Discover Cumbels: village history and trails

Cumbel is a village in the municipality of Lumnezia in the canton of Graubünden, located in Val Lumnezia southwest of Ilanz. This elongated street village lies on the southeastern slope of Piz Mundaun. Its various sights and routes offer concrete points of interest.

Village centre, church and art

Thanks to the preservation and gentle renovation of its old buildings, the elongated village centre still has a distinct historic character. An important part of it is the parish church of St. Stephen. Originally built in the Late Gothic style in the early 16th century, the church also has a Baroque style. Its history can also be seen in its decoration: early Baroque sgraffiti depict architectural motifs, while the wall paintings include a scene of the Battle of 1352. They are believed to be the work of Hans Ardüser, a travelling muralist from Davos.

The chapel of Sogn Murezi in Valgronda is another historical landmark. It stands at the entrance to Val Lumnezia and is one of the oldest places of worship in the valley. It was first mentioned around 840 in the Carolingian land register. Cumbel itself was also first mentioned in a document around 840; the imperial land register of Louis the Pious also names the Church of St. Maurice in Valgronda. Archaeological traces in Cumbel include four pre-Christian graves. By contrast, Roman traces elsewhere in Val Lumnezia are sparse and limited to finds of coins and pottery shards. These two accounts therefore refer to different periods and types of finds.

Valgronda is also home to La Piedra, a stone sculpture by Mexican artist Paloma Torres. Together with the chapel, it offers another perspective on the hamlet: a contemporary artwork and a historic religious building stand side by side at a named location.

Hillside setting and valley

Cumbel’s location on the southeastern slope of Piz Mundaun and its layout as a street village shape its setting. Since 2013, Cumbel has been a political district of the valley municipality of Lumnezia. Cumbel has a continental Alpine climate, with abundant sunshine and little precipitation. Cumbel lies on the southeastern slope of Piz Mundaun; the climate is continental Alpine, with abundant sunshine and little precipitation.

Hiking and outdoor activities

The Cumbel–Vella–Peiden–Cumbel hike is a 9.9-kilometre circular route. Its difficulty is listed as moderate, T1. Along the way, it passes through meadows, pastures, and coniferous and deciduous forests. Its length, circular format and stated difficulty can help you assess whether this route is right for you. Check trail conditions before setting out.

For winter, the Cumbel–Sogn Carli snowshoe tour is another option. It starts in Cumbel, with the trailhead just before the Plaun Rueun picnic area. Access in winter depends on conditions, so check them for your planned visit.

The Lumnezia cross-country training course in Cumbel has a 2.4-kilometre trail network. It includes two downhill trails of varying difficulty, an uphill trail and two traverses. The course combines natural obstacles such as rock fields, root-covered sections and hairpin turns with bike-park features: berms, jumps, drops and North Shore-style trails. Access and safety conditions may change; check them before riding.

Another outdoor activity is the 1.7-kilometre Vita course. It starts at the Plaun Rueun barbecue area, about a ten-minute walk above Cumbel. The course alternates between flexibility, strength and endurance exercises. Compared with the 9.9-kilometre circular hike, it is the shorter marked route and offers its own mix of exercises. This lets you choose between a longer circular tour through varied landscapes and a course with a range of exercises.

The Plaun Rueun fire pit is on the edge of the forest, about a 15-minute walk from Cumbel. It has a covered barbecue area, a semi-open shelter and a fire pit with seating. The site also includes a playground with a swing, slide and playhouse, as well as tables, benches and a toilet. Facilities may change over time; check before your visit if needed.

Discover more destinations: Rueun, Andiast, Tujetsch, Tenna, Schluein, Vals, Versam, Laax.

For the broader travel overview: Surselva.