The District of Schanfigg

	To the geographer the name Schanfigg refers to the 
whole catchment area of the Plessur up to the gorge of Sassal 
below the mouth of the Rabiusa at Chur.  Politically, however, 
the district includes only the communes Arosa, Calfriesen, 
Castiel, Langwies, Lüen, Maladers, Molinis, Pagig, Peist and 
St. Peter.  Praden and Tschiertschen belong to the district of 
Churwalden.

	According to Schorta it is possible that the name 
Schanfigg is derived from the Romansh word "skanava", the 
meaning of which is not clear.

	There is only a few single finds pointing to 
prehistoric settlement.  However, in view of the importance of 
its geographic position on the trade routes, lying as it did on 
the direct route from Chur to Vintschgau via the Strela, 
Flüela and Ofen passes, it may be assumed that the valley was 
settled in prehistoric times.

	The Outer Schanfigg, or jurisdiction of St. Peter - 
including St. Peter, Peist, Molinis, Pagig, Castiel, Lüen, 
Calfreisen and Maladers, was first settled by Romansh people 
and at the time of the Franks was part of the Ministerium 
Curisinum.  After the dissolution of the old duchy, the Bishops 
of Chur procured the sovereign rights but leased them to the 
Lords of Vaz.  After this line died out the territory passed, 
in 1338, to Duke Rudolf of Werdenberg-Sargans, and in 1394 to 
Duke Friedrich of Toggenburg.  In the course of the 14th 
century Walsers from Davos settled in the Inner Schanfigg, 
i.e., the area starting at the Frauentobel east of Peist 
upwards.  They founded the neighbourhoods of Sapün, Fondei and 
Arosa.  "Die lang Wise" (Long Meadow) was originally settled by 
Romansh people, which is proved by various place-names and 
documents.  When, in 1384, the Walsers "in Sapunne, in Venden 
and in Arasen" decided to build a chapel together at Langwies, 
this spot, which was central to all three settlements, became 
the centre of the whole jurisdiction ofthe Walsers.  The 
jurisdiction consisted of Langwies, Fondei, Sapün and, at that 
time, Praden.  Arosa remained part of the jurisdiction of Davos 
until 1851.

	The lower valley and court of Schanfigg, represented by 
Hans de Cresta, Magistrate of St. Peter, and also the land and 
court of Langwies with its Magistrate Hans Held were present at 
the founding of the League of Ten Jurisdictions, which took 
place in 1436 after the death of the last of the Toggenburg 
line.  The remaining sovereign rights in both jurisdictions 
passed to the Lords of Montford-Tettnang in 1437, and to 
Austria sometime after 1470.

	In 1530 the people of Schanfigg became Protestant, but 
it was only in 1635 that the people of Maladers followed suit.

	During the wars of the Grisons, Austrian troops led by 
Baldiron raided the valley on 11th May 1622.  Every village 
from Maladers to Peist was burnt to the ground.  Help came from 
the Prätigau in time to prevent the defeat of Schanfigg and to 
save 200 hostages.  The Austrian threat came to an end when the 
Emperor's sovereign rights were purchased in 1649 and 1652.

	Following the division of the districts in 1851 Praden 
was separated from the court of Langwies and placed in the 
district of Churwalden.  Arosa, for geographical reasons, was 
separated politically from the province of Davos and was made 
into an independent commune belonging to the district of 
Schanfigg; this district also included the former jurisdictions 
of Outer Schanfigg (St.Peter) and Langwies with the alterations 
already mentioned.  From the end of the 19th century onwards 
the small village of Arosa developed rapidly and became a well 
known spa and sports resort.

	In earlier times Romansh was spoken in Outer Schanfigg, 
but from the 17th century on the area came under the influence 
of Chur and Langwies, and German is now spoken throughout the 
whole district.

Famous men of Schanfigg:

	Johann Florian Pellizari (1763-1810) from Langwies 
entered the service of the Dutch when he was 16 years old, and 
he rose to the rank of Lt. General.  After his return he was in 
Command of the troops defending the frontier in 1805.  In 1808 
he founded the cadet corps at the Cantonal School of the 
Grisons.

	Friedrich Pieth (1874-1953) from Molinis was professor 
of German history and geography at the Cantonal School of the 
Grisons from 1898-1934.  In 1934 he was appointed Director of 
the Cantonal Library of the Grisons, and it was due to him that 
the library's collection was catalogued.  Pieth published many 
works on the history of the Grisons, but his "History of the 
Grisons" (1945) has become a standard work.  The new edition of 
the "Monthly Magazine of the Grisons" was the result of his 
initiative.  He was Honorary President of the Historical and 
Antiquarian Society of the Grisons and took a great interest in 
its activities.

	District Coat of Arms:  Azure, rising arrow gold with 
silver ray.  Blazonry:  Taken from the flag of the old court at 
Schanfigg - now in the Rhaetian Museum.  The flag of the court 
is based on the old seal of the province of Schanfigg, dating 
from 1762, and inscribed * LANDS * SIGEL * VON * SCHANFIGG *.  
The golden arrow on the reverse of the court flag is also in 
the coat of arms of the Sprecher family.  There is another flag 
of the court of Schanfigg dating from the 17th century which is 
in the town hall at Davos.  District colours: blue-yellow.