Summer Information 2022 by Montafon Tourismus GmbH

MIT WEITSICHT NACH VORNE.

raiba-bludenz-montafon.at

Contents Grüaß Di im Muntafu

Montafon Alpine Mosaic

Safe hiking

Madrisella via ferrata

Practised sustainability in the Montafon

Circumnavigate the Verwall on an e-MTB

The heartbeat of the Montafon

Infrastructure projects in the Montafon

Montafon culture

A sustainable approach to the future of tourism

Panoramic map

Montafon cookbook

My Montafon online magazine

Montafon podcast

Looking forward to winter 2022/23

MONTAFON

GRÜASS DI IM MUNTAFU (Welcome to the Montafon)

70 cm tall and the greatest pride of the Montafon People from the Montafon are humble, proud, honest and strong. Perhaps it is these very properties that are reflected in their own breed of sheep: the Montafon Steinschaf (stone sheep).

This small, graceful animal with its pretty straight nose, which gives it a childlike element, is remarkably undemanding. It copes well with rough weather and little food, it is diligent, lively and friendly. It has a wonderfully shiny coat. Besides the Montafon cattle, the modest Montafon sheep is the only other breed of animal to originate from Vorarlberg. There is a need to preserve that which is so typical of the Montafon – people are aware of the value of their culture here. That is why some enthusiasts of the stone sheep, such as Martin Mathies and Peter Kasper, took to the task when it was almost extinct. It is thanks to them that there are now several small flocks in the Montafon. The number of breeders has now even doubled since 2011. Montafon Steinschaf products Thanks to its quality, the untreated wool of the Montafon Steinschaf is renowned

well beyond the borders of the Montafon. A wide variety of traditional and modern products is now produced from the untreated or felted wool. Here is a small selection: ■ Sheep’s wool cushion (D’s Schofwoll-Pfülfli) with health-promoting lanolin ■ Rugs intricately crafted by hand ■ Shoe insoles for everyone who complains about getting cold feet You can find all breeders and products at

montafon.at/steinschaf

Grüaß Di im Muntafu 8

HIKING

ROCK CLIMBING

Deeply relaxed and highly active

Where no two rocks are alike

In the Montafon, you simply can’t walk anywhere near as much as you’d like to hike: to the loveliest meadows of flowers and herbs, on old smugglers' trails, on the trail of the chamois, to alpine pastures and shelter chalets, along ridges and to summits. 1,220 kilometres of signposted hiking trails allow you to explore the mountain ranges of Verwall, Silvretta and Rätikon. Whether it’s with a guide or on your own, sporty or leisurely, on exposed inclines or with children in pushchairs – you’re sure to find your ideal route in the Montafon. ■ 1,220 kilometres of hiking trails ■ Over 40 idyllic chalets and alpine pastures ■ 280 hiking tours at touren.montafon.at from easy to difficult ■ 30 special themed trails ■ 20 cableways with the Montafon Brandnertal Card

You can do it inside or outside, on low walls or high peaks, on rock or on ice, on long ridges or on vertical walls – climbing is a sport with virtually unlimited facets! It’s a good thing that the Montafon mountain guides are on the go seven days a week to take you safely up and down the climbing gardens, via ferratas and climbing mountains. ■ 24 via ferratas – from easy to challenging ■ 8 climbing gardens for taking in that first fresh breath of mountain air ■ Tour up Piz Buin, Vorarlberg’s highest mountain ■ Impressive glacier tours in the Silvretta ■ Climbing tours on the Rätikon’s most legendary routes

MUNICH 246

STUTTGART

GERMANY

ZURICH

BREGENZ

BLUDENZ

INNSBRUCK 130

SWITZERLAND ITALY

(E-)MOUNTAIN BIKING

BERGEPLUS

Discovering the most desirable alpine spots

Experience your BergePLUS summer

Twittering birds at dawn, quietly splashing streams and loudly rushing rivers, warm sunlight on your skin and the breathtaking view into the valley You can discover desirable alpine spots in the Montafon together – no matter whether you’re pedalling hard uphill or coasting down in total relaxation. Guided tours will take you along the loveliest routes to the highest viewing points, all entirely to suit your taste and speed. ■ Around 260 kilometres of signposted mountain bike routes ■ 3 (e-)mountain bike rental stations and 27 charging stations ■ Several cableways transport your (e-)mountain bike to your alpine destination. ■ Bike-friendly accommodation throughout the valley ■ 70 selected bike tours at touren.montafon.at

In addition to the daily BergePLUS (BASIC) guest programme from May to October, you can get to know the Montafon from its most pleasurable side with Premium Tours (PREMIUM). Each BergePLUS Premium guest can look forward to an all-round carefree package. Depending on the tour, we’ll take care of renting you the right equipment, the necessary cableway tickets and lunch together with your guides.

Information and booking T. +43 50 6686 // montafon.at/bergeplus

EXPERIENCING

THE MONTAFON ALPINE MOSAIC On special paths through the Montafon

The Montafon is home to a european wide natural diversity – all within a small space. The valley in the south of Austria’s Vorarlberg province owes its uniqueness to its special location, which makes it one of the most geologically interesting regions in the Alps. alpenmosaik-montafon.at

