Val Lumnezia
Encyclopedia
The Val Lumnezia is a Swiss
high Alpine
valley made up of the main Lumnezia valley, and a side valley
, the Valser valley
to the south-east. Located at 46°37′N 9°9′E, it forms also Municipality
, which is composed of the communities Vella
, Vignogn
, Degen
, Suraua
, Vrin
, Cumbel
, Morissen
, Vals
and Lumbrein
. Its upper regions are among the most remote areas in the Swiss Alps
. The official languages are Romansh and German
.
times the valley was probably inhabited by Chalcolithic (Copper-stone Age) Europeans
. Witness to this is the Crap da Treis Siarps, the Three Snakes Stone, a remnant of a Neolithic or Bronze Age Megalithic monument. It can be found at the slope of the Glogn gorge east of the Parish church of Pleif. Although the other megaliths of this monument have substantially weathered, the Three Snakes Stone is well preserved. It has three snakes and a half moon engraved, hinting at its use as either a burial site or as an archaeoastronomical site.
. It was a part of the Roman
Province of Rhaetia. However, as there were hardly any natural resources in the valley and the alpine crossing into the Ticino
would have been difficult, there are no significant archaeological finds of this period.
mention the Val Lumnezia because of its fertile soils and advantageous climate. In several sheltered parishes, such as Peiden peach
es and grapes were grown. In the 6th century AD the parish church at Pleif near Vella was built. At about this time the valley became a domain
of Bishopic Chur
, with its inhabitants living in serfdom to the bishops at Chur
. At around 1,200 AD the Valser valley
, a side valley of the Val Lumnezia, was settled by an Alemannic tribe known as the Walser
s. With the foundation of the Grey League
in the 14th century, the valley emancipated itself politically.
in Italy
.
As a bastion against the emerging Protestantism
which has spread across Northern and Western Switzerland, the Holy See
established 1621 AD a Rhaetian Capuchin
congregation to spread the counter reformation across the Val Lumnezia. This had the effect, that still today, the valley is conservative Roman Catholic, with sacred buildings, such as baroque
churches dominating the landscape.
for stagecoaches in 1890 connected the Val Lumnezia to the infrastructure of the Vorderrhein
valley and the Swiss railway network.
— geologically known as the Grisons slate belt — which forms the mountains and valleys South of the Vorderrhein
. The slate is interlaced with dolomite
and quartzite
. The Greina high Alpine plain distinguishes itself from the remainder of the Val Lumnezia by the occurrence of crystallite
rock formations, characteristic of the Adula Alps. As several tectonic faults have fractured the original rock formations, the geological origin of the Grisons slate is unknown, but it is probably sediment of the thickness of some 300 feet (91.4 m), which has formed during the Jurassic Period in estuaries. There are two types of slate in the Val Lumnezia: North of the river Glogn the slate of the Adula Alps predominates, whereas South of the river Glogn the Lugnez slate can be found. (These strata run with an inclination of 75° towards the North West). The former has weathered substantially, the latter is more resistant. The most cohesive slate mass stretches across and area of approximately 16 square miles (41.4 km²). South of this massive slate plate, again the rock formations show substantial tectonic disruptions.
and when it melted, an undulating sheet of clay and gravel remained, which forms today's terraced plateaus of Val Lumnezia.
The Piz Terri and the high Greina plain form a Nature reserve shared between Grisons and Ticino
. The Kar Glacier
below the Piz Terri has seen a substantial reduction due to global warming
. Back in 1865 the glacier filled the area of the entire Lake Kar. This has resulted in massive erosion
as the permafrost
ground thawed releasing rocks and gravel which has formed a massive landslide
below the Piz Terri. Other landslides have covered the remaining Glacier.
tends to flush away the slopes of its gorge resulting in the 1920s in the near evacuation of the Parish council Peiden on the Northern site of the Glogn. However, the construction of several reservoirs and drainage systems along its path has alleviated this danger. Several streams emerging from the surrounding mountain ridges have cut small, but partially deep ravines and gullies into the terraced plateaus of the Val Lumnezia.
and the chamois
are of common occurrence and the Alpine Ibex
can be seen occasionally. Below that altitude, foxes, hares, wild boars and red deer can be found. With the onset of winter, the chamois move towards the valley. As there is a brown bear
sanctuary some Alpine valleys further to the East, in Trentino of Italy, it might occasionally happen that a bear from this sanctuary ventures through lower ranges of the Val Lumnezia. Some caves and buildings of the lower Val Lumnezia are inhabited by the Horseshoe bat
(Rhinolophidae), which is a protected species.
