It is not without reason that Switzerland’s largest canton has spent years atop the list of the most popular holiday destinations for the Swiss: Graubünden is beautiful, local and boasts a wealth of choice for active sporting holidays and relaxing spa breaks. This, of course, is good for your well-being – but the data even suggests that just being in Graubünden has tangible health benefits – without any side effects!

The thermal and mineral springs.

Thermal baths are defined as baths that have a temperature of over 20°C from the source. This wonderful, centuries-old therapy can be enjoyed in the baths of Andeer, Alvaneu, Scuol and Vals.

The water of the numerous mineral springs in the canton of Graubünden isn’t warm, but it is full of minerals. Using mineral-rich water for therapy has a long tradition here. In St. Moritz, they discovered the oldest preserved wooden mineral spring rim in Europe, dating from 1466 BC. Even the Celts sought healing from the bubbling, carbonated and iron-rich mineral springs. The naturopath Paracelsus praised them as “healing springs” in 1533, after he experienced their effect on himself. The area around Scuol has several springs in various shapes and sizes. On the mineral water trail, you can try out more than 20 different kinds over a stretch of just six kilometres. The healing water is also available in bottles, from internationally renowned brands Passugger, Rhäzünser and Valser, at the shop just around the corner.

The forest.

Graubünden is the most densely wooded canton in Switzerland. This makes the region the perfect place for fans of Waldbaden (forest bathing) – an international movement that is also gaining in popularity here. In the Upper Engadin, for example, there are regular courses on how to experience the forest in a very mindful way, because that is what bathing under the treetops is all about. People consciously smell, touch, look and listen. The discipline originated in Japan, where the Japanese Ministry of Agriculture supported forest bathing with a million-yen research programme in the early 1980s to prove its health-promoting effects. It was a success. Time spent in the forest demonstrably boosts the immune system and lowers blood pressure, heart rate and levels of the stress hormone cortisol, all thanks to the terpenes – the fragrances that the trees give off.

The medical institutions.

When it opened in 2010, the Clinica Holistica became the first clinic in Switzerland dedicated to treating burnout. The fact that Graubünden was chosen as the location for the new clinic was by no means a coincidence. The municipality of Susch lies at the beginning of the Flüela pass, at an altitude of around 1,400 metres above sea level. The pristine Alpine landscape in the upper valley of the Engadin and the breathtaking natural surroundings offer plenty of room for rest and relaxation and are far-removed from the stresses of everyday life. For many people, Susch is also a place with special atmosphere, where you can truly reconnect with yourself and find fresh new energy.

Davos, the highest town in Europe, is also home to the Swiss Institute for Allergy and Asthma Research, nestled among the forests and mountains. It is one of the world’s leading institutions in its field. The Davos Allergy Campus, an international competence centre for allergy and asthma research, was created in close cooperation with the local High Mountain Clinic and the Christine Kühne Center for Allergy Research and Education. The Davos High Mountain Clinic is also located here. A multidisciplinary team of more than 200 experts cares for patients with chronic respiratory diseases and makes use of the healing mountain air of the Alps. The treatment concept has impressed patients with its holistic approach, which is based on the awareness that there is a close connection between physical suffering and psychological well-being.

The AO Foundation is a medical society with an international reputation that specialises in the innovative treatment of bone fractures. It develops new procedures for classic trauma surgery and highly sensitive procedures such as the spinal or facial fracture surgery. With a network of more than 16,000 medical experts, the foundation is strongly committed to teaching and research.

The statistics.

The health report of the canton of Graubünden states that people from Graubünden not only feel healthier than people from the rest of Switzerland – they are healthier. Only 30 per cent of Graubünden residents are affected by a long-term health problem – two percentage points less than the national average (31.9 per cent). What really stands out is the fact that the percentage of people with medium to severe mental stress is significantly lower than the national average, as are feelings of loneliness.