Biosfera Val Müstair

Biosfera Val Müstair is the valley part of the UNESCO Engiadina Val Müstair Biosphere Reserve in eastern Switzerland, in the canton of Graubünden, right next to the Italian border. It is one of the quietest corners of the Alps, with high mountain meadows, pastures, small Romansh-tradition villages and trails where silence is easy to find.

What is Biosfera Val Müstair?

A biosphere reserve is an area where nature protection goes hand in hand with everyday life and local business. The whole reserve is called Biosfera Engiadina Val Müstair and covers about 449 square kilometres in the easternmost part of Switzerland. The Val Müstair valley forms part of it together with the municipality of Scuol and the Swiss National Park. The valley itself is a regional nature park, known as Biosfera Val Müstair.

How is the reserve organised?

The area has three zones. The strictly protected core zone is the Swiss National Park. The other two zones, where nature is protected while farming, crafts and tourism continue to develop, are looked after by the municipality of Val Müstair (with its regional nature park) and the municipality of Scuol. The reserve office is based in Scuol. It works as a consortium, so decisions depend on constant dialogue between the partners.

A short history of the UNESCO status

The Swiss National Park became a biosphere reserve in 1979. After UNESCO changed its rules in 1995 it lost the title, because the park consists only of a strictly protected core, while the new requirements also called for buffer and development zones. The reserve was therefore rebuilt with Val Müstair included. UNESCO granted provisional status on 2 June 2010 and confirmed it definitively on 13 June 2017. The road there was bumpy: some municipalities initially opposed the buffer zone.

What to see nearby

The landscape runs from high-alpine meadows and pastures to the Romansh villages of the Engadine and Val Müstair. One example is Tschierv, at 1,664 m above sea level, whose municipal land borders the national park directly. It is a good starting point for walks toward protected nature.

In the valley itself, visit the Convent of St John in Müstair, inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1983. It means a trip to Val Müstair combines time in nature with a monument of world importance.

Planning a visit

The area is centred at roughly 46.61 N, 10.37 E. The valley is far from major cities, so plan at least one full day, ideally a weekend. Summer is the time for walks across meadows and pastures; for trail details and the season, ask at local tourist information points.

Frequently asked questions

Where is Biosfera Val Müstair? In eastern Switzerland, in Graubünden, by the Italian border.

Is it a separate UNESCO reserve? No, the valley is part of the larger Engiadina Val Müstair Biosphere Reserve, about 449 square kilometres in size.

Who manages the reserve? The Swiss National Park looks after the core zone, and the municipalities of Val Müstair and Scuol look after the other zones. The office is in Scuol.

Since when does the reserve have its current status? Provisionally since 2 June 2010 and definitively since 13 June 2017.

Are there historic sights nearby? Yes, the Convent of St John in Müstair has been on the UNESCO World Heritage List since 1983.