Author: Maarten Koning

Teufen was first mentioned in 1272 as “Tiuffen”. The hamlet was a district of the abbey of St Gallen. In 1377, several villages of Appenzell (Urnäsch, Teufen and Gais) joined the Schwäbischen Städtebund (‘Swabian League of Cities’)  or the Bund der Bodenseestädte with the permission of the abbot of the abbey. From 1429, Teufen was a Rhode in the independent land of Appenzell, an ally or Zugewandter Ort of the Swiss Confederation.

During the Reformation, Teufen adopted the new religion along with the other äusseren Rhoden. Following the Landsgemeinde decree in 1525, each municipality could decide whether to adhere to the old faith or adopt the new one. The religious differences eventually led to the country’s division in 1597. Since then, Teufen has belonged to the canton of Appenzell Ausserhoden.

Teufen’s economic boom was due to linen weaving and, later, cotton textiles. The municipality, still a poor Rhode in 1597, was one of the wealthiest municipalities in the canton in the 19th century.

The basis for its growth and prosperity was the textile industry (weaving and embroidery) that emerged from the 17th century onwards. Teufen developed into a textile manufacturing village with many villas and merchant houses.

In the 1890s, however, the textile industry experienced a severe crisis, from which it briefly recovered before ultimately collapsing for good after the First World War. However, the stately merchant houses and numerous embroidery houses along the streets serve as reminders of this era.

(Source and further information: Gemeinde Teufen; Kulturpfad Teufen)

Susauna (Oberengadin, Canton Graubünden) is part of the municipality of S-chanf. S-chanf was first mentioned in 1139. The Bishopric of Chur acquired sovereign rights and land in the Oberengadin from the Counts of Gamertingen.

The hamlet of Susauna is located at the entrance to Val Susauna on the Vallember stream. Today, Susauna has about 20 inhabitants and is no longer of great economic importance. It used to be a different situation, however.

The old  Säumerweg in the Susaunatal (Susauna Valley)

Besides the Flüelepass, the Scalettapass was of great economic importance for the movement of goods and the mule trade (Säumerweg) until the 19th century. A Säumerweg ran through the valley from Tirano (Veltlin, Italy) to Gargellen (Vorarlberg, Austria) and the Lake Constance region (Germany).

Towards the end of the 19th century, the route across the Scaletta became less and less used due to the improvement of other road links and the construction of railways.

Scaletta railway

At the end of the 19th century, a railway was planned through the valley, the Scaletta Railway. Dutch entrepreneur Willem Jan Holsboer (1834-1898) had already initiated the Landquart-Davos railway (1888). In 1890, the Scaletta railway was opened and ran from Bergell to Chiavenna.

Willem-Jan Holsboer (1834-1898), Heimatmuseum Davos. Photo: Wikipedia

On 2 April 1890, Holsboer also submitted a concession application for a railway line from Cinuos-chel to Martinsbruck, which, as a continuation of the Scaletta line, was to ensure a connection to the Austrian network.

The plans fell through, and the Engadine became accessible by the Albula railway (1903-1904). The route over the Scaletta Pass and the Val Susauna had previously been reduced by the construction of the Flüela Pass (1867).

The Bernina silver fox farm

The innovative power of Graubünden entrepreneurs, not just confectioners, hoteliers and other tourism operators, was also present in Susauna. On 30 December 1928, the “Bernina” silver fox breeding farm bought the land of Chesa cotschna (red house) in the hamlet of Susauna for breeding silver foxes. By December 1929, the complex was completed.

The old farm „Bernina and the Veduta Susauna Pop-up

There were 31 fox enclosures and a free range. Besides silver foxes, Karakul (thick-tailed sheep from Bukhara) were also bred there. In 1930, the sheep flock comprised 24 ewes with lambs and one full-blooded Karakul ram.

Due to a massive drop in the price of silver fox fur, many silver fox farms in Switzerland had to close down. It was also the case with the silver fox farm in Susauna in 1934.

The Val Susauna is still a beautiful hiking area, featuring the old Säumerweg, the reformed church (1696), and the old silver fox farm (today’s Veduta Susauna Pop-up), which serve as landmarks and a reminder of the ‘good old days’.

(Source and further information: Gemeinde S-Chanf; Engadin Tourismus).