Ardez, Graubunden, Switzerland Jan 2, 2025

Ardez, Graubunden, Switzerland

Perched on a terrace above the Inn Valley at 4,790 feet, Ardez is a hidden gem in eastern Switzerland renowned for its deep cultural roots and stunning preservation of history. This picturesque village, starring in today"s image, showcases the rich traditions and unique language of Switzerland"s Romansh-speaking communities. Its homes are adorned with sgraffiti—decorative designs etched into plaster—and colorful murals, both iconic art styles of the Engadin region. Dating back to 840 when it was first referred to as Ardezis, the village"s history includes Steinsberg Castle, originally owned by the Bishop of Chur. Though destroyed during the Swabian War in 1499, the castle"s tower has been restored multiple times and stands today as a proud reminder of its past. In 1975, Ardez was chosen as a Swiss model village for its exceptional preservation efforts, which have kept its historic charm intact.

© Roberto Moiola/Getty Images

palette

Today in History

Jan 2, 2019Tesla, the visionary
Jan 2, 2020Winter in the Finnish wilds
Jan 2, 2021A universe underground
Jan 2, 2022Prague, Czech Republic
Jan 2, 2023Hohenzollern Castle near Stuttgart, Germany
Jan 2, 2024Prayer flags in Phobjikha Valley, Bhutan
Jan 2, 2026Aerial view of Venice, Italy

More Desktop Wallpapers:

Jun 4, 2022National Trails Day
Dec 18, 2019It’s Weihnachtsmarkt time!
Feb 17, 2019Flock online for the Great Backyard Bird Count
Mar 7, 2025Plum blossoms in China
Apr 30, 2022International Jazz Day
Jul 25, 2024Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Tennessee
Jul 13, 2021Through an artist s eyes
Dec 3, 2024Amber Fort, Jaipur, Rajasthan, India
Jul 29, 2025International Tiger Day
Aug 29, 2018A spectacle unlike any other
Apr 27, 2023South Padre Island, Texas
Oct 8, 2025World Octopus Day
Apr 28, 2024Last day of National Park Week
Mar 17, 2026Happy St. Patricks Day!
Feb 4, 2025Golden Bridge, Bà Nà Hills, Da Nang, Vietnam
Nov 29, 2024Mont-Saint-Michel, Normandy, France
Feb 4, 2018Male kori bustard, Maasai Mara National Reserve, Kenya
Mar 1, 2019Forward-thinking women of history
Sep 23, 2025A keel-billed toucan in Costa Rica
Aug 21, 2025A wheatear in Peak District National Park, England
Mar 3, 2023Killer whales in Spildra, Norway
Jan 21, 2021The tale of squirrels like Nutkin
Jan 10, 2019‘You should see the one that got away!’
Sep 21, 2022International Day of Peace
Jun 21, 2018Inhale and exhale, it’s Yoga Day
May 7, 2022Astronomy Day
May 30, 2022Memorial Day
Feb 23, 2018Aerial view of the Colorado River Delta in Mexico
Mar 29, 2024South Stack Lighthouse, Holy Island, Wales
Jan 4, 2024Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco, California