District of Trins


The District of Trins comprises the whole left bank of the 
valley of the Vorder Rhine, from the highest point of the 
forest of Flims, as far as the Scheidtöbeli at the foot of the 
Calanda opposite the Rossboden at Chur.

	Politically the district includes the communes of 
Felsberg, Flims, Tamins and Trin.  The name is probably 
pre-Roman, but there is no exact etymology.

	Prehistoric settlement is proved by several finds, 
among which there are Neolithic finds from caves on the Calanda 
near Felsberg, and recently-discovered burial grounds of the 
late Hallstatt period.  There is also evidence from the Roman 
period.

In the early Middle Ages the Victorides possessed land at 
Flims, according to Tello's testament of 765.  At the time of 
Charlemagne the register of the Emperor's land mentions an 
estate at Flims belonging to the monastery at Pfäfcrs.  In the 
same document, dating from the first half of the 9th century, 
mention is made of Fclsberg.  In the Middle Ages the whole 
territory of the present-day district belonged to three 
different domains.

Flims was part of the territory belonging to the Barons of 
Belmont, which included a large region of the Gruob, the Lugnez 
and Vals.  The castle of the Belmont family stood on a huge 
rock near the Val Turnigla, northeast of the hamlet of Fidaz, 
which was settled by the Walsers.  After the death of the last 
Baron of Belmont the sovereign rights passed to the Duke of 
Sax-Misox, and then to the bishop.  In 1538 Flims bought the 
rights from the bishop.  Through the activities of the Capol 
family, Flims took an eminent place in the policy of the 
League, in diplomacy and in foreign service.  Their baroque 
family seat, known as the " Schlössli ", is still the 
show-piece of the village today.

In the Middle Ages, Trin, Tamins and Reichenau formed the 
domain of Hohentrins, with the castle of Sogn Parcazi above 
Trin-Porclis as its centre.  Up to 1428 it was in possession of 
the Lords of Werdenberg- Heiligenberg; it later had several 
lords, until in 1538 Rudolf von Schauenstein became its 
master.  After Trin had bought the sovereign rights in 1616 
Reichenau Castle became the seat of the now reduced domain, 
which was given the name of the new family seat.  The Emperor 
had given the Lords of Schauenstein the right to mint money, 
and after the family died out Reichenau passed into the hands 
of the Buol- Schauensteins, and in 1792 to the triumvirate 
Bavier-Vieli-Tscharner.  They founded a trading company, which 
was meant to give the band of " Patriotes ", whose aim it was 
to fight the " Oligarchy of the Aristocrats", increased 
financial support.  A school, the Seminary of Relchenau, was 
founded at the castle, where Louis Philippe, who was late, to 
become the King of France, taught as an emigrant for some time, 
under the name of Chabos.

	In May 1799 the peasants from the Oberland, who had 
risen against French rule, were victorious, but later they were 
defeated and Tamins was burnt to the ground by the French.  In 
1803 the domain was dissolved as a result of the Mediation.

	At Felsburg the Lords of Frauenberg, who had previously 
been the administrators of an estate belonging to the monastery 
at Reichenau, succeeded in gaining sovereignty over the 
domain.  In 1315 this passed to the Lords of 
Werdenberg-Sargans, and in 1368 to Ulrich Brun II of Räzüns.  
From that time on Felsburg shared the fate of the territory of 
Räzüns (cp.  District of Rhäzüns).

	Together with the possessors of the sovereign rights of 
Trin, Tamins and Flims, Felsberg joined the Grey League at 
Ilanz before the year 1400.

	Trin and Tamins-Reichenau formed one jurisdiction, 
Flims another, whereas Felsberg was part of the jurisdiction of 
Räzüns.

	After the division of the districts which took place in 
1851, Felsberg, the only Protestant village within the former 
domain of Räzüns, was joined-for obvious reasons-to the 
district of Trins, together with Flims, Trin, and Tamins, which 
had become Protestant in the first half of the 16th century.

	The linguistic situation is as follows: 
Sursilvanian-Romansh is spoken at Flims; Sutsilvanian-Romansh 
at Trin; German at Tamins and Felsberg.

Famous men from the District of Trins:

	Felix Calonder (1863-1952) from Trin was a lawyer at 
Chur.  He was a member of the Great Council and leader of the 
Radical-Democrats of the Grisons.  He was a representative in 
the Senate from 1899 to 1913,  and in 1913 he became a member 
of the Federal Council, whose president he was during the 
political crises of 1918.  After his resignation in 1920 he 
became a delegate of the League of Nations, where he had to 
deal with matters concerning Oberschlesien, which was divided 
at that time.  In his home canton, the Grisons, Calonder also 
made a name for himself as a keen promoter of RetoRomansh 
interests.

	Leonhard Ragaz (1869-1945) from Tamins, was a clergyman 
for a short time, then a teacher of religion at the Cantonal 
School.  He became the Vicar of Chur, and later was a minister 
at Basle Cathedral.  From 1908 to 1921 he was Professor of 
Theology at the University of Zurich.  He is looked upon as the 
founder and leader of the religious-social movement in 
Switzerland.

District Coat of Arms: Gold, three-part sinister sable steps (Belmont 
steps).  Blazonry: The coat of arms was suggested by the district 
authorities, acting on a proposal made by Prof.  Dr. Bertogg, and 
shows the importance of the rule of the Belmont family.  The colours 
are those of the Belmonts.  Colours of the District: yellow-black.