The Montafon is not only the border between the Eastern and Western Alps. Three mountain groups with different stories of creation meet here – the Verwall, the Silvretta and the Rätikon – and offer a colourful variety of rocks, whose development looks back on a history of up to two billion years. This is how a unique alpine diversity was able to develop in the Montafon over the course of many millennia, and is reflected in the flora, fauna and cultural landscape of the valley. Starting this summer, all of these special features await hiking enthusiasts within the scope of the new innovative hiking trail concept “Montafon Alpine Mosaic”. You can go on a multi-faceted journey of adventure and hike through the natural diversity of the Montafon on over 30 themed trails with a total length of more than 500 kilometres. Real, sustainable and authentic No new trails or artificial content was created for the Montafon Alpine Mosaic – you therefore walk on an existing network of trails and learn about the background to

the Montafon’s diversity, engaging intensively with its culture, history and geology. Four adventure areas tell of the uniqueness of the Montafon. The leading actors of the Montafon Alpine Mosaic are the four adventure areas with their very different landscapes – the Verwall, the Silvretta, the Rätikon and the valley itself. The remote and secretive Verwall with its mystical moor landscapes, is reminiscent of the tundra of Scandinavia. With its majestic and imposing three-thousand-metre peaks, the demanding and wild Silvretta with its glaciers presents a special challenge for mountain enthusiasts . The picturesque Rätikon with its unmistakable limestone formations whisks you away to the world of the southern Alps. And the valley habitat with its centrepiece, the Ill river, combines all the geological characteristics of the surrounding mountains.

RÄTIKON

VERWALL

SILVRETTA

VALLEY

Montafon Alpine Mosaic

VERWALL

THE MYSTICAL VERWALL

A unique natural jewel and a primeval landscape of lakes, moors and vast fields Diverse habitats are interwoven with each other in this European Conservation Area. Which makes a hike in the Verwall a journey to never-before seen places, plants and animals – in total seclusion and peace.

Discover the silence of the landscape The Legend Hiking Trail The Fellimännle Summit Trail The Muttjöchle Summit Trail The Mining Trail The Seetal Trail The Settlement History Trail The Itonskopf Summit Trail The Zamangspitze Summit Trail The Wiegensee Trail The Alpgues Loop Trail The Montafon Storytelling Culture Trail The Montafon Verwall Loop

The Verwall extends from Vorarlberg to Tyrol and is noted both for its remoteness and for being largely untouched. In particular, the Verwall has its status as a Natura 2000 area, which is intended to ensure the preservation of rare and endangered species and habits in Europe, to thank for this. At approx. 120 square kilometres, it is the biggest conservation area in Vorarlberg. Thanks to its low elevation – none of the Vorarlberg peaks in the Verwall exceeds the 3,000 metres – and a dense network of hiking trails of moderate heights, the Verwall is superbly suited for all hiking enthusiasts looking for longer hiking trails without too many vertical metres. With its mystical mountain lakes and numerous areas of moorland, this adventure area is reminiscent of the expanses of tundra found in the Arctic. The beautiful Wiegensee, the oldest natural reservoir in the middle of a unique moor landscape in the Montafon, or the wonderful Langsee, located in the upper Silbertal at an elevation of 1,950 metres, are the best examples of this.

Wiegensee

The Wiegensee was voted Austria’s most beautiful place in 2021 in the ORF programme “9 Plätze – 9 Schätze” (“9 places, 9 treasures”).

Langsee

In the upper Silbertal, the Montafon reveals its most original side. Highlight: Lake Langsee with a view of the mighty Patteriol.

Station

Montafon Alpine Mosaic

FOLK TALE HIKING TRAIL One of 12 tours in the Verwall

THE LEGEND HIKING TRAIL

Myths and legends are a fixed part of the Montafon’s cultural assets. The people of the Montafon have been recounting their legends for centuries, thus carrying the past into the present over generations. Many terms of the Montafon vernacular are also handed down in this way. The important role that the Montafon dialect and the free verbal storytelling play in the valley can be seen from the fact that both are on UNESCO’s list of intangible cultural heritage. The Silbertal is a particularly mysterious and legend-steeped side valley of the Montafon. A themed trail based on the Montafon legends leads you from the Kristberg down into the Silbertal. Both are historic and culturally significant places, especially for the mining that used to take place here. That’s why the people of the Montafon recount legends of mountain people, treasures like gold and silver, but also of Christian happenings, moral transgressions and natural phenomena. Passing by 10 exciting scenes, the Legend Hiking Trail mostly takes you through shady forest and frequently offers you beautiful views of the Verwall and Silbertal. On the way, you’ll hear exciting stories about the Bruderhüsli, the Stieralpe, the Teufelsbach, the “night people of Silbertal” or the grand magician “Kupferlari”. The hike begins with a ride on the Kristbergbahn up to the summit station, where you are offered an idyllic view of the

surrounding mountains. The panorama is dominated by the Rätikon with its impressive limestone formations like the Drei Türme or the Zimba – the symbol of the Montafon. The starting point of the Legend Hiking Trail is St. Agatha’s chapel near the summit station. The trail continues up to the Kristbergsattel, where you’ll learn why the Keys of Heaven appear in the Montafon coat of arms. From here begins the descent as far as the Bruderhüsli, which is situated in the mystical Dalaaser forest, and the hermitage of Joss Erhard. Next, the Legend Hiking Trail goes back via the Kristbergsattel and the Silberpfad (Silver Trail) past Langried to the forest road, which leads you on towards Wildried. Dotted along the way are more stations with lots of exciting information about the Montafon legends. At the “Tüftuala”, you’ll learn more about the legend of the shepherd boys and the treasures above and below the earth. Welcome refreshment is provided by the Kneipp facility “Sieba Brünna”, where, so the legend goes, the night people are up to no good. After another short hike along the forest road, you arrive at a real natural jewel: the Wildried, one of the most beautiful and highest moorlands in the Alps. This idyllic place is the setting for the legend of a rich and especially miserly farmer.

