The Glenner, called Glogn in Romansh, is around 29 kilometres long and is a major tributary of the Vorderrhein. Further downstream, it flows through or past several settlements in Val Lumnezia and eventually reaches Ilanz. This river gives the destination a specific geographical point of reference; the landscapes and cultural sites of the Surselva also offer different perspectives on the region.
High plateaus, high valleys and the Rhine Gorge
The Surselva stretches from the area around the source of the Rhine in the west to the Rhine Gorge in the east. To the south, its landscape includes the Greina plateau and Beverin Nature Park; to the north lies the high valley of Val Frisal. The region thus spans everything from open, high-altitude landscapes to the gorge on the Vorderrhein.
The Greina plateau lies 2,200 metres above sea level and is around six kilometres long and one kilometre wide. It is protected and forms part of the Federal Inventory of Landscapes and Natural Monuments of National Importance. Five different routes lead up to the plateau; the Alpine Bus can shorten some hikes. The bus operates seasonally. The Alpine Bus Greina connects Vrin with Puzzatsch and Parvalsauns in Lumnezia, and Rabius with Runcahez in Val Sumvitg. Reservations are required for these connections; check operating dates before travelling.
Val Frisal above Brigels offers a different high-mountain landscape: the high valley lies at an altitude of 1,900 metres and is three kilometres long. It is listed in Switzerland’s inventory of fens and glacier forefields. Val Frisal is also home to Europe’s highest-altitude spruce primeval forest. Its altitude, length and protected status give the valley a character all its own, clearly distinct from the expansive Greina plateau.
The Rhine Gorge is also part of the region’s landscape. It was formed around 10,000 years ago by the Flims rockslide, described as the largest rockslide in the Alps. A well-maintained network of hiking trails runs through forests and alluvial areas along the Vorderrhein to viewpoints. The Rhine Gorge can also be explored by inflatable boat, canoe or kayak; providers and conditions vary.
Hiking trails and nature watching
The Surselva has more than 1,200 kilometres of marked hiking trails, including themed trails as well as longer treks and long-distance hikes. Two specific duration estimates illustrate the different scales: the Casti Grotta–Ognas da Pardiala circular hike is 14 kilometres long and takes about four hours and 20 minutes; the Senda Sursilvana is a 105-kilometre multi-day route for which five days are indicated. This makes it possible to choose between a single circular hike and a longer traverse.
For shorter themed discoveries, the faszinaturWeg Rhine Gorge leads to seven stops. Stories and observation activities introduce visitors to nature, geology and history. The Ognas da Pardiala nature reserve is an alluvial landscape of national importance covering around 100 hectares. Rare songbirds such as the hoopoe, whinchat and red-backed shrike have been spotted there. These sightings add to the experience of the alluvial landscape, though encounters with wildlife cannot be guaranteed.
Museums, churches and village history
The Museum Regiunal Surselva is the Surselva’s cultural history museum. The Museum Sursilvan Cuort Ligia Grischa offers a different historical perspective: built in 1679 on the orders of Disentis Abbey, it served as the town hall of the Grey League. Its coat-of-arms hall, also known as the Landrichter Hall, is the centrepiece of the museum. The permanent exhibition includes original works by Alois Carigiet, Matias Spescha, Gieri Schmed and Sora Gielia Degonda.
In Lumnezia, Casa d’Angel has been the municipality’s cultural centre since 2015. A new exhibition is created there each year in collaboration with Fundaziun Capauliana and changing curators. The crystal group “Sun of Péz Regina” weighs 950 kilograms and is on permanent display in the entrance area of the cultural centre in Lumbrein. Village, house and crystal tours are also available by prior arrangement outside opening hours; confirm the current arrangements in advance.
Architecture and art history can also be explored at individual sites. Caplutta Sogn Benedetg was inaugurated in 1989 and designed by Peter Zumthor. The Protestant parish church in Waltensburg features a Passion cycle and a Last Judgement fresco dating from 1450/51.
Valendas combines village history with a 14-stop walking tour. It begins in the village square by Europe’s largest wooden fountain; its fountain post features a water nymph dating from 1760. The village has a townscape of national importance, with historic, imposing patrician houses. A permanent exhibition in the historic stable of the Jooshuus is dedicated to the history and development of Valendas. The tour thus brings together a striking fountain, the village’s buildings and a closer look at its past.
Discover more destinations: Albula, Maloja, Prättigau-Davos, Surselva, Plessur, Inn, Imboden, Landquart.
For the overview of the wider region: GraubĂĽnden.
