The Beautiful Engadin – Pontresina

Pontresina offers you picturesque mountain panoramas, excellent ski and snowboard conditions in winter as well as hiking and mountain biking in the summer. Located in the Upper Engadin region in Switzerland, north of the Bernina saddle, Pontresina has been an important attraction for hundreds of years. In the middle ages, it was even more important than now-world-famousSt. Moritz.

The most common language spoken in the Pontresina region is German, spoken by more than half of the people living in the Upper Engadin. Italian is the first language only for some 15 %. Of course in the times of modern-day tourism, everyone involved in the industry speaks English as well.

For ski and snowboard enthusiasts, Pontresina has become more and more popular; the “Alp Languard” (2,330 m; 7,600 feet) is a veritable Mecca for snowboarders. The highest mountain in the region stands even taller: The famous Piz Bernina, an impressive 4,048 meters (13,280 ft.) high!

Winter visitors can hit the slopes of many connected ski resorts like Diavolezza, Piz Lagalb, Languard, Muottas Muragl, Corvatsch/Furtschellas and Corviglia/Marguns. All in all, some 350 km (220 miles) of downhill slopes guarantee an exciting and challenging ski and snowboard experience. In case you are not so much a downhill but more of a cross-country skier? No problem: The region hosts more than 180 km (115 miles) of prepared cross-country tracks.

But Pontresina has so much more to offer. For visitors who like to feel a little bit like Sir Edmund Hillary, the climbing school “Go Vertical” is the place to go. Train your climbing skills under the supervision of experts! In summer, you can e.g. go for a “Nordic Walking” trip in the surrounding mountains with a guaranteed breathtaking view of the Piz Bernina and the other magnificent mountains.

A stroll through the village is always a delight. The Spaniola tower, which used to be part of a fortress from the 12th century AD, is quite impressive. Equally so the little church Santa Maria (13th century) with its numerous frescoes. On many houses, one can still see the beautiful “Sgraffito” murals that show scenes from folklore or decorations.

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