In the higher and middle ranges of the valley several pairs of Golden Eagles have been resettled.
at the North-Eastern edge of the Val Lumnezia. The Rhaetian Railway line to Disentis serves the valley, with connecting services to the Swiss Federal Railways network at Chur. In addition, Glion
is a stop for the famous Glacier Express
.
. Arriving from Zürich
and Chur
, respectively, the Swiss Federal Highways A3 and A13(E43) to the San Bernardino road tunnel
have to be left at the intersection Reichenau. The Swiss National Road 19 is to be followed to Glion
. From here the Val Lumnezia can be reached taking the Via Principala past Cumbel
into Vella
or Vals
. Arriving from Milan
the Val Lumnezia can be reached leaving the A13(E43) at the intersection Reichenau. Arriving from Geneva
, Val Lumnezia can be reached via the Swiss Federal Highways A1 and A9 (E62) taking the Furka Pass
road, the Swiss Federal Road 19, passing the Furka pass and the Oberalp Pass
to Disentis. At Glion
, the Swiss Federal Road 19 has to be left for the Via Prinzipala.
.
There are various ski-lifts on the northern face of the valley, connecting the Val Lumnezia to the Obersaxen
ski area.
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
high Alpine
Alps
The Alps is one of the great mountain range systems of Europe, stretching from Austria and Slovenia in the east through Italy, Switzerland, Liechtenstein and Germany to France in the west....
valley made up of the main Lumnezia valley, and a side valley
Side valley
The terms side valley and tributary valley refer to valleys whose brook or river is confluent to a greater one.Upstream, the valleys can be classified in an increasing order which is equivalent to the usual orographic order: the tributaries are ordered from those nearest to the source of the river...
, the Valser valley
Valser valley
The Valser valley is located in the canton of Graubünden in Switzerland. Originally the valley was cimply called .- Geography :The Valser valley is roughly 16 kilometers long valley. At Uors, it branches off to the south from the Val Lumnezia. The valley is drained by the Valser Rhine. There...
to the south-east. Located at 46°37′N 9°9′E, it forms also Municipality
Municipalities of Switzerland
Communes , also known as municipalities, are the smallest government division in Switzerland, numbering 2,596 . While many have a population of a few hundred citizens, the largest cities such as Zürich or Geneva also have the legal status of municipalities...
, which is composed of the communities Vella
Vella
Vella is a municipality in the district of Surselva in the canton of Graubünden in Switzerland.-History:While there is some evidence of a late Bronze Age settlement and coins from the 3rd and 4th Centuries have been found, Vella is first mentioned about 840 as ad sanctum Vincentium [...] in valle...
, Vignogn
Vignogn
Vignogn is a municipality in the district of Surselva in the canton of Graubünden in Switzerland.-History:Vignogn is first mentioned in 1325 as Vinanne. In 1469 it was mentioned as Viends.-Geography:...
, Degen
Degen, Switzerland
Degen is a municipality in the district of Surselva in the Swiss canton of Graubünden. Until 1983, it was officially known as Igels.-History:...
, Suraua
Suraua
Suraua is a municipality in the district of Surselva in the canton of Graubünden in Switzerland. The municipality was formed on January 1, 2002 through the union of Camuns, Surcasti, Tersnaus, and Uors-Peiden.-History:...
, Vrin
Vrin
Vrin is a municipality in the Val Lumnezia. It belongs to the circle of Lugnez/Lumnezia in the district of Surselva in the canton of Graubünden in Switzerland....
, Cumbel
Cumbel
Cumbel is a municipality in the district of Surselva in the Swiss canton of Graubünden.-History:Cumbel is first mentioned about 825 as Cumble...
, Morissen
Morissen
Morissen |Surselva]] in the Swiss canton of Graubünden.-Coat of arms:The municipal coat of arms is Gules three Escallops Or. The scallops on the coat of arms represent St. James the Elder who is the patron saint of the village church.-Geography:...
