Neolithic and Megalithic Period In the
Neolithic times the valley was probably inhabited by
Chalcolithic (Copper Age)
Europeans. Witness to this is the
Crap da Treis Siarps, the "Three Snakes Stone", a remnant of a Neolithic or Bronze Age
Megalithic monument. It can be found at the slope of the Glogn gorge east of the Parish church of Pleif. Although the other megaliths of this monument have substantially weathered, the "Three Snakes Stone" is well preserved. It has three snakes and a half moon engraved, hinting at its use as either a burial site or as an
archaeoastronomical site.
Roman Times During Roman times Lumnezia was probably inhabited by a
Celtic tribe known as the
Helvetii. It was a part of the
Roman Province of
Rhaetia. However, as there were hardly any natural resources in the valley and the alpine crossing into the
Ticino would have been difficult, there are no significant archaeological finds of this period.
Middle Ages Chronicles of the early
Middle Ages mention the Lumnezia because of its fertile soils and advantageous climate. In several sheltered parishes, such as
Peiden peaches and
grapes were grown. In the 6th century AD the parish church at Pleif near
Vella was built. At about this time the valley became a
domain of
Bishopric Chur, with its inhabitants living in serfdom to the bishops at
Chur. At around 1,200 AD the
Valser Valley, a side valley of the Val Lumnezia, was settled by an
Alemannic tribe known as the
Walsers. With the foundation of the
Grey League in the 14th century, the valley emancipated itself politically.
Reformation and Enlightenment 1538 AD the citizens of the Val Lumnezia bought themselves off the feudal ownership. The parishes of the valley became autonomous and the feudal domains became partially private property. Within the Grey League legislatives and juridical councils emerged in the form of confederations comprising several parish councils — one of which became the municipality Lumnezia. This had, in particular, economical advantages, as the valley was then autonomous, being able to supply itself with food and goods. Across the Greina high plain, the cattle trade was done with cities as far afield as
Milan in
Italy. As a bastion against the emerging
Protestantism which has spread across Northern and Western Switzerland, the
Holy See established 1621 AD a
Rhaetian
Capuchin congregation to spread the
Counter-Reformation across the Val Lumnezia. This had the effect, that still today, the valley is conservative
Roman Catholic, with sacred buildings, such as
baroque churches dominating the landscape.
Industrial Age The construction of the road to
Ilanz for
stagecoaches in 1890 connected the Lumnezia to the infrastructure of the
Vorderrhein valley and the Swiss railway network.
Cumbel Cumbel is first mentioned about 825 as
Cumble. Until 1983, the municipality was officially known as
Cumbels.
Degen Degen is first mentioned about 840 as
Higenae/Egenae. Rumein was mentioned at about the same time as
villa Ramnensis, and in 1325 Vattiz was mentioned as
Vatigis.
Lumbrein The Crestaulta hill near the hamlet of Surin was occupied since at least the early
Bronze Age (c. 2000-1700/1600 BC). However, Lumbrein is first mentioned about 850 as
in villa Lamarine though this comes from a 16th-century copy of an earlier and now lost document. In 1231 it was mentioned as
de Lumarins.
Morissen Morissen is first mentioned in 1210 as
Mureizens.
Suraua The municipality was formed on 1 January 2002 through the merger of Camuns, Surcasti, Tersnaus, and Uors-Peiden. Camuns is first mentioned in 1543 as
Gamundtz. Surcasti is first mentioned in 1515 as
Oberkastels and until 1943 it was known by its German name of
Obercastels. Tersnaus is first mentioned in 1362 as
Terzenaus. Uors was first mentioned in 831 as
villa Vorce, and in 1290 as
Furze. Peiden was first mentioned in 1345 as
Pedens.
Vignogn Vignogn is first mentioned in 1325 as
Vinanne. In 1469 it was mentioned as
Viends.
Vella While there is some evidence of a late
Bronze Age settlement and coins from the 3rd and 4th centuries have been found, Vella is first mentioned about 840 as
ad sanctum Vincentium [...] in valle Leguntia. In 1290-98 it was mentioned as
ad Ville, aput Villam. The village church was the center of a
parish that covered the entire valley. However, about 1300
Vals separated from the parish due to the desire of
Walser German speaking
Walser immigrants to have their own religious leadership. Over the following centuries, most of the other villages in the valley also separated from the Vella parish (the most recent being Peiden in 1910). Due to the village's function as a religious center and the power of a local
patrician family,
de Mont, Vella grew to be the most powerful village in the valley. Since 1887, it has been home to the sub-district secondary school.
Vrin Vrin is first mentioned in 1208 as
Varin. ==Geography==