Ardez village, Graubunden, Switzerland Jan 2, 2025

Perched on a terrace above the Inn Valley at over 1,400 metres, Ardez is a hidden gem in eastern Switzerland renowned for its deep cultural roots and stunning preservation of history. This picturesque village, starring in today"s image, showcases the rich traditions and unique language of Switzerland"s Romansh-speaking communities. Its homes are adorned with sgraffiti—decorative designs etched into plaster—and colourful murals, both iconic art styles of the Engadin region. Dating back to 840, when it was first referred to as Ardezis, the village"s history includes Steinsberg Castle, originally owned by the Bishop of Chur. Though destroyed during the Swabian War in 1499, the castle"s tower has been restored multiple times and stands today as a proud reminder of its past. In 1975, Ardez was chosen as a Swiss model village for its exceptional preservation efforts, which have kept its historic charm intact.

© Roberto Moiola/Getty Images

palette

Today in History

Jan 2, 2024Jaswant Thada and Mehrangarh Fort, India
Jan 2, 2026Aerial view of Venice, Italy

More Desktop Wallpapers:

Sept 30, 2026Male bearded reedling, Norfolk, England
Jan 3, 2025Radcliffe Camera and All Souls College, University of Oxford, England
Dec 11, 2023Huangshan Mountains, China
Aug 12, 2025African elephants
Jan 26, 2025European beech forest, Belgium
Jan 2, 2024Jaswant Thada and Mehrangarh Fort, India
Jul 16, 2024Skara Brae, Scotland
Oct 30, 2024Gran Paradiso National Park, Italy
Oct 15, 2025Amethyst laccaria mushrooms, Seabeck, Washington, United States
Nov 3, 2024Ría Lagartos Biosphere Reserve, Yucatán, Mexico
Oct 11, 2023The Painted Hills, Oregon, USA
June 21, 2026Millau Viaduct, France
Sep 6, 2024Glenariff Forest Park, Northern Ireland, UK
Jun 18, 2024Lupine fields, Snæfellsnes, Iceland
Jun 17, 2024Green-crowned brilliant
Oct 20, 2025Hoffmanns two-toed sloth
Aug 7, 2024St. Joseph North Pier Inner and Outer Lights, Michigan, USA
Jun 16, 2024Red fox father and kit, Washington, USA
Dec 26, 2023Dedham, Colchester, England
Feb 6, 2025Archway Islands, Wharariki Beach, South Island, New Zealand
Jul 25, 2025Colourful houses of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain
Aug 18, 2025Avalanche Lake Trail at Adirondack High Peaks, New York, United States
Feb 16, 2026Banff, Alberta, Canada
Jun 19, 2024Water tower in Cuxhaven, Germany
Nov 14, 2023Russell lupines, Lake Tekapo, New Zealand
Dec 1, 2025Natural arch carved in an iceberg, Antarctica
Jan 1, 2026Arctic fox
Mar 21, 2024Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, Uganda
June 1, 2026Palermo, Sicily, Italy
Nov 26, 2025Olive orchard in the Serra de Tramuntana, Mallorca, Balearic Islands, Spain