Grabs

Grabs is a municipality in the Wahlkreis of Werdenberg in the canton of St. Gallen in Switzerland.

History

Grabs is first mentioned in 841 as Quaravedes. In 979 it was mentioned as Quadravedes, then in 1235 as Grabdis and in 1253 as Graps.

Geography

Grabs has an area, as of 2006, of 54.7 km2 (21.1 sq mi). Of this area, 50% is used for agricultural purposes, while 32.2% is forested. Of the rest of the land, 4.8% is settled (buildings or roads) and the remainder (12.9%) is non-productive (rivers or lakes).

The municipality is located in the Werdenberg Wahlkreis. The eastern portion of the municipality is on edge of the Rhine valley, but doesn't reach the Rhine. The larger part of the municipality is on the eastern slope of the Churfirsten-Alvier group. It consists of the village of Grabs, scattered settlements on the Grabserberg with the hamlets of Forst, Lehn and Schluss, the village section of Studen, the scattered settlement of Studnerberg and the little city of Werdenberg. It also includes lightly settled alpine pastures on the broad Maiensässgürtel.

The city of Werdenberg with its castle (Schloss Werdenberg) is part of the municipality.

Voralpsee and Werdenbergersee are located in the municipality.

Coat of arms

The blazon of the municipal coat of arms is Argent a Wild Man stantant afrontee holding a Club in dexter and a Pine Tree eradicated Vert in sinister

Heritage sites of national significance

There are several sites and five houses in Grabs municipality that are listed as Swiss heritage sites of national significance. The mill, saw mill, wool washing station and hammermill on Glockenweg are listed as a single site. The fortifications around Werdenberg and Werdenberg Castle are also on the list. The five houses include; row houses on Städtli 2–7, the Schlangenhaus at Städtli 14, houses at Städtli 16 and 23 as well as the double house at Städtli 24/25.

The region around Schloss Werdenberg, which is shared between Buchs and Grabs, is designated as part of the Inventory of Swiss Heritage Sites.

• Werdenberg Castle

• Part of the Double House at Städtli 24/25

• Part of Werdenberg's Fortifications

• Schlangenhaus at Städtli 14

Religion

From the 2000 census, 1,642 or 26.1% are Roman Catholic, while 3,561 or 56.6% belonged to the Swiss Reformed Church. Of the rest of the population, there is 1 individual who belongs to the Christian Catholic faith, there are 92 individuals (or about 1.46% of the population) who belong to the Orthodox Church, and there are 193 individuals (or about 3.06% of the population) who belong to another Christian church. There are 2 individuals (or about 0.03% of the population) who are Jewish, and 251 (or about 3.99% of the population) who are Islamic. There are 16 individuals (or about 0.25% of the population) who belong to another church (not listed on the census), 323 (or about 5.13% of the population) belong to no church, are agnostic or atheist, and 216 individuals (or about 3.43% of the population) did not answer the question.