BRUDERHÜSLI CHAPEL KRISTBERGSATTEL

KRISTBERG

The Legend Hiking Trail now runs downhill past the Burtschabach stream and the Gretsch waterfall to “Starkes Eck”, where the legend “Die Sennenpuppe” tells of lonely alpine life. At the Litzdamm, the legend “Die Magie des Kupferlari” lets you sense the power of the forces of nature. From now on, the untamed Litzbach accompanies hikers all the way to the Teufelsbach waterfall, where the “Silbertaler Tüfili” supposedly lives. Now it’s only a little bit further to the valley station of the Kristbergbahn. Before that, however, the Legend Hiking Trail brings you to the Silbertal open-air stage, one of the most beautiful and largest of its kind in Europe. Really impressive performances of the legends are given here in summer on an area of over 20,000 square metres.

MUTTWALD MUTTJÖCHLE VALLEY STATION KRISTBERGBAHN

WILDRIED

Tour information

Route: 14.9 km Ascent: 318 vm Descent: 881 vm Duration: 4 hr 40 min

Montafon Alpine Mosaic

SILVRETTA

THE HIGH-ALPINE SILVRETTA

Unpredictable and fascinating: this adventure area belongs solely to itself, and challenges adventurers and those who like to push themselves to their limits with rocks, ice and snow. With its 3,000-metre peaks and famous glaciers, like the Ochsentaler glacier below Piz Buin, the dominant high mountains on the border with Switzerland and the Tyrol come across like an imposing backdrop to a film. The Silvretta is home to a total of more than 60 peaks over 3,000 metres and numerous glaciers. Thus the dominant high mountains on the border with Switzerland and the Tyrol, with their rugged rock and ice formations, come across like an imposing backdrop to a film. 16

Discover the dominant high mountains The Hohes Rad Loop Trail The Gantakopf Loop Trail The Vier Barga Trail The Silvretta Reservoir Loop Trail The Madrisella Summit Trail The Montafon Silvretta Loop

The demanding Silvretta, with its rugged rocks, represents a special challenge for mountain fans and alpinists. But a special role is reserved for the highest of them on the Vorarlberg side – Piz Buin at 3,312 metres. Here lies one of the birthplaces of alpinism in the Montafon, which had its origins towards the end of the 19th century with the construction of shelter chalets, which still serve as the starting point for tours to this day. At the same time, a burgeoning tourism offering developed in the valley for people seeking relaxation, who enjoyed easy access to the Silvretta-Bielerhöhe with the construction of the Silvretta-Hochalpenstrasse.

Piz Buin

At 3,312 metres, the highest mountain in Vorarlberg

Montafon Alpine Mosaic

THE HOHES RAD LOOP TRAIL One of 6 tours in the Silvretta

THE HOHES RAD LOOP TRAIL

“Whatever cares you have, they’ll all melt away as soon as you reach the top,” says Klaus Kühlechner. The 65 year-old Montafon native has realised his dream of life in the mountains as a hiking guide. Slowly, almost deliberately, Klaus and his hiking group set off on the Silvretta-Bielerhöhe and hike with even paces towards Bieltal, past the Silvretta reservoir with its icecold water and the imposing three-thousanders of the Silvretta in the background. “I want to show the guests my home,” explains Klause, “so that they understand why I live here and don’t want to leave.” Best proof of this is the panoramic tour around the Hohes Rad. From the Silvretta-Bielerhöhe, the trail enters the Bieltal valley and crosses the Radsattel to the Wiesbadener Chalet at the foot of Piz Buin, at 3,312 metres the highest summit in Vorarlberg. The entertaining loop leads from the lake over green alpine pastures almost to the glaciers. With each metre up the mountain the vegetation becomes more sparse. Trained eyes spot old moraines, deposits of rubble and scree that give a good indication of the glaciers’ former size. But the ice has long since retreated, water bubbles everywhere, cows graze alongside the path. Up on the Radsattel, the view opens up to the heart of the Silvretta and the ever-imposing Ochsentaler glacier with its crevasses and tongues of ice.

Day trippers, hikers and mountaineers sit convivially together on the terrace of the Wiesbadener Chalet, while tenants Emil Widmann and Tina Reyer and their team untiringly serve food and drinks. The chalet, which can sleep 180 people, is incredibly busy on weekends. Tina is proud of the successful first season and the location facing the glacier: “I just feel better surrounded by rock and ice – I’m not a classic chalet hostess.” Only she still hasn’t had time to climb Piz Buin. Our inexperienced mountaineers can also learn about hiking with crampons on guided tours and in doing so perhaps come up against their own limits – and even push beyond them.

SILVRETTA-BIELERHÖHE

Tour information

HOHES RAD 2.934 m

Route: 15.3 km Ascent: 717 vm Descent: 717 vm

RADSATTEL

Duration: 5 hr 20 min

WIESBADENER CHALET 2.443 m

Montafon Alpine Mosaic

RÄTIKON

THE PICTURESQUE RÄTIKON

In the northwest of the high-alpine Silvretta lies the picturesque Rätikon. A cornucopia of creation: white rock formations in front of blooming meadows and grazing brown cattle, fresh mountain springs, plus the turquoise-blue waters of the Lünersee. This habitat is almost made for diving in and replenishing. With a little luck, chamois will look down from the peaks and marmots will whistle. With their unmistakable limestone formations and characteristic white limestone walls, the peaks of the Rätikon are similar to those of the Dolomites in the southern Alps. The famous summits, such as the Drei Türme or the Zimba, cast a spell over all mountain enthusiasts who look at them.