, Vals
Vals, Switzerland
Vals is a municipality in the district of Surselva in the canton of Graubünden in Switzerland.-History:Archeological finds from the Bronze Age around the thermal baths and Tomül pass as well as Iron Age items on the slopes of the Valserberg indicate that this area was used before written history...
and Lumbrein
Lumbrein
Lumbrein is a municipality in the district of Surselva in the Swiss canton of Graubünden.-History:The Crestaulta hill near the hamlet of Surin was occupied since at least the early Bronze Age . However, Lumbrein is first mentioned about 850 as in villa Lamarine though this comes from a 16th...
. Its upper regions are among the most remote areas in the Swiss Alps
Swiss Alps
The Swiss Alps are the portion of the Alps mountain range that lies within Switzerland. Because of their central position within the entire Alpine range, they are also known as the Central Alps....
. The official languages are Romansh and German
Swiss German
Swiss German is any of the Alemannic dialects spoken in Switzerland and in some Alpine communities in Northern Italy. Occasionally, the Alemannic dialects spoken in other countries are grouped together with Swiss German as well, especially the dialects of Liechtenstein and Austrian Vorarlberg...
.
Neolithic and Megalithic Period
In the neolithicNeolithic
The Neolithic Age, Era, or Period, or New Stone Age, was a period in the development of human technology, beginning about 9500 BC in some parts of the Middle East, and later in other parts of the world. It is traditionally considered as the last part of the Stone Age...
times the valley was probably inhabited by Chalcolithic (Copper-stone Age) Europeans
Ötzi the Iceman
Ötzi the Iceman , Similaun Man, and Man from Hauslabjoch are modern names for a well-preserved natural mummy of a man who lived about 5,300 years ago. The mummy was found in September 1991 in the Ötztal Alps, near Hauslabjoch on the border between Austria and Italy. The nickname comes from the...
. Witness to this is the Crap da Treis Siarps, the Three Snakes Stone, a remnant of a Neolithic or Bronze Age Megalithic monument. It can be found at the slope of the Glogn gorge east of the Parish church of Pleif. Although the other megaliths of this monument have substantially weathered, the Three Snakes Stone is well preserved. It has three snakes and a half moon engraved, hinting at its use as either a burial site or as an archaeoastronomical site.
Roman Times
During Roman times Val Lumnezia was probably inhabited by a celtic tribe known as the HelvetiiHelvetii
The Helvetii were a Celtic tribe or tribal confederation occupying most of the Swiss plateau at the time of their contact with the Roman Republic in the 1st century BC...
. It was a part of the Roman
Roman Empire
The Roman Empire was the post-Republican period of the ancient Roman civilization, characterised by an autocratic form of government and large territorial holdings in Europe and around the Mediterranean....
Province of Rhaetia. However, as there were hardly any natural resources in the valley and the alpine crossing into the Ticino
Ticino
Canton Ticino or Ticino is the southernmost canton of Switzerland. Named after the Ticino river, it is the only canton in which Italian is the sole official language...
would have been difficult, there are no significant archaeological finds of this period.
Middle Ages
Chronicles of the early Middle AgesMiddle Ages
The Middle Ages is a periodization of European history from the 5th century to the 15th century. The Middle Ages follows the fall of the Western Roman Empire in 476 and precedes the Early Modern Era. It is the middle period of a three-period division of Western history: Classic, Medieval and Modern...
mention the Val Lumnezia because of its fertile soils and advantageous climate. In several sheltered parishes, such as Peiden peach
Peach
The peach tree is a deciduous tree growing to tall and 6 in. in diameter, belonging to the subfamily Prunoideae of the family Rosaceae. It bears an edible juicy fruit called a peach...
es and grapes were grown. In the 6th century AD the parish church at Pleif near Vella was built. At about this time the valley became a domain
Annexation
Annexation is the de jure incorporation of some territory into another geo-political entity . Usually, it is implied that the territory and population being annexed is the smaller, more peripheral, and weaker of the two merging entities, barring physical size...
of Bishopic Chur
Diocese of Chur
The Diocese of Chur comprises the Swiss Cantons of Graubünden , Schwyz, Glarus, Zurich, Nidwalden, Obwalden and Uri.-History:A Bishop of Chur is first mentioned in 451/ 452 when its Bishop Saint Asimo attended the Synod of Milan, but probably existed a century earlier...
