Due to Via Claudia Augusta the settlement here was of strategic importance already in Roman times. End of the 13th century Glurns was a "burgum", a fortified place.

That did not help, when after the Battle of Calven (1499) the victorious troops from Graubünden looted the town and set it on fire. The town got rebuilt and a new fortification was planned. The city wall, that still completely surrounds Glurns was completed in 1580.

Some of the streets have these nice arcades.