Castasegna
Intro
The village of Castasegna in Bregaglia lies on the border with Italy. It is located almost on the valley floor, a little way above the Maira river, amid an unspoilt natural landscape. The village is surrounded by sweet chestnut forest on both sides of the valley.
The village of Castasegna, which lies 686 metres above sea level, has a surprisingly urban village centre. Its proximity to Italian centres such as the town of Chiavenna and its location on an important trade route brought this village prosperity from an early stage. The main laneway is lined with both simple houses and prestigious buildings, among them Villa Garbald. This is the only building south of the Alps to be designed by internationally renowned architect Gottfried Semper. The atmosphere beyond this main street is rustic, with smaller, more modest houses.
One of Europe's largest sweet chestnut forests extends above Castasegna. Between the sweet chestnut trees, directly above the village centre, are small chestnut drying huts known as “Cascines”. These are grouped along a signposted path. Used in earlier times to dry sweet chestnuts, they can still be viewed today. Those interested can learn more about the sweet chestnuts along the sweet chestnut nature trail.
Also above the village centre, in the midst of the mellow sweet chestnut forest, is a residential area built by architect Bruno Giacometti in the 1950s for employees at the local power plant.
ISOS
ISOS is the Federal Inventory of Swiss Heritage Sites of national importance. The inventory is maintained by the Federal Office of Culture (FOC) and lists the most significant settlements in Switzerland. Today, some 1,200 places are included in the inventory, from hamlets right through to cities. The inventory provides information on the development and identity of the settlements listed in it, thereby contributing to the preservation of architectural diversity in Switzerland and promoting both sustainable planning and a high-quality Baukultur.