Discover white stone giants and blooming alpine pastures The Gauertaler AlpkulTour The Aquaweg The Smugglers Trail The Schesaplana Summit Trail The Lünersee Loop Trail The Golm Lake Trail The Family Experience Trail The Montafon Rätikon Loop

Situated on the western edge of the Eastern Alps, the Rätikon mountain range extends across Austria, Liechtenstein and Switzerland. It comprises around 300 peaks, some of which soar to almost 3,000 metres in height. Apart from keen hikers, who can choose from a diverse networking of hiking trails, its limestone formations also attract climbers who will find numerous climbing tours and via ferratas here in varying degrees of difficulty. Mountaineers will also find a large selection of demanding tours here.

Drei Türme

The Drei Türme, with their white limestone walls, are reminiscent of the Dolomites in the southern Alps.

Montafon Alpine Mosaic

THE GAUERTALER ALPKULTOUR One of 8 tours in the Rätikon

HOHES RAD 2.934 m

Tour information

Route: 11.2 km Ascent: 110 vm Descent: 1,009 vm Duration: 4 hours

THE GAUERTALER ALPKULTOUR

In Gauertal, one of the loveliest valley ends in the Alps, the themed trail “Gauertaler AlpkulTour” starts at the summit station of the Golmerbahn and leads through the Montafon cultural landscape. This place is an extraordinarily beautiful example of Montafon pasture and “Maisäß” culture. But who nowadays still knows what a “Maisäß” even is? The knowledge about how this cultural landscape came about is slowly being lost. The Gauertaler AlpkulTour – a themed trail that visits 13 locations – is intended to counteract this creeping process. At the border with Switzerland, the imposing Drei Türme loom over you. However, what makes this hike a unique experience is not only the breathtaking view of the impressive mountain scenery but also the sculptures designed by local artist Roland Haas. His unusual artworks in wood will get you marvelling, dreaming, philosophising and fantasising. In this way, the centuries-old culture of the Montafon is placed in context with the present day in an innovative manner and each station gives hikers insight into a different chapter of the Montafon’s cultural landscape, such as the lives of the shepherds, the “Maisäß” culture and the history of the Alps. “Only since I began dealing intensely with this topic, have I become aware of how much and how quickly our cultural landscape has changed through the shift in alpine pasture farming,” says Roland. The artist still has no answer when asked which is his favourite sculpture. “The legend tree strongly and stubbornly stretching its roots to the heavens is definitely very special.” He also finds the antler tree at the end of the themed hiking trail a personal highlight. Standing on a rock, straight as a candle with a thick, massive crown of deer antlers, it fascinates visitors and make references to the relationship between hunting and agriculture.

Montafon Alpine Mosaic

VALLEY

THE LIVING VALLEY

Discover the Montafon Alpine Mosaic Montafon Trails in the valley The Montafon House Trail The Building Culture Trail The Gypsum Mining Trail The Mining Trail The Culture and Art Trail The Sports Arena Trail The Montafon Stone Sheep Trail The Pasture Trail The Gargellner Fenster Trail The Alpinism Trail The Energy Trail The Wild Stream Trail The Montafon Valley Trail

Alongside the three mountain ranges – the Verwall, the Silvretta and the Rätikon – the 39 kilometre-long valley also plays an important role. And with it two rivers that give the basin its shape: the Ill and the Suggadin. Like lifelines, they mostly flow below the towns and villages in which an impressive cultural diversity has developed. This is evident in aspects such as the Montafon dialect, which is on UNESCO’s list of intangible cultural heritage. The diverse nature that abounds in the Montafon is as individual as the people who have developed here in a colourful cultural landscape in harmony with the mountains. Between the rugged peaks and gentle meadows lie 11 varied tourist destinations, home to brisk economic activity, cultural attractions and customs that are still practised with pride. Each village also nurtures its special features, which are often deeply rooted in history.

Ill

The Ill is the biggest river in the Montafon, rising in the Silvretta group at the foot of Piz Buin.

Station

Montafon Alpine Mosaic

THE MONTAFON HOUSE TRAIL One of 13 tours in the valley

THE MONTAFON HOUSE TRAIL

The people of the Montafon are proud of their local area and its special features. And there are many of them! One is the Montafon house, which is inseparably connected to the cultural landscape of the Montafon. The history of these structures is many centuries old and bears impressive witness to how the valley’s residents used to live. Many historic Montafon houses have been preserved in Gortipohl. They can be explored in detail on a tour that is also extremely interesting for its landscape – the Montafon House Trail. This themed trail shows the special features of typical residential houses as they were built in the Montafon from the 15th to the 20th century. Many of these houses are very valuable in terms of their construction and local history and are elaborately maintained by their owners. But what characterises a Montafon house? A characteristic feature of a Montafon house is identified and explained in more detail at each of five different stations. That makes it easier to recognise the elements of typical Montafon houses in other buildings in the Montafon as well. The variety of Montafon houses on this themed hiking trail is extensive: from jewel boxes renovated with much love for detail to historic residential buildings with contemporary elements as well as unoccupied and thus sometimes structurally endangered buildings on which the ravages of time have clearly left their mark.

BALBIER WASSERFALL

D’STOBA DAS SCHINDELDACH

DAS WOHNHAUS

DAS MONTAFONERHAUS

GORTIPOHL

DER KELLER

How the buildings are used and their occupants are also discussed. For example, you’ll learn about the important role the cellar was accorded in winter, why the kitchen has always been the heart of the house, or why the roofs are built so flat – namely to stop the snow sliding off in winter. The functional layout of the Montafon house also has is origins in practical considerations that reflect the once hard life of this agriculture-dominated valley. In their scarce free time, the occupants found rest and relaxation at the Montafon table in the “Stoba” – (the living room) with its ornate inlay and practical slate tabletop. People ate, told stories, debated, laughed and played cards at the Montafon table. Apart from the Montafon houses themselves, many other traditional objects of the regional cultural landscape also lie along the themed hiking trail, such as dry stone walls, avalanche protection structures and stone

bridges. Sacred buildings such as the plague chapel and St. Nicholas Church, which was destroyed by an avalanche in 1689, round off the series of historically important buildings along the trail. The Montafon House Trail heads from the village centre of Gortipohl into the valley and then along the sunny side above the village, with an impressive view of the Vallüla. On the way back, it’s worth making a detour to the Balbier waterfall.

