Glurns was mentioned in documents in 1163 for the first time as a village. The little town itself was founded by Meinhard II. In 1294 it was first described as a “burgum” and in 1304 it was directly granted the status of a city. Together with the main square and the houses adjoining it from the west, the Laubengasse (street with arcades), leading from east to west with its two rows of houses, formed the heart of the old walled settlement. In the 16th century the “village of Glurns” comprised the scattered property to the north-west, which was incorporated within the ring wall together with a wide strip of land. Today the architectural character of the 16th century dominates the scene. The most important building from the Middle Ages is located in the south-west corner of the town and was the seat of the bailiff.