Val Medel


The Val Medel is a righthand side valley of the Surselva valley in Graubünden, Switzerland. It is approximately long and stretches from Disentis to the south, where it ends at Lai da Sontga Maria reservoir on Lukmanier Pass. There is a road through the valley and over Lukmanier Pass into Ticino.
The lower of the valley contains a narrow gorge, known as the Medelserschluch or Las Ruinas, which widens to the green and fertile Trog valley at the village of Curaglia.

Settlements

The only municipality in the valley is Medel, which encompasses the numerous villages, hamlets and isolated settlements on both sides of the valley. The largest and most northerly village is Curaglia. Other settlements are Mutschnengia, Platta, Pardes, and Fuorns Acla. The whole municipality stretches over, of which over is unproductive.

Language and religion

An intermediate form between the Disentis and Tujetsch dialects of the Sursilvan language is spoken in the Val Medel. The vast majority of the population is Catholic.

Waters

The river Froda flows through the uppermost portion of the valley. It begins in the Lai da Sontga Maria reservoir. At the hamlet of Pardatsch, the Froda merges with the Rein da Cristallina, to form the Rein da Medel, which flows into the Anterior Rhine at Disentis. Many small tributaries flow into Rein da Medel from both sides.

Side Valleys

At Curaglia the Val Plattas branches off to the south east. Near Pardatsch, the Val Cristallina branchess off, also to the south east.

Gallery