Tour information

Route: 3.0 km Ascent: 63 vm Descent: 63 vm Duration: 50 minutes

Montafon Alpine Mosaic

INFRASTRUCTURE

MONTAFON ALPINE MOSAIC THE INFRASTRUCTURE

You can immerse yourself in the Montafon Alpine Mosaic at 16 starting points spread throughout the Montafon. At these locations, maps and information boards provide an initial insight into the extensive network of hiking trails. You can get more detailed information using the QR codes. The hiking trails thus become adventure trails that tell authentic stories and sharpen your awareness of the natural and cultural diversity of the Montafon. 28

Once you’ve decided on one of the tours, you’ll find information pillars discreetly and harmoniously integrated into the landscape with route descriptions and background information. If you see such an information pillar, then you’ve arrived at a particularly interesting point, a place with a special story to tell. Such wood pillars by the edge of the trail have one or two panels that can be folded out. So simply pull them up and out using the metal handle on the side and be surprised by what lies behind. You’ll find exciting details and information to read here. Also take a look around you to see all the things there are to discover here and let the place work its magic on you. With the QR code, you can also download the route straight to your phone and receive more information online. In addition, about 20 ground mosaics await you on the paths of the Montafon Alpine Mosaic, drawing your attention to the most beautiful photo points and particularly impressive motifs, the protagonists of the adventure areas or the surrounding mountains. From here, you have the best perspective of the jewels of the Montafon landscape. So, simply stand on it and take a photo. The logo also reflects the four adventure areas and the different types of rock in the region, which together from the Montafon Alpine Mosaic.

Ground mosaic

The most beautiful photo spots and special places are marked with a “ground mosaic”.

Information pillar

At the information pillars, you’ll get exciting details to read and can find more information online by scanning the QR code.

Montafon Alpine Mosaic

HERO’S JOURNEY

DISCOVER THE DIVERSITY OF THE MONTAFON THROUGH AMREI’S EYES

But who is Amrei? Alongside the four main characters – the Verwall, the Silvretta, the Rätikon and the valley itself, Amrei, a young Montafon woman, plays the lead role in the novel “Amrei and the Montafon Alpine Mosaic”. In addition to Amrei and her story, the texts for the service booklet and the infrastructure were also created by the journalist Ingrid Yasha Rösner. 30

“Amrei and the Montafon Alpine Mosaic” is a story about the fascinating natural diversity of the Montafon and a generation that stands on the cusp of a new age in which their personal wishes and dreams search for their place in a world of traditions, obligations and handed-down conventions. Amrei has thus far led a normal life with her little family in the Montafon. But when her “Eni” (grandfather) dies, she loses a kind of compass, someone she could use as a point of reference. And so, against all the expectations of her parents and husband, she sets off on a hike through her homeland – not suspecting that this journey would fundamentally change her view of life. Nature becomes her mentor and at the same time her greatest challenge, and almost forces her to give up at the foot of Piz Buin.

Amrei and the Montafon Alpine Mosaic Montafon

PROLOGUE

Amrei and the Montafon Alpine Mosaic “You’ll experience thousands of moments in your life. No matter whether you perceive them consciously or simply wander past them, they just happen. These moments will resemble green pastures, fog banks, moving in the wind like a big sea. They will remind you of quiet lakes, steep summits and colourful skies. Raindrops will run down over your face, and you’ll feel freedom in every cell of your body. These are moments that demand everything of you and sometimes also leave you breathless. But then the sun draws the contours of the grey rocks in sharp relief again and paints the pastures in the valley into a Garden of Eden. These times call on you to live the abundance and the adventure. Some people need a whole lifetime for this; here in the Montafon it’s a journey.”

From Eni’s letter

The novel is available in the tourist information offices in the Montafon from summer 2022.

Montafon Alpine Mosaic

PROTAGONIST

INGRID Y. RÖSNER

An extremely diverse landscape, exciting places and interesting people – for journalist Ingrid Yasha Rösner, the Montafon is a valuable pool of stories. For the Montafon Alpine Mosaic, she wrote the texts for the service booklet and the infrastructure as well as the novel “Amrei and the Montafon Alpine Mosaic”, which will be published soon.

#1 32

How did you come up with Amrei?

#2 How did the process then continue?

#3 Where did you get all the information about the Montafon?

Ingrid: To raise awareness of the Montafon Alpine Mosaic, the team at the Montafon Tourism Office and I thought about conveying the values and stories of the Montafon for image communication through a hero. All of us initially had in mind the classic image of an older, wise Montafon man with a white beard. Then I just asked everyone present whether a young Montafon woman could also be the hero figure. The name itself is a traditional short form of Annemarie, comes originally from Vorarlberg and is often used, especially in the Montafon.