, with its inhabitants living in serfdom to the bishops at Chur
Chur
Chur or Coire is the capital of the Swiss canton of Graubünden and lies in the northern part of the canton.-History:The name "chur" derives perhaps from the Celtic kora or koria, meaning "tribe", or from the Latin curia....
. At around 1,200 AD the Valser valley
Valser valley
The Valser valley is located in the canton of Graubünden in Switzerland. Originally the valley was cimply called .- Geography :The Valser valley is roughly 16 kilometers long valley. At Uors, it branches off to the south from the Val Lumnezia. The valley is drained by the Valser Rhine. There...
, a side valley of the Val Lumnezia, was settled by an Alemannic tribe known as the Walser
Walser
The Walser are German-speaking people who live in the Alps of Switzerland, Italy, Liechtenstein and Austria. The Walser people are named after the Wallis , the uppermost Rhône River valley...
s. With the foundation of the Grey League
Grey League
The Grey League , sometimes called Oberbund, formed in 1395 in the Vorderrhein and Hinterrhein valleys, Raetia. The name Grey League is derived from the homespun grey clothes worn by the people. The league became part of the canton of Graubünden. The Grey League allied itself to the two other...
in the 14th century, the valley emancipated itself politically.
Reformation and Enlightenment
1538 AD the citizens of the Val Lumnezia bought themselves off the feudal ownership. The parishes of the valley became autonomous and the feudal domains became partially private property. Within the Grey League legislatives and juridical councils emerged in the form of confederations comprising several parish councils — one of which became the municipality Val Lumnezia. This had, in particular, economical advantages, as the valley was then autonomous, being able to supply itself with food and goods. Across the Greina high plain, the cattle trade was done with cities as far afield as MilanMilan
Milan is the second-largest city in Italy and the capital city of the region of Lombardy and of the province of Milan. The city proper has a population of about 1.3 million, while its urban area, roughly coinciding with its administrative province and the bordering Province of Monza and Brianza ,...
in Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
.
As a bastion against the emerging Protestantism
John Calvin
John Calvin was an influential French theologian and pastor during the Protestant Reformation. He was a principal figure in the development of the system of Christian theology later called Calvinism. Originally trained as a humanist lawyer, he broke from the Roman Catholic Church around 1530...
which has spread across Northern and Western Switzerland, the Holy See
Holy See
The Holy See is the episcopal jurisdiction of the Catholic Church in Rome, in which its Bishop is commonly known as the Pope. It is the preeminent episcopal see of the Catholic Church, forming the central government of the Church. As such, diplomatically, and in other spheres the Holy See acts and...
established 1621 AD a Rhaetian Capuchin
Order of Friars Minor Capuchin
The Order of Friars Minor Capuchin is an Order of friars in the Catholic Church, among the chief offshoots of the Franciscans. The worldwide head of the Order, called the Minister General, is currently Father Mauro Jöhri.-Origins :...
congregation to spread the counter reformation across the Val Lumnezia. This had the effect, that still today, the valley is conservative Roman Catholic, with sacred buildings, such as baroque
Baroque
The Baroque is a period and the style that used exaggerated motion and clear, easily interpreted detail to produce drama, tension, exuberance, and grandeur in sculpture, painting, literature, dance, and music...
churches dominating the landscape.
Industrial Age
The construction of the road to GlionIlanz
Ilanz is a municipality in the district of Surselva in the Swiss canton of Graubünden.-History:Ilanz is first mentioned in 765 as Iliande. Ilanz became the capital of the newly formed Grey League in 1395. The Grey League was the second of Three Leagues which eventually formed canton Graubünden...
for stagecoaches in 1890 connected the Val Lumnezia to the infrastructure of the Vorderrhein
Vorderrhein
The Vorderrhein is one of the two sources of the Rhine. Its catchment area of is located predominantly in the Canton of Graubünden . The Vorderrhein is about long, thus more than 5% longer than the Hinterrhein...
valley and the Swiss railway network.
Tectonics and rock formations
The rock formations in the Val Lumnezia are mostly composed of slateSlate
Slate is a fine-grained, foliated, homogeneous metamorphic rock derived from an original shale-type sedimentary rock composed of clay or volcanic ash through low-grade regional metamorphism. The result is a foliated rock in which the foliation may not correspond to the original sedimentary layering...
