District of Lugnez



Romansh name Lumnezia



	Geographically speaking the District of Lugnez includes 
the river valleys of the Glenner and the Valser Rhine down to 
the narrowing of the valley south of Ilanz; it includes 
Surcuolm on the terrace at Obersaxen, but excludes the 
territories of the communes of Riein and Pitasch which, 
politically and historically, belong to the District of Ilanz.  
Politically speaking the District of Lugnez comprises the 
Romansh communes of Camuns, Cumbel, Duvin, Igels, Lumbrein, 
Morissen, St. Martin, Surcasti, Surcuolm, Tersnaus, 
Uors-Peiden, Vigens, Villa, Vrin; the only German-speaking 
commune is that of Vals.

	The name Lugnez/Lumnezia is derived from the ancient 
tribe of the Lepontii.

	Archeologists have excavated Bronze Age settlements on 
the Crestaulta hill at Surrin, near Lumbrein.  They have also 
proved that the thermal springs at Vals were known at that 
time.  This is sufficient proof of a prehistoric settlement in 
this region.  On the other hand the Roman period has left few 
traces.  Documents of the early Middle Ages show that Lugnez 
was a well-organised and intensively-cultivatcd district.  The 
main village of the valley after the time of Charlemagne was 
Villa, which was the economic centre of the King's 
territories.  The church which served the valley was founded 
here after the 6th century, and maintained its position as 
mother church of the parish of Lugnez/Vals for many centuries.  
Towards the end of the Middle Ages the Bishop of Chur was the 
most important landowner and held the sovereign rights, which 
he leased to the Barons of Belmont.  Their popularity with the 
people of the valley was a great asset to them when, during one 
of the many conflicts in the 14th century between the feudal 
lords, they needed the support of the people to ward off the 
attacks of the Dukes of Werdenberg-Heiligenberg and of 
Montfort, who were trying to take possession of the land. it is 
said that the women of Lugnez distinguished themselves at 
Porclas in 1352.  In the middle of the 14th century the Bishop 
of Chur ordered farmers from the Hinter Rhine valley to settle 
in the valley of Vals.  Their energy to expand soon threatened 
the Romansh character of the people of Lugnez, who tried to 
stop their advances in 1457 by prohibiting the sale of land to 
them, and by forbidding marriage to them.  Together with the 
Dukes of Sax-Misox, who became the bailiffs after the Barons of 
Belmont had died out, the people of Lugnez joined the Grey 
League at Ilanz in 1395.  Their special mention in the Charter 
seems to indicate that they enjoyed considerable political 
independence.  After 1483 the bishop handed over most of the 
jurisdiction to the members of the Mont family, who became 
famous far beyond the confines of the valley; the family 
prouced a succession of men who became noblemen and magistrates 
in the Valtellina; one was a bishop, and another a general in 
the service of Napoleon. 

	In 1538 the people of Lugnez and Vals bought the 
sovereign rights from the bishop.  Both communes of the valley 
were now free members of the Grey League, each of them with its 
own jurisdiction, its own bailiff (Romansh: mistral) and its 
own civil court.  With regard to criminal law, they were both 
united in the High Court of Lugnez/Vals.

	Protestantism was only accepted in nearby Duvin, and 
during the conflicts in the Grisons the pro-Spanish attitude of 
the Mont family brought political peace to the district.  The 
17th and 18th centuries are above all characterised by Baroque 
architecture, by great literary activity in ecclesiastical 
matters centred in Cumbels, and by interest in mercenary 
service. 

	The 19th century saw the unification of the two supreme 
courts of Lugnez and Vals to a single one at Lugnez, as laid 
down in the Bill of 1851.

 	The 20th century brought new economic life, especially 
to Vals, due to the construction of the power station at 
Zerfreila and modern exploitation of the hot springs and 
mineral waters.

Famous personalities from Lugnez:

	Prince Bishop Ulrich VI of Mont (1661-1692) came from 
the well-known noble family at Villa.  As Bishop of Chur he 
promoted Baroque architecture, founded many elementary schools, 
and above all, supported Romansh religious writing.

	Dr. Johann Joseph Jürger (1860-1933) Psychiatrist and 
head of the asylum at Chur.  He is well known for his work on 
psychiatric family records, but above all for his literary work 
in the Vals dialect.

	District Coat of Arms: Gold, St. Mauritius in skyblue 
with silver halo, sitting on sable horse, carrying a skyblue 
flag with suspended silver cross.  Blazonry: At the time of 
Bishop Heinrich VI of Hewen (1491-1503) the High Court and the 
valley of Lugnez already had the flag of Mauritius on horseback 
carrying a flag with a cross.  Besides this there are two other 
flags, one with the crowned Madonna carrying the Child, ground 
in skyblue, the other showing the coat of arms of Heinrich of 
Hewen, Bishop of Chur.  District colours: yellow-blue-white.