Ingrid: We had a huge amount of fun “working” on Amrei and asking ourselves the key question of what makes up a real Montafon woman. What makes her tick? What is important to her? And, of course, how she might look. We initially thought of a short leading story, which then turned into an entire novel. This way, the people who come here can dive into the special Montafon world with its peculiarities and stories. The focus is on the unbelievable natural diversity, the Montafon Alpine Mosaic, which still characterises the life of the people here today. Ingrid: My stories draw on several strands which then flow together in one cohesive story: close observation, perceiving moods and researching information. I grew up by Lake Constance and we often spent a lot of time in the Montafon hiking and skiing, which is how I had an external perspective as a guest. I also interviewed people about the Montafon, including Christa Fredlmeier, a hiking expert who co-developed the Montafon Alpine Mosaic, and a mountain guide who is regularly in the region. For the inside track, local resident Hermann Wachter from the Montafon Tourism Office was a huge help. He is definitely the co-author and with him all the Montafon experts who proofread the texts and shared their knowledge with us. We went into a lot of detail for the hiking trail infrastructure. For example, what a typical Montafon table looks like and where the crucifix hangs in the living room. That was the only way it was possible for me to bring the Montafon feeling to the novel and give it real and beautiful depth.

“Stories let me take people to another world and let them forget everyday life for a time.”

EXPERIENCING

10 RULES FOR SAFE HIKING 34

During the pasture season, you’ll constantly encounter grazing animals on your hiking tours in the mountains. By taking their cows up to the pastures, the Montafon’s farmers care for these beautiful natural landscapes and preserve a centuries-old tradition. To ensure that the Montafon’s unique cultural landscape continues to remain freely accessible in future, we depend on happy co-existence on the alpine pastures and meadows. To avoid misunderstandings between people and cows, you should follow a few rules.

01 Avoid contact with grazing animals, do not feed them and keep a safe distance!

02 Remain calm, do not frighten grazing animals!

03 Mother cows protect their calves, so avoid contact between mother cows and dogs!

04 Keep your dog on a short lead. If an attack by a grazing animal is imminent, let your dog off the lead immediately!

Please treat the people who work here, nature and the animals with respect.

THANK YOU! 05

Stay on the hiking trails on alpine pastures and meadows!

Pay attention to fences! If there is a gate, please use it, close it properly after you and cross the field as quickly as you can.

If grazing animals are blocking the trail, go around them, keeping the greatest distance possible!

09 If grazing animals approach you: keep calm, do not turn your back, get out of the animals’ way!

10 Leave the area quickly at the first signs of unrest amongst the animals!

EXPERIENCING

MADRISELLA VIA FERRATA A challenge with views in every direction for all climbing enthusiasts

At 2,016 metres, where the unique ambience of the landscape meets alpine tradition, a via ferrata of the same name lies at the foot of the Madrisella. An exciting via ferrata with degree of difficulty C/D that gets the hearts of advanced mountain fans beating faster.

An impressive 500 hours of labour in almost 50 days went into creating this via ferrata, which deservedly meets with an incredibly positive response. On the climbing scene, it is often described as being “one of the most beautiful via ferratas in all Vorarlberg”. A fantastic panorama, numerous vertical passages, medium-difficulty via ferrata and sufficient rest points extend over 450 enjoyable vertical metres along the imposing north face of the Madrisella to the absolute highpoint – the Madrisella summit. However, before the summit cross moves into close proximity, a 150 metre-long passage over the vertical rock face, which tests fitness and a lack of vertigo, provides the necessary shot of adrenalin.

Then, waiting for you where heart, mind and soul are in harmony, at 2,466 metres above sea level, you finally find your reward: a probably unique 360-degree view of the surrounding mountains. The barren, rocky and imposing characteristics of the Silvretta, the idyllic Novatal valley and the pure feeling of freedom. For a pleasurable way to round off this perfect mountain experience, enjoy the finest home-made food and cool drinks in the Nova Stoba mountain restaurant before returning to the valley, where the next adventure might already be waiting for you!

Alpe Nova

BURG 2.247 m

VERSETTLA 2.368 m

MADRISELLA 2.466 m

WIESBADENER HÜTTE 2.443 m VERMUNTKOPF 2.851 m

PIZ BUIN 3.312 m

Montafon via ferrata brochure

More information about our 24 via ferratas in the Montafon is available in our brochure “Via ferratas in the Montafon”, which you can find in all tourist information offices in the Montafon.

EXPERIENCING

CIRCLE THE VERWALL ON AN E-MOUNTAIN BIKE The Montafon is mainly characterised by its three mountain ranges: the Silvretta, the Rätikon and the Verwall. The latter extends from Vorarlberg to Tyrol and is at the heart of this e-mountain bike tour. 38

On this challenging e-mountain bike tour through a unique landscape, you’ll circumnavigate the wonderful Verwall mountain range on an e-mountain bike and get to know all of its impressive facets. With its mystical mountain lakes and numerous areas of moorland reminiscent of the tundra of Scandinavia, the Verwall is largely remote and solitary.

Once at the first milestone, the idyllically situated Verbellaalpe is the perfect spot for a short rest. At 1,938 metres above sea level, you’ll find a cosy chalet atmosphere as well as a unique natural landscape with wonderful views of the surrounding mountains. Here, you can not only charge up your e-mountain bike’s battery, but also boost your own personal energy store.

The tour’s starting point is in Schruns, where your experienced BergePLUS guide will receive you. You’ll take an easy ride along the Ill – the lifeline of the Montafon – as far as Partenen. The cycle path winds pleasantly along the edge of the individual Montafon villages down into the valley to Partenen. An ideal section to get warmed up on. Having arrived at the end of the valley – at the foot of the Silvretta-Hochalpenstrasse – you’ll cycle up through the wildly romantic and heavily forested Ganifer to the Verbellaalpe. This first steeper passage runs on asphalt and constantly rewards you with impressive views of the surrounding mountains and the imposing dam of the Kops reservoir.