— geologically known as the Grisons slate belt — which forms the mountains and valleys South of the Vorderrhein
Vorderrhein
The Vorderrhein is one of the two sources of the Rhine. Its catchment area of is located predominantly in the Canton of Graubünden . The Vorderrhein is about long, thus more than 5% longer than the Hinterrhein...
. The slate is interlaced with dolomite
Dolomite
Dolomite is a carbonate mineral composed of calcium magnesium carbonate CaMg2. The term is also used to describe the sedimentary carbonate rock dolostone....
and quartzite
Quartzite
Quartzite is a hard metamorphic rock which was originally sandstone. Sandstone is converted into quartzite through heating and pressure usually related to tectonic compression within orogenic belts. Pure quartzite is usually white to gray, though quartzites often occur in various shades of pink...
. The Greina high Alpine plain distinguishes itself from the remainder of the Val Lumnezia by the occurrence of crystallite
Crystallite
Crystallites are small, often microscopic crystals that, held together through highly defective boundaries, constitute a polycrystalline solid. Metallurgists often refer to crystallites as grains.- Details :...
rock formations, characteristic of the Adula Alps. As several tectonic faults have fractured the original rock formations, the geological origin of the Grisons slate is unknown, but it is probably sediment of the thickness of some 300 feet (91.4 m), which has formed during the Jurassic Period in estuaries. There are two types of slate in the Val Lumnezia: North of the river Glogn the slate of the Adula Alps predominates, whereas South of the river Glogn the Lugnez slate can be found. (These strata run with an inclination of 75° towards the North West). The former has weathered substantially, the latter is more resistant. The most cohesive slate mass stretches across and area of approximately 16 square miles (41.4 km²). South of this massive slate plate, again the rock formations show substantial tectonic disruptions.
Glaciers
The current geological morphology of the Val Lumnezia is due to the last widespread glaciation some 26,000 until 13,000 years ago, when the entire valley was covered by a giant glacier. The glacier swept the deposits in the direction of the VorderrheinVorderrhein
The Vorderrhein is one of the two sources of the Rhine. Its catchment area of is located predominantly in the Canton of Graubünden . The Vorderrhein is about long, thus more than 5% longer than the Hinterrhein...
and when it melted, an undulating sheet of clay and gravel remained, which forms today's terraced plateaus of Val Lumnezia.
The Piz Terri and the high Greina plain form a Nature reserve shared between Grisons and Ticino
Ticino
Canton Ticino or Ticino is the southernmost canton of Switzerland. Named after the Ticino river, it is the only canton in which Italian is the sole official language...
. The Kar Glacier
Glacier
A glacier is a large persistent body of ice that forms where the accumulation of snow exceeds its ablation over many years, often centuries. At least 0.1 km² in area and 50 m thick, but often much larger, a glacier slowly deforms and flows due to stresses induced by its weight...
below the Piz Terri has seen a substantial reduction due to global warming
Global warming
Global warming refers to the rising average temperature of Earth's atmosphere and oceans and its projected continuation. In the last 100 years, Earth's average surface temperature increased by about with about two thirds of the increase occurring over just the last three decades...
. Back in 1865 the glacier filled the area of the entire Lake Kar. This has resulted in massive erosion
Erosion
Erosion is when materials are removed from the surface and changed into something else. It only works by hydraulic actions and transport of solids in the natural environment, and leads to the deposition of these materials elsewhere...
as the permafrost
Permafrost
In geology, permafrost, cryotic soil or permafrost soil is soil at or below the freezing point of water for two or more years. Ice is not always present, as may be in the case of nonporous bedrock, but it frequently occurs and it may be in amounts exceeding the potential hydraulic saturation of...
ground thawed releasing rocks and gravel which has formed a massive landslide
Landslide
A landslide or landslip is a geological phenomenon which includes a wide range of ground movement, such as rockfalls, deep failure of slopes and shallow debris flows, which can occur in offshore, coastal and onshore environments...
below the Piz Terri. Other landslides have covered the remaining Glacier.
River systems
During snow melt and flash floods the river GlognGlenner
The Glenner is a Whitewater river in Graubünden. Glenner was also the name of a district in this area, which was annexed by Surselva District in 2001....
tends to flush away the slopes of its gorge resulting in the 1920s in the near evacuation of the Parish council Peiden on the Northern site of the Glogn. However, the construction of several reservoirs and drainage systems along its path has alleviated this danger. Several streams emerging from the surrounding mountain ridges have cut small, but partially deep ravines and gullies into the terraced plateaus of the Val Lumnezia.
