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

Fit for a fairytale
Jan 2, 2024Prayer flags in Phobjikha Valley, Bhutan
Jan 2, 2026Aerial view of Venice, Italy

More Desktop Wallpapers:

Jun 30, 2024Ubud, Bali, Indonesia
Jan 18, 2026White Sands National Park, New Mexico, United States
Winter wonderland for your wallet
Just a couple of know-it-owls
Oct 12, 2025Village of Saranac Lake, New York, United States
Jul 6, 2025Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes in Death Valley National Park, United States
Dec 28, 2024Dudhsagar Falls, Goa
Jan 7, 2024Devils Marbles Conservation Reserve, Australia
Feb 2, 2024Alpine Marmot
A glimpse of the grandest of canyons
May 25, 2025Butchart Gardens in Brentwood Bay, British Columbia, Canada
Jan 15, 2026The fishing village of Reine, Norway
Nov 6, 2023Lago Pehoé, Torres del Paine National Park, Chile
Sep 1, 2024River Thames, London, England
Feb 26, 2025Maha Shivaratri
One on land, a million in space
Nov 15, 2023Rapa Valley in Sarek National Park, Sweden
Jul 21, 2025Staghorn coral in shallow ocean
Jun 23, 2024Dhaka, Bangladesh
Nov 26, 2023Fallow deer, Bradgate Park, Leicestershire, England
Jun 13, 2025Vila Franca Islet, São Miguel Island, Azores, Portugal
Jul 13, 2026International Rock Day
Boardwalk nostalgia
Jun 29, 2024Tour de France 2024
An architectural wonder in Rajasthan
Jan 8, 2026Starling murmuration over the ruins of Brightons West Pier, England
A puzzle for giants
What can you see from this tower?
Feb 25, 2025Castle Stalker, Argyll, Scotland
Jun 21, 2026International Day of Yoga