Lü — small alpine village in Val Müstair, Graubünden, Switzerland

Characteristics and location

The settlement is typical of high-Alpine villages: compact, remote and oriented to the surrounding pastoral landscape. In 2007 the village had roughly 65 residents. It is located near Switzerland's border with Italy and is representative of the multilingual and mountainous character of Graubünden. Geographical coordinates are usually given as 46°37′N 10°22′E (46.617°N, 10.367°E).

History and development

Lü developed as an upland farming community and, like many small settlements in the Alps, adapted over centuries to seasonal grazing, small-scale agriculture and the constraints of mountain life. Over time economic and demographic pressures led to municipal consolidation; the 2009 merger brought Lü together with neighboring villages to form the modern Val Müstair municipality, intended to improve public services and maintain cultural traditions.

Economy, culture and access

Traditional livelihoods in Lü center on alpine farming and pastoralism, supplemented today by tourism-related activities such as hiking and nature tourism. The valley of Val Müstair has a strong Romansh cultural presence and the Romansh language is commonly used across the region. Access is by mountain roads that connect villages in the valley to larger towns in Graubünden and to border crossings into Italy.

Quick facts

• Former municipality: Lü
• District: Inn
• Canton: Graubünden / Grisons
• Country: Switzerland
• Merged into: Val Müstair
• Coordinates: 46.617°N, 10.367°E
• Population (2007): about 65 inhabitants

Although small in size, Lü illustrates common themes of Alpine settlement: close ties to the landscape, bilingual or multilingual traditions, and the administrative changes that many mountain communities have pursued to remain viable in the 21st century.