Urmein: Hiking Trails, Village History and Lake Patrutg

Urmein is a political municipality in the Viamala region of the canton of Graubünden. A clustered village on the Heinzenberg, it lies west of Thusis. The municipal area includes the holiday village of Oberurmein, at an altitude of 1,527 to 1,609 metres. If you are looking for a hotel in Urmein, seasonal activities and destinations in Urmein and Oberurmein can help shape your travel plans. First consider whether village history, hiking or the leisure area around Lake Patrutg is your main focus.

Landscape and Historic Routes

The Nolla flows through a deeply incised gorge south of the village. To the west rises the Glaser Grat, at 2,124 metres. Beyond the Nolla Gorge, the municipal area climbs to near the Zwölfihorn, at 2,280 metres. The municipal area also contains two protected alluvial zones: the regional Nollaaue near Casellis (object no. 1266) and the national alluvial zone near Garieinz (object no. 410). The place names and elevations give an impression of the varied landscape within the municipality.

Urmein’s historic setting can also be understood through its routes. The village was once the last stop on the route from Chur via Rhäzüns and Präz through the upper villages of the Heinzenberg. From there, the route continued through the Nolla valley to Schams or over the Glaspass to the Safien Valley. These connections are part of the village’s history; they describe the route as it ran at the time and are not necessarily present-day hiking trails.

Village History and Culture

In the 12th century, Urmein was mentioned in its earliest recorded form as “Hof Urmein,” formerly Ormen. The place appears as an estate in a papal document issued at the Lateran in Rome. In it, the pontiff of the time placed the possessions of Cazis Abbey under his protection. Urmein’s church was built from 1720 to 1722; since 1725, Urmein has had its own parish. These milestones provide a timeline for the village’s development without requiring a lengthy chronology.

The exhibition church in Urmein regularly hosts exhibitions. If you plan a visit, check the current exhibition programme. The Urmein market also remained in the stories of earlier generations as the last vestige of a bygone era. It is therefore part of the village’s recorded history, not an indication that a market is held regularly today.

Hiking and Time at Lake Patrutg

Urmein has a network of summer and winter hiking trails with views over the Domleschg. Lake Patrutg is in Oberurmein and is a family recreation area. The grounds include a play stream, a children’s swimming lake, a play and sunbathing lawn, five fire pits with seating areas, a playground, a boat and bathing jetty, and a wheelchair-accessible toilet. A path suitable for pushchairs runs around the grounds. These facilities make a visit to the lake different from a hike through the surrounding landscape.

At an altitude of 1,609 metres above sea level, Lake Patrutg has a natural ice rink. Weather permitting, it is open daily from Christmas until the beginning of March. This seasonal opening period gives winter travel plans a timeframe; check opening information and weather conditions before travelling. Summer and winter hiking trails are also useful to know about, while access to the natural ice rink depends on the season and weather.

Getting There and Local Products

By car, you can reach Lake Patrutg via Urmein and Oberurmein in the direction of Lüsch. Oberurmein is also accessible by PostBus. Check the timetable before travelling; road and trail conditions can vary by season. In Oberurmein, Laada am Berg sells local products and a wide range of specialities from the immediate area. Product availability may vary seasonally. When planning, you can choose between hiking, visiting the lake and stopping by for local products, without assuming that these destinations are associated with a particular accommodation or its facilities.

Discover More Destinations

Oberurmein, Rodels, Sufers, Donath, Splügen, Rothenbrunnen, Trans, Cazis

For the higher-level travel overview: Hinterrhein.