Forged in Val Fex

The clang of hammer on anvil still echoes through the valleys of the High Engadin. Tucked away in small mountain villages, a handful of blacksmiths continue a centuries-old craft that once shaped the region’s survival. These artisans aren't just shaping iron—they’re preserving a tradition. Long before skiing and tourism came to the Engadin, blacksmiths made the tools that built chalets, shoed horses for alpine travel, and fashioned hinges and latches that held strong through bitter winters. Even today, many homes in the valley still rely on their work—not out of nostalgia, but because nothing else lasts as long or works as well in this rugged climate.

One such smith is Jachen, a quiet man in his sixties with thick hands and a deep knowledge of metal. In his stone workshop near Fex, the forge burns hot even as snow falls outside. Jachen doesn’t just repair plows or shape fireplace grates. He makes iron railings that look like art, door handles with etched alpine flowers, and even custom ski poles tipped with forged steel.

In a world that rushes forward, the blacksmiths of the High Engadin stand firm, reminding us that some things are worth keeping exactly as they are.

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