Facts & Figures

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Elevation

  • From 2,486 metres up to 3,057 metres

Mountains

  • Albula mountain range

Geographical position

  • Coordinates: 46º30’23“ N, 9°47’14“ E
  • CH X / CH Y: 780250 / 153250)

Piz Nair is located above St. Moritz in the skiing area Corviglia Marguns. With its 3,057 metres it is the second highest mountain in the Engadine, topped only by the Corvatsch with 3,303 metres. Engadine St. Moritz is one of the largest skiing areas in Switzerland.

History

 

Despite the high elevation of the Corviglia skiing area, snow covered slopes were not entirely ensured for all of the 16 different ski runs, located on the south facing mountain side.  This sometimes became an issue during the months of March and April. It is for this reason, that the municipality of St. Moritz, St. Moritz tourist board and the mountain rail- and cableways St. Moritz have decided to access Piz Nair by building a cable car.

 

However, these panels were highly indebted. Hotelier Andrea Badrutt was given the task to find affluent guests as potential donors - and he succeeded. The order to build the cable car finally received the construction company Willy Habegger of Thun, the local architectural office A. Verdieri officiated as the architect. The total costs of construction reached 1.65 million Swiss francs (including a simple restaurant on the summit), which was financed entirely by private sources.

Piz Nair in figures
  • Foundation of the company 'AG Luftseilbahn Corviglia Piz Nair' (in autumn)
  • 1955 Opening of the first cable car in the Engadine. As a special feature, the rope line was diverted (curve) at the second tower to reach the mountain station, which is located about 35 metres south of the straight line as a result of the permafrost.
  • 1968 Opening of the ski lift Lej da la Pêsch - Fuorcla Grischa
  • 1977 Reconstruction of the cable car / Conversion to the driving speed of 10 m/s, speed increase to 10 m/s thereby increasing capacity to 360 persons/hour
  • 1981 Electrification of the mountain station and of the ski lift Lej da la Pêsch
  • 1988 Construction of the restaurant Lej da la Pêsch
  • 1992 Reconstruction of the restaurant Lej da la Pêsch
  • 1994 Construction of the chair lift Lej da la Pêsch - Fuorcla Grischa
  • 2002 - Dismantling of the old cable car and construction of the present cable car - First cable car with steady tensioned steel cable, capacity of 720 persons/hour - Highest situated laundry in Europe
  • 2002 Construction of the highest starting area (free fall) for the men's downhill World Cup 2003
  • 2007 Management agreement between 'AG Luftseilbahn Corviglia' and 'Corvatsch AG', with headquarters in Silvaplana

The symbol of Piz Nair

A colony of ibex called the base of Piz Nair their home for decades, 'licking' the salt off the seating of tower 2. Later, the animals were attracted using salt stones. Over time, the ibex colony has moved on.

With that story in mind, Zurich artist Rosemarie Grieder has modelled a life-like ibex in 1956. Eventually, financier Stavros Niarchos asked her to create a much larger replica for the summit of Piz Nair.

The ibex 'Guardiaun Grischun' became the symbol of Piz Nair and is enthroning St. Moritz, enjoying the breathtaking view over the Engadine since 1958.