Places of magic - Vella

The tour starts on the village square, with the village fountain (1), the Sogn Roc chapel (3) and the Casti de Mont (2). It continues past the playground in the direction of the old people's home. Below the village, at the junction, you can turn right to the Caplutta viewpoint with the holy niche (4). From there you have a particularly beautiful panoramic view of the surrounding villages and the Gallows Hill (5). Return to the fork in the path. In just a few minutes you will reach Pleif (8) with the Cresta da Tgauns (6), the valley church of Sogn Vintschegn (7) and the avenue of ash trees (9). Walk back to the village square on the nature trail along the secluded edge of the forest.

1 the large village fountain with the statue of Nossadunna, the Mother of God, used to be an important meeting place. The water is invigorating and at the same time restorative and can help to balance the body if drunk regularly.

2 The Casti de Mont was rebuilt by Margaretha von Mont in 1666 after a fire. Before the fire, an older stone house of unknown date stood in its place. The house has been a listed building since 1982. The energy levels are neither high nor consistently upright. The castle is not open to the public.

3 The chapel was donated in 1587 by the district judge Gallus von Mont during a plague epidemic. The depiction of St. Cristoffel is by the famous Graubünden painter Alois Carigiet. In the church at the high altar and in the church tower you will find high powers.

4 Caplutta means something like “chapel”. The statue of St. Joseph is venerated by the locals and invoked in times of need. It is a light and holy place. The birch trees are surprisingly light and airy. Feel the relieving energy and the fresh “breath” under the birch trees.

5 the steeply sloping hilltop to the south is the gallows hill of La Fuortga. View the hill from the saint's niche and do not walk through the meadows. No particularly heavy energies can be felt on the gallows hill today. This may be because high and uplifting local energies are able to regenerate over time.

6 At Cresta da Tgauns, witches were mercilessly executed and burned in the Middle Ages. The energies here are high and draining, a mixture that is not good for you. Therefore, do not linger.

7 the valley church of Sogn Vintschegn is a place of silence with high levels of natural energy. The test indicates a pre-Christian place of worship.

8 It is no coincidence that the valley church is located in Pleif, because from here you have a view and power over the whole area as far as the Vals Valley to the south. Many water veins flow here.

9 It is no coincidence that the valley church is surrounded by ash trees The ash tree is regarded as the world tree Yggdrasil, the link between life and death. The radiance of the ash tree exerts a will-strengthening influence and can awaken the mystical power in people.

In collaboration with Lumnezia Turissem, the Swiss Places of Power research center has tested 66 special places in the region and documented them in 12 hiking routes. Information on the routes can be found in the book “Places of Magic”, which is available from the Vella information office.

The Sogn Vintschegn church in Pleif is closed. On weekdays you can get the key at the information office (note opening hours). On Saturday, Sunday and public holidays the church is open from approx. 8.00 - 18.00 hrs.