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Obersaxen

Obersaxen
Obersaxen westwärts.jpg
Coat of arms of Obersaxen
Coat of arms
Obersaxen is located in Switzerland
Obersaxen
Obersaxen
Coordinates: 46°44′N 9°6′E / 46.733°N 9.100°E / 46.733; 9.100Coordinates: 46°44′N 9°6′E / 46.733°N 9.100°E / 46.733; 9.100
Country Switzerland
Canton Graubünden
District Surselva
Area
 • Total 61.52 km2 (23.75 sq mi)
Elevation (Meierhof) 1,281 m (4,203 ft)
Population (Dec 2015)
 • Total 829
 • Density 13/km2 (35/sq mi)
Postal code 7134
SFOS number 3612
Localities Obersaxen, Meierhof
Surrounded by Breil/Brigels, Degen, Flond, Lumbrein, Rueun, Sumvitg, Surcuolm, Trun, Vella, Vignogn, Waltensburg/Vuorz
Website www.obersaxenmundaun.swiss
SFSO statistics

Obersaxen (Romansh: Sursaissa) is a former municipality in the district of Surselva in the Swiss canton of Graubünden. On 1 January 2016 the former municipalities of Obersaxen and Mundaun merged to form the new municipality of Obersaxen Mundaun.

Obersaxen is first mentioned in 765 as Supersaxa though this is from a copy which dates from later. In 956 it was mentioned as Supersaxa, and in 1227 as Ubersahse.

The current settlement was founded in the thirteenth century, when a group of German-speaking Walser settled the plateau. Right in the heart of the mainly Romansh-speaking Surselva (which encompasses the valley of the Vorderrhein, along with all of its side valleys, among others the Val Lumnezia), Obersaxen is an island of German-speakers.

Obersaxen had an area, as of 2006, of 61.5 km2 (23.7 sq mi). Of this area, 54.8% is used for agricultural purposes, while 23.4% is forested. Of the rest of the land, 2% is settled (buildings or roads) and the remainder (19.8%) is non-productive (rivers, glaciers or mountains).

The former municipality is located in the Rueun sub-district of the Surselva district. It is located on the northern face of the Mundaun mountain chain, on the right side of the Rhine valley. It consists of 28 settlements which are divided into five Pirten around the central village of Meierhof.

The municipal coat of arms' blazon is Per pale Gules a Key Or and Azure two Bars Argent. The right half of the coat of arms comes from the seal of the Freiherr of Rhäzüns, who acquired rights in Obersaxen through the Walser immigration. The key is a symbol of Saint Peter which was on the 14th Century village seal.


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