Vrin combines hikes to the Greina with a distinctive village history. Two aspects of the village are especially tangible: the paths into the high-alpine area and the local building and mourning traditions. Vrin is a mountain farming village with extensive alpine pastures; when choosing a tour, the main factors are the destination, the season and the rating of the specific route.
Greina, hiking trails and a winter tour
The Greina has been a protected area since 1996. It is a high-alpine plateau that is not used for agriculture, with alpine plants and diverse wildlife. The route from Vrin to Capanna Scaletta features a wide variety of plant life; marmots can be spotted along the way, and, with a little luck, chamois and ibex too.
The first stage of the three-day tour through the Greina to Lukmanier Pass leads from Vrin to Capanna Scaletta. Another hiking route starts in Vrin and goes via the hamlet of Puzzatsch to Diesrut Pass at the foot of PĂ©z Ner. The destinations are therefore clearly distinct: Capanna Scaletta is the goal of the first stage of a multi-day tour, while the other trail leads to Diesrut Pass.
A winter option is the PĂ©z da Vrin snowshoe tour. It starts in the village, crosses the alpine meadows of Prada to Alp Dado, and is rated WT3 (difficult). This rating provides a specific point of reference when choosing a route; winter conditions along the route can vary.
For hikes into the Greina, the Alpine Bus runs from Vrin to Puzzatsch/Parvalsauns, taking passengers directly to trailheads. Its service may vary by season, so it is worth checking the timetable before planning. The bus connection adds another way to reach starting points in the Greina to the routes described above.
The Lumnezia as a wider setting
Vrin is one of the villages in the Lumnezia, the largest side valley of the Surselva. Thanks to the absence of through traffic, the broad, sunny alpine valley retains its unspoilt landscape. In summer, the Lumnezia offers an extensive network of hiking and biking trails through its natural and cultural landscape. A hiking bus makes it easier to reach the Triel mid-station or Alp Sèzner.
This regional selection complements the routes to the Greina with more opportunities for hiking and biking. It is helpful to distinguish between them: the Greina routes mentioned start in Vrin; the summer network and the hiking bus connection to Triel or Alp Sèzner are in the Lumnezia.
Village history and the Stiva da morts
Vrin was founded by Romans who came from Lumbrein in the High and Late Middle Ages. The village is first mentioned in 1208 or 1209 in a letter from Pope Innocent III. The history of the village can also be traced through its architecture and the traditions associated with it.
The Stiva da morts, Vrin’s mortuary chapel, is open to visitors; the key is in the church, to the left of the entrance. In 2003, Gion A. Caminada designed the mortuary chapel as an architectural response to Vrin’s mourning traditions. The building was made using wood from forests near Vrin, which craftspeople worked in workshops in the village. mira!cultura also offers guided tours of Vrin.
Discover more destinations: Obersaxen, Tujetsch, Morissen, Suraua, Cumbels, Vignogn, Falera, Schluein.
For the broader travel overview: Surselva.
