Wednesday, 25 June 2025 - 12:00 pm (CET/MEZ) Berlin | Author/Destination: European Free Trade Association Category/Kategorie: GeneralReading Time: 3minutes
Silvaplana (Romansh: Silvaplauna) is a municipality in the Maloja Region in the Swisscanton of Graubünden and the name of a lake in the municipality. The first sign of a settlement in the borders of the municipality are some Roman-era broken pillars on the Julier Pass. The village church was first mentioned in 1356. A new, late gothic church was built in 1491. In 1556 the village converted to the Protestant Reformation.
Silvaplana is located on Lake Silvaplana in the Upper Engadine (German: Oberengadin). Before 2017, it was located in the Oberengadin sub-district of the Maloja, after 2017 it was part of the Maloja Region. Above the village at 2,284 m (7,493 ft), the Julier Pass connects the Engadine valley to the rest of Graubünden and the Rhine watershed. While the stream Ova dal Vallun, which connects Lake Silvaplana and Lake Champfèr, runs through the village, it consists of the village of Silvaplana and the hamlets of Surlej and Albana, as well as part of the village of Champfèr.
The lake is well known for its predictable winds and is therefore a popular venue for water-sailsports including particularly windsurfing, kitesurfing and dinghy-sailing. There is a major watersports centre on the SW shore. An advantage of this location is that spectators are never far from the action, as they might be for more conventional maritime locations.
In August 2007 the International Fireball Dinghy sailing class conducted a World Championship event at Silvaplana; there were 95 boats that competed over 6 races. While there was high local media interest since the 2006 World Champions were a Swiss pair that won in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, the 2007 winners were Richard Estaugh and Rob Gardner from Great Britain. The 2006 world champion Swiss team came in 11th in 2007.
