Pontresina is located in the highest-altitude valley that branches off from the Upper Engadine. It's a sunny place, protected from the winds, that lies on a slope opening towards the southwest. Pontresina continues to be a typical Engadine village, stretching along the valley's longitudinal axis. It is embedded in dense woods of larch and stone pine trees. Pontresina ascends from 1,777m to 1,860m above sea level. While Pontresina is a trendy and open-minded place, it continues to maintain its tradition and cultural roots. There's a choice of beautiful old Engadine houses, exciting pubs and restaurants, and interesting cultural events. Some 1,850 people live in Pontresina (with about 6,700 joining them in the tourist seasons).
Language:Names of houses, streets, and places are predominantly Romansh. Pupils speak Romansh at school. The languages spoken in Pontresina are German, Romansh and Italian.
Local customs:The two Engadine customs that continue to be practiced in Pontresina are called Schlitteda and Chalandamarz. The former is a cheerful trip young couples take with horse-drawn sleighs on the second Sunday in January. The latter dates back to Roman times and is practiced on March 1st when Pontresina schoolchildren go around singing and making a lot of noise with bells in an attempt to chase away wintertime.
Health Resort:Pontresina is recognized as a health resort (irritation level 2) that benefits from its location within the realm of the excellent Alpine irritant climate. Its chilly, very dry, and pure air, the scarcity of clouds, the absence of fog, and the long and intense hours of sunshine exert positive influence as irritant factors. Within Switzerland, the Engadine is among the regions with the lowest amounts of rainfall. Pontresina is more protected from winds than most other places in the Upper Engadine.
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