Fauna
The fauna can be divided between high Alpine fauna and low Alpine fauna. At highs above 5000 ft (1,524 m) in the Val Lumnezia the marmotMarmot
The marmots are a genus, Marmota, of squirrels. There are 14 species in this genus.Marmots are generally large ground squirrels. Those most often referred to as marmots tend to live in mountainous areas such as the Alps, northern Apennines, Eurasian steppes, Carpathians, Tatras, and Pyrenees in...
and the chamois
Chamois
The chamois, Rupicapra rupicapra, is a goat-antelope species native to mountains in Europe, including the Carpathian Mountains of Romania, the European Alps, the Tatra Mountains, the Balkans, parts of Turkey, and the Caucasus. The chamois has also been introduced to the South Island of New Zealand...
are of common occurrence and the Alpine Ibex
Alpine Ibex
The Alpine ibex, , is a species of wild goat that lives in the mountains of the European Alps. In its habitat region, the species is known as bouquetin , steinbock , and stambecco ....
can be seen occasionally. Below that altitude, foxes, hares, wild boars and red deer can be found. With the onset of winter, the chamois move towards the valley. As there is a brown bear
Brown Bear
The brown bear is a large bear distributed across much of northern Eurasia and North America. It can weigh from and its largest subspecies, the Kodiak Bear, rivals the polar bear as the largest member of the bear family and as the largest land-based predator.There are several recognized...
sanctuary some Alpine valleys further to the East, in Trentino of Italy, it might occasionally happen that a bear from this sanctuary ventures through lower ranges of the Val Lumnezia. Some caves and buildings of the lower Val Lumnezia are inhabited by the Horseshoe bat
Horseshoe bat
Horseshoe bats are a family of bats. In addition to the single living genus, Rhinolophus, there is one extinct genus, Palaeonycteris. The closely related Hipposideridae are sometimes included within the horseshoe bats as a subfamily, Hipposiderinae...
(Rhinolophidae), which is a protected species.
In the higher and middle ranges of the valley several pairs of Golden Eagles have been resettled.
Airports
Both the international airports at Zürich-Kloten and Milan airport are about equidistant from the Val Lumnezia.Railways
The Railway station is located at GlionIlanz
Ilanz is a municipality in the district of Surselva in the Swiss canton of Graubünden.-History:Ilanz is first mentioned in 765 as Iliande. Ilanz became the capital of the newly formed Grey League in 1395. The Grey League was the second of Three Leagues which eventually formed canton Graubünden...
at the North-Eastern edge of the Val Lumnezia. The Rhaetian Railway line to Disentis serves the valley, with connecting services to the Swiss Federal Railways network at Chur. In addition, Glion
Ilanz
Ilanz is a municipality in the district of Surselva in the Swiss canton of Graubünden.-History:Ilanz is first mentioned in 765 as Iliande. Ilanz became the capital of the newly formed Grey League in 1395. The Grey League was the second of Three Leagues which eventually formed canton Graubünden...
is a stop for the famous Glacier Express
Glacier Express
The Glacier Express is an express train connecting railway stations of the two major mountain resorts of St. Moritz and Zermatt in the Swiss Alps. The train is operated jointly by the Matterhorn Gotthard Bahn and Rhaetian Railway...
.
Roads
The Val Lumnezia can be accessed only by the Via Principala road from GlionIlanz
Ilanz is a municipality in the district of Surselva in the Swiss canton of Graubünden.-History:Ilanz is first mentioned in 765 as Iliande. Ilanz became the capital of the newly formed Grey League in 1395. The Grey League was the second of Three Leagues which eventually formed canton Graubünden...
. Arriving from Zürich
Zürich
Zurich is the largest city in Switzerland and the capital of the canton of Zurich. It is located in central Switzerland at the northwestern tip of Lake Zurich...
and Chur
Chur
Chur or Coire is the capital of the Swiss canton of Graubünden and lies in the northern part of the canton.-History:The name "chur" derives perhaps from the Celtic kora or koria, meaning "tribe", or from the Latin curia....