The tour then continues on forest tracks, in impressive alpine surroundings along a rushing stream through the long Vebellatal valley to the Neue Heilbronner Chalet, which is noted for its unique location. Visible from afar, it sits proudly at 2,320 metres above sea level directly on the border between Vorarlberg and Tyrol and on the European watershed of the Danube and the Rhine. A brief rest is also had here, so you can take in the panorama in peace and quiet.

Particularly nice and also typical of the Verwall is the wildly romantic Lake Scheidsee

near the Neue Heilbronner Chalet. From here on, you can enjoy challenging trails, some of which require you to get off and push. But these efforts are rewarded by the unique nature of the Schönverwalltal valley. The route leads past lush green pastures, the Konstanzer Chalet and Lake Verwallsee to St. Anton am Arlberg, which is situated in Tyrol. From here, you take the train to Bludenz, where the relaxed cycle path along the Ill River takes you back to Schruns, the starting point of the tour.

Tour information

BergePLUS Premium (for sporty and experienced e-mountain bikers) Route: 66 km Ascent: 1,950 vm

Respect your limits and protect nature!

Please note the time

Descent: 1,115 vm

restrictions and

Duration: 9 hrs

bike bans when

(6 hrs pure cycling time) 6 July - 31 August 2022 montafon.at/bergeplus

planning your tour. More information at: montafon.at/bikehinweise

INFRASTRUCTURE

INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS IN THE MONTAFON

The history of tourism in the Montafon goes back a long way. In fact the first places to stay in the Montafon were built in the 1870s. “The number of available guest beds in the Montafon has fallen by about 8,000 in the last 15 years. Some of those have now been replaced with quality beds,” explains Manuel Bitschnau, operating director of Montafon Tourism GmbH.. Targeted investments are making the Montafon more attractive. This includes paying special attention to good connections to public transport and cable car valley stations. You can find the latest projects from the valley here.

Silvretta Montafon SILVRETTA PARK MONTAFON In the Montafon, things are moving forward! The old Valisera Bahn was retired in April 2021, making way for the new “Silvretta Park Montafon” adventure world. A world first was opened in St. Gallenkirch in the form of the first semi-autonomously operated cable car! Since December 2021, guests have been able to access new 10-person gondolas – with a TWIST-IN system and indoor ski mounts, integrated seat heating and barrier-free entrances and exits. An Intersport shop, a ski school office and a market hall for culinary provisions were also built. In the spacious market hall, there is something for every taste at different stations and the close

The Revier Mountain Lodge Montafon

The new Revier Mountain Lodge Montafon also opens its doors to guests this summer! So you will soon have 107 rooms for 1-5 people each available right by thevalley station of the new Valisera Bahn in St. Gallenkirch.

ties to the region are clearly noticeable. "With the Silvretta Park Montafon, we're creating a quality place to stay where you can meet and feel good and get everything you need for an eventful day on the mountain," explains Peter Marko, Managing Director of Silvretta Montafon Holding GmbH. The new world of adventure, which opened in December 2021, also has the largest e-charging car park in Vorarlberg with 50 integrated parking spaces for e-cars and 600 standard parking spaces.

Infrastructure projects in the Montafon

Golm Adventure Mountain 110 NEW GONDOLAS The Golm Adventure Mountain also made way for modern successors and even more comfort: all 110 gondolas of the Golmerbahn were finally replaced with new cabins after 25 years. Since winter season 2021/22, there have been floor-level entrances and a higher cabin space. Young guests also have something to look forward to, as 10 of the new gondolas have been designed with Golmi in mind. At the push of a button, the mascots Golmi and Golmine tell exciting stories. So a ride on the Golmerbahn is always exciting for the youngsters.

Facts

8-person cable car 5 m/sec. (18 km/h)

1,800 people/hour Doppelmayr Seilbahnen

Family hotel FALKENSTEINER HOTEL MONTAFON The ground-breaking took place in May 2021 and the first guests are scheduled to be welcomed in December 2022: the Falkensteiner Hotel Montafon is aimed at families and links through to the existing offer on the Golm Adventure Mountain. The 5-star hotel has 130 rooms, a restaurant, wellness facilities and various offers for children. A house is also being built for the hotel staff. A biomass heating power plant is being built near the hotel to ensure a sustainable supply of heat for Latschau.

Planning

100 new jobs Opening in December 2022 130 hotel rooms

S S A P E R U LEIS Cableways

Outdoor pools

Bus & Rail

You can find the latest information at montafon-brandnertal-card.at

A SUSTAINABLE APPROACH TO THE FUTURE OF TOURISM

CONVERSATIONS

Always looking to the future

While thousands of guests travel to the Montafon each year, the valley is also home to around 17,000 people. Tourism has played an important role for years as the most important sector of the economy and constantly presents its players with new challenges and possibilities.

Managing Director

Judith Grass (centre in picture), Managing Director of GSL-Tourismus Chris Eichhorn (left in picture), Managing Director of cabinski Manuel Bitschnau (right in picture), Managing Director of the Montafon Tourism Office in conversation.

#1 Hardly any other term has been discussed as much in recent years as “sustainability”. How do you define sustainability for yourselves personally?

Judith: For me, sustainability broadly means conserving the resources we have and at the same time trying to leave the world behind in a slightly better state than we found it. It is an overarching topic for me. If you ask me, everyone really should be engaging with all aspects of the topic nowadays because it affects us all. Once you’ve internalised and understood the topic of sustainability, then there’s no other option because you live and act by it. It should be the standard way of thinking for everyone nowadays. Chris: That’s exactly how I see it because we should all carry responsibility for the topic within us. I even believe it’s our duty not only to think about ourselves and the here and now in what we do, but above all to also think about the generation(s) that will come after us. In recent years, I myself have started to change how I think, to reflect and to learn. I was already aware of many things from an environmental perspective, but I was really amazed by the power the areas of social and economic sustainability can have. Manuel: Sustainability is often not looked at in the round. Most people mainly only talk about environmental protection. Sustainability is a long-term way of thinking and clearly in terms of “How can I leave the world behind in a better state than I found it?” Sustainability doesn’t happen overnight. You’ve got to look at it long term. And you can’t restrict yourself just to environment, but broaden your view to all three pillars, namely economy, ecology and social affairs.

