Lots of nature, 30 residents, 2 restaurants
JUF, 2126 meters above sea level, at minus 14 degrees Celsius.
Here in Graubünden, in the Averstal, lies the highest permanently inhabited village in Europe. Dorli Menn’s father was the first to stay up here in winter in 1948. What makes Juf special, then and now: the solidarity, the fresh air, the many opportunities – in nature. Dorli lived and worked in Zurich for years, but returned in the mid-80s. In addition to her office job, she was a post bus and coach driver for many years – including on the Andeer-Juf route, which her father had already driven.
Her 19-year-old niece Julia is currently completing her apprenticeship in the Alpenrose restaurant – one of two restaurants in the village. “After my apprenticeship, I want to see something different, and have new experiences.” : Even to Chur, a city of around 42,000 people, it takes just about 2 hours by post bus.
40-year-old immigrant Kasimir welcomes such plans because you can tell when people have never left the high valley. Some people still look at him with suspicion. The clubs in the area are essential in order not to become lonely. Because: “It’s not easy to make friends up here.” The primary school in Cresta, a neighboring village, another hamlet in the Averstal, often has no more than a dozen schoolchildren, spread across all six grades. “You don’t have much choice and so friendships often develop across grades.” Nevertheless: 171 people live here, in this isolated high valley – because they want to.
Here you can read about the smallest village in Switzerland, in one of my previous pots
Original text by Carolin Teufelberger