, respectively, the Swiss Federal Highways A3 and A13(E43) to the San Bernardino road tunnel
San Bernardino (road tunnel)
The San Bernardino road tunnel is a road tunnel on the A13 motorway/expressway in southeastern Switzerland, completed in 1967 and replacing the San Bernardino Pass road. It begins near the town of San Bernardino, Graubünden and ends north in Hinterrhein....
have to be left at the intersection Reichenau. The Swiss National Road 19 is to be followed to Glion
Ilanz
Ilanz is a municipality in the district of Surselva in the Swiss canton of Graubünden.-History:Ilanz is first mentioned in 765 as Iliande. Ilanz became the capital of the newly formed Grey League in 1395. The Grey League was the second of Three Leagues which eventually formed canton Graubünden...
. From here the Val Lumnezia can be reached taking the Via Principala past Cumbel
Cumbel
Cumbel is a municipality in the district of Surselva in the Swiss canton of Graubünden.-History:Cumbel is first mentioned about 825 as Cumble...
into Vella
Vella
Vella is a municipality in the district of Surselva in the canton of Graubünden in Switzerland.-History:While there is some evidence of a late Bronze Age settlement and coins from the 3rd and 4th Centuries have been found, Vella is first mentioned about 840 as ad sanctum Vincentium [...] in valle...
or Vals
Vals, Switzerland
Vals is a municipality in the district of Surselva in the canton of Graubünden in Switzerland.-History:Archeological finds from the Bronze Age around the thermal baths and Tomül pass as well as Iron Age items on the slopes of the Valserberg indicate that this area was used before written history...
. Arriving from Milan
Milan
Milan is the second-largest city in Italy and the capital city of the region of Lombardy and of the province of Milan. The city proper has a population of about 1.3 million, while its urban area, roughly coinciding with its administrative province and the bordering Province of Monza and Brianza ,...
the Val Lumnezia can be reached leaving the A13(E43) at the intersection Reichenau. Arriving from Geneva
Geneva
Geneva In the national languages of Switzerland the city is known as Genf , Ginevra and Genevra is the second-most-populous city in Switzerland and is the most populous city of Romandie, the French-speaking part of Switzerland...
, Val Lumnezia can be reached via the Swiss Federal Highways A1 and A9 (E62) taking the Furka Pass
Furka Pass
Furka Pass is a high mountain pass in the Swiss Alps connecting Gletsch, Valais with Realp, Uri. The Furka-Oberalp-Bahn line through the Furka Tunnel bypasses the pass...
road, the Swiss Federal Road 19, passing the Furka pass and the Oberalp Pass
Oberalp Pass
Oberalp Pass is a high mountain pass in the Swiss Alps connecting the cantons of Graubünden and Uri between Disentis and Andermatt.-Winter closure:...
to Disentis. At Glion
Ilanz
Ilanz is a municipality in the district of Surselva in the Swiss canton of Graubünden.-History:Ilanz is first mentioned in 765 as Iliande. Ilanz became the capital of the newly formed Grey League in 1395. The Grey League was the second of Three Leagues which eventually formed canton Graubünden...
, the Swiss Federal Road 19 has to be left for the Via Prinzipala.
Councils
Val Lumnezia is a municipality of the district Surselva in Grisons. It is composed of the following councils.Skiing
There are two main skiing areas in the Val Lumnezia. The Piz Mundaun and the Piz Aul in the Valser valleyValser valley
The Valser valley is located in the canton of Graubünden in Switzerland. Originally the valley was cimply called .- Geography :The Valser valley is roughly 16 kilometers long valley. At Uors, it branches off to the south from the Val Lumnezia. The valley is drained by the Valser Rhine. There...
.
There are various ski-lifts on the northern face of the valley, connecting the Val Lumnezia to the Obersaxen
Obersaxen
Obersaxen is a municipality in the district of Surselva in the Swiss canton of Graubünden.-History:Obersaxen is first mentioned in 765 as Supersaxa though this is from a copy which dates from later...
ski area.
Buildings
- Parish Church Vrin
- Parish Church Pleif near Vella
- Municipal Building in Vella - an old manor house.
- Crap da Treis Siarps - the neolithic/megalithic monument and archaeoastronomical site below the Parish Church at Pfleif near Vella.
Events
- Open Air Val Lumnezia - Popular Rock Concert in Degen
Further reading
- Ulrich & Greti Büchi. Die Megalithe der Surselva Graubünden, Band II, Lumnezia/Valsertal. Desertina Verlag, Disentis, Switzerland, 1984.