Saint Moritz (pop. 4,945) is a famous resort town in the Alps of eastern Switzerland. It lies 6,037 feet (1,840 meters) above sea level in the Engadin Valley of the canton (state) of Graubunden. It stands between mountain slopes and along a small lake.
The economy of St. Moritz is based on tourism. Visitors enjoy the area’s scenic beauty, clean air and sunshine, big hotels and restaurants, and varied recreational facilities. Favorite activities there include skiing, ice skating, sailing, swimming, and hiking.
Roman soldiers built a settlement on the site of St. Moritz in the 50’s B.C. The town became a major tourist resort in the 1800’s. It was the site of the Winter Olympics in 1928 and 1948. The natives of St. Moritz speak Romansh, a language used by only about 50,000 people in the valleys of Graubunden.
