Tiefencastel is a picturesquely situated village (parish church of 1660), at the confluence of the Julia and the Albula and at an important road junction. From here one road leads south over the Julier (Guglia) pass to Silvaplana and another goes east over the Albula pass to La Punt-Chamues-ch.
From Valbella the road runs north over the Acl'
Alva pass (1,549 m/5,082ft), also known as the Valbella saddle or the Lenzerheide pass, which marks the linguistic boundary between German and Romansch (fine view of the Oberhalbstein Mountains).