienstleistungen/volkswirtschaftlichegrundlagen/Seiten/Bevoelkerung.aspx Graubunden Population Statistics] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090827132227/http://www.gr.ch/DE/institutionen/verwaltung/dvs/awt/dienstleistungen/volkswirtschaftlichegrundlagen/Seiten/Bevoelkerung.aspx |date=27 August 2009 }} {{in lang|de}} accessed 21 September 2009</ref>
In the 2007 federal election the most popular party was the SVP which received 47.6% of the vote. The next three most popular parties were the FDP (23.4%), the SPS (22.6%) and the CVP (6.2%).<ref name=SFSO/>
In Splügen about 67.6% of the population (between age 25-64) have completed either non-mandatory upper secondary education or additional higher education (either university or a ''Fachhochschule'').<ref name=SFSO/>
Splügen has an unemployment rate of 0.33%. {{As of|2005}}, there were 39 people employed in the primary economic sector and about 16 businesses involved in this sector. 27 people are employed in the secondary sector and there are 6 businesses in this sector. 150 people are employed in the tertiary sector, with 30 businesses in this sector.<ref name=SFSO/>
thumb|right|Splügen The historical population is given in the following table:<ref name=HDS>{{HDS|1499|Splügen}}</ref> {| class="wikitable" |- ! year ! population |- | 1690 | 360 |- | 1850 | 494 |- | 1900 | 373 |- | 1930 | 336 |- | 1950 | 387 |- | 2000 | 365 |- |}
==Languages== Most of the population ({{As of|2000|lc=on}}) speaks German (89.8%), with Italian being second most common (2.7%) and Portuguese being third (2.4%).<ref name=SFSO/>
{| class="wikitable" |+ Languages in Splügen |----- ! rowspan="2" | Languages !! colspan="2" | Census 1980 !! colspan="2" | Census 1990 !! colspan="2" | Census 2000 |----- ! Number !! Percent !! Number !! Percent !! Number !! Percent |----- |German || align=right | 350 || align=right | 84.34% || align=right | 364 || align=right | 87.71% || align=right | 369 || align=right | 89.78% |----- |Romansh || align=right | 30 || align=right | 7.23% || align=right | 18 || align=right | 4.34% || align=right | 8 || align=right | 1.95% |----- |Italian || align=right | 20 || align=right | 4.82% || align=right | 9 || align=right | 2.17% || align=right | 11 || align=right | 2.68% |----- |'''Population''' || align=right | 415 || align=right | 100% || align=right | 415 || align=right | 100% || align=right | 411 || align=right | 100% |}
==Tourism== thumb|Splügen in winter
===Skiing=== Splügen, in the winter, is a ski resort with a lift going in the direction of the Splügen Pass.
===Heritage sites of national significance=== thumb|Hotel ''Weiss Kreuz'' The former ''Säumerherberge'' (mule drivers hostel) ''Weiss Kreuz'' is listed as a Swiss heritage sites of national significance.<ref>[http://www.bevoelkerungsschutz.admin.ch/internet/bs/de/home/themen/kgs/kgs_inventar.html Swiss inventory of cultural property of national and regional significance] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090501142322/http://www.bevoelkerungsschutz.admin.ch/internet/bs/de/home/themen/kgs/kgs_inventar.html |date=1 May 2009 }} 21.11.2008 version, {{in lang|de}} accessed 06-Oct-2009</ref>
===Wakker Prize=== In 1995, the Swiss Heritage Society bestowed the Wakker Prize to Splügen. The prize description notes that Splügen had reached a notable compromise between preservation and tourism. The old town was strictly protected to maintain the original appearance, while rational zone planning allowed development to occur outside the old village.<ref>[http://www.heimatschutz.ch/index.php?id=1041 Swiss Heritage Society] {{in lang|de}} accessed 6 October 2009</ref>
==References== {{reflist|colwidth=30em}}
==External links== *[http://www.gemeinde-spluegen.ch Official Web site] *{{Commons category-inline|Splügen}} *{{HDS|1499|author=Kurt Wanner}}
{{Authority control}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2017}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Splugen}} Category:Rheinwald Category:Former municipalities of the Grisons Category:Cities in Switzerland Category:Ski areas and resorts in Switzerland Category:Cultural property of national significance in the Grisons