The District of Alvaschein

	The District of Alvaschein includes that part of the 
Albula valley which stretches from the district boundary 
between Surava and Tiefenkastel and from Crap Sés to Schin, as 
well as the whole of the territory of the commune of 
Vaz/Obervaz which stretches across the Lenzerheide to a point 
above Parpan.  It is made up of the political communes of 
Alvaschein, Mon, Mutten, Stierva, Tiefenkastel and Vaz/Obervaz.

	The name Alvaschein is derived from the name Lupicinus, 
which was commonly found in old Rhaetia.

	The historical importance of the territory is due 
mainly to its geographical situation, because it is here that 
the Julier route crosses the river.

	That the area was inhabited in prehistoric times is 
proved by the fortified settlement dating from the Bronze Age 
excavated by Walo Burkart on the Plattas, a rocky plateau.  
Excavations which have just been completed on the site of the 
former monastery of St. Peter at Mistail have brought to light 
a fragment of a Roman altar.  This is not surprising as there 
is evidence of the Julier pass in Roman route maps of that time.

	During the reign of Charlemagne Tiefenkastel was a 
fortified settlement known as Castellum Impitinis, and it was 
the administrative centre of the colony of the same name.  
There is also some evidence that the nunnery of St. Peter at 
Mistail was founded at the same time, and the old name of the 
nunnery "monasterium wapitines" or "impetinis" shows its 
connection with nearby Tiefenkastel.  The nunnery belonged to 
the Bishops of Chur and several of them robbed it of many of 
its possessions; as a result it was dissolved in 1154.  Only 
the church remains today.  It is a Caroline building with 3 
apses, and the original structure is remarkably well 
preserved.  The results of the recent excavations will 
certainly throw new light on the history of the nunnery.

	In the Middle Ages the territory of the present-day 
district belonged to two lords:
	Obervaz, Mutten and Stürvis were part of the domain of 
the Barons of Vaz, who originally had their seat there.  It was 
most probably the Barons of Vaz who settled Walsers at Mutten.  
The Walsers belonged to the group from the Hinterrhein.  After 
the death of the last Baron of Vaz in 1338 this territory was 
inherited by the Dukes of Werdenberg-Sargans, who sold it to 
the Bishop in 1456.  It was only in 1803, at the time of the 
Mediation, that the last sovereign rights were dissolved.
	Tiefenkastel, Mon and Alvaschein were part of the 
Bishop's own sovereign territory in Overhalbstein.  These 
sovereign rights were given to the people of the valley as the 
result of a verdict by the League of God's House in 1552.

	At the time of the League of God's House the 
present-day district court was made up of two jurisdictions, 
which belonged to two different High Courts.  The jurisdiction 
of Tiefenkastel, with the communes of Tiefenkastel, Mon and 
Alvaschein, was part of the High Court of Oberhalbstein, whilst 
the jurisdiction of Obervaz, with Obervaz, Stierva and Mutten, 
belonged to the High Court of Greifenstein.

	During the Reformation only Mutten became Protestant.  
During the Counter-reformation Tiefenkastel was the centre of 
the Capuchin Mission.  The imposing churches that they built 
have contributed much to the character of the valley.

	The Revolution brought the French General Lecourbe to 
Tiefenkastel, and it was here that his division was split into 
two parts in order to advance across the Julier and the Albula 
simultaneously.  Later he was defeated by the Austrian 
Field-Marshal Bellegarde and was forced to retreat across the 
Albula.  These were hard times for the local people, who 
suffered as a result of the advancing and retreating armies in 
their vicinity.

	In 1851 the jurisdiction of Tiefenkastel was separated 
from the High Court of Oberhalbstein and, together with the 
High Court of Greifenstein (which was separated from the 
jurisdiction of Obervaz) was joined to the district of 
Alvaschein.

	The language of the district is the Surmir dialect of 
Romansh, with the exception of the German-speaking Walser 
community at Mutten.

Well-known people of Alvaschein:

	Johann Bossi (1874-1956) from Alvaschein settled in 
Chur after taking his degree as Doctor of Law.  In 1905 he 
represented Chur in the Great Council, where he made a name for 
himself as a shrewd and experienced speaker.  In 1915 he was 
elected to parliament.  From 1919 to 1943 he was a member of 
the National Council.  He was President of the Board of 
Governors of the Corpus Catholicum, and his services to the 
Catholic Church won him lasting appreciation.

	District Coat of Arms:  Divided, upper part 6 pieces 
azure and silver, bottom gules, triple towered crenellated 
castel silver with gate.  Blazonry:  The district goes back to 
the jurisdiction of Obervaz and Tiefenkastel.  The coat of arms 
symbolises the union of the two courts by combining various 
elements from both coats of arms:  the pieces and colours refer 
to the Barons of Vaz, whilst the castle in the lower half of 
the shield refers to the name of Tiefenkastel.  District 
colours are those of Vaz: Blue-white-red.