#2 How can tourism and sustainability be combined? How can practised sustainability actually be implemented?

Judith: If you deal with the topic of sustainability on all three pillars then I believe a life without tourism would be completely unsustainable because we wouldn’t have or would lose thousands of jobs. From an ecological perspective, however, it is one of the most important points for protecting resources and the environment as much as possible because what we have to offer our guests here in the Montafon is the space in which we live. There is no right or wrong; you have to think in the round. Manuel: Tourism is a diverse, multifaceted industry. In my opinion, there isn’t just one kind of tourism. If we look at everything as a whole, then tourism in the Montafon from a social and an economic aspect has developed a level of prosperity that wouldn’t exist without it. We must ensure that tourism continues to deliver added value for residents and that natural resources are dealt with in a way that is suitable for our grandchildren. Chris: It’s a complex set of issues covering so many different areas: accommodation, catering and mobility, to name just a few. Complex but not complicated is how I see it because it also offers us countless possibilities to try new ways of combining tourism and sustainability. Actually implementing this will require us to change how we think in many areas. But I’d also like to stress that it isn’t about always doing everything from scratch or changing things. There are some ingenious examples of practised sustainability in tourism here in the region. These must be made more visible. They need a platform.

A sustainable approach to the future of tourism

#3 What does that look like in practice?

Manuel: As a tourist destination, you have to have a lot of self-confidence to avoid creating superficially imposed attractions and programmes for guests. You need to know your own strengths, know what you’d like and then address the appropriate guests for this. Awareness-raising must get much better at explaining that growth can’t be infinite and that the focus is on a good life for all. Chris: It needs openness, curiosity and above all courage to make some changes. The topic must be much more immediate and then things won’t be so difficult, is how I see it. The possibilities are clear to see: we can resort here to regional products, can generate energy from the elements. We are blessed with this pristine nature and countless possibilities for sport and activity, and already have great added value. Perhaps a more important point is how it should not look in practice. Under no circumstances must the goal be to get bigger and bigger and to construct massive new buildings every couple of years. Quantity must not get the upper hand. Instead, we should work with what we’ve already got. That’s precisely because we’re not only a tourist destination, but also a place that people call home! Sustainable, innovative approaches to problem-solving are needed – and perseverance. Judith: Investment in social matters should also be seen as a big investment in sustainable business. Instead of focusing on quantity, a different way of thinking is needed here. How can we create more quality, for example in the social area? This naturally concerns making investments in employees.

#4 Does the Montafon guest already think sustainably? Or does the Montafon want a sustainable guest?

We take the topic very seriously, in all aspects and areas of the valley. Manuel

Judith: Guests are changing. While the focus used to be only on the number of lifts and kilometres of pistes, other points are now slowly becoming relevant for them. And that’s a good thing! Chris: The change of mindset is already taking place, that’s for certain. Of course, that needs time. It shouldn’t simply be imposed on the guest or the host. Accordingly, we shouldn’t ask ourselves whether we want a sustainable guest, rather we have to do everything we can to align ourselves holistically with this. It is a huge opportunity to preserve the Montafon as a biosphere, perhaps even to improve it. Socially, ecologically, but above all also economically The future will increasingly be about topics such as gentle tourism, slow or impact travel, and that is a great possibility for us as a destination, but also for guests, to contribute something to sustainable development. Manuel: We must continue to have the courage to show that we are authentic and real. That way, the locals won’t have to “pretend” and can identify well with it. You also need guests who appreciate and live by this philosophy. There are already many groups that are gradually becoming more sustainable; we’re on the right track in this regard and a third of our guests already meet the tourism model of this “ideal guest”. A lot more value will also be placed on mindfulness, finding peace and being contented with oneself. If we assume that we will be able to expand these target groups even more in the long term, then we are on the right track. The offer has to develop or adapt with it, so that the younger and more sensitised target group is addressed and feels good, especially here in the Montafon.

#5 Which example in the Montafon are you especially proud of?

Once you’ve internalised and understood the topic of sustainability, then there’s no other option because you live and act by it.

Manuel: I find the implementation of GSL-Tourismus (Golm/Silvretta/ Lünersee) truly exemplary. As the first climate-neutral ski area in Austria, it needs a crazy amount of commitment, patience and understanding. For you, that’s got to do with the mindset of the company as well as the employees. There are also good examples in other ski areas, at hotels, in the municipalities and at social institutions. When you look at sustainability as a whole, projects like “Employer brand Montafon”, “ghörig feschta”, our commitment in the area of conservation areas, the working group “Nature-friendly winter sports”, the “Montafon bike code” as well as the platform “bewusstmontafon” are outstanding examples. Important directions are also being set with the further expansion of public and electric mobility, the soon-to-be-finished Montafon accommodation masterplan and the increasingly better child care facilities. Judith: We even calculate the carbon footprint of our dishes in the restaurant in order to give guests an awareness of what they can change by taking even small decisions. We note the origin of all our food so we can say exactly where we get what. For example, over 90 percent of our milk products and almost 100 percent of our eggs from Vorarlberg. We have already been practising these topics for decades. That has nothing to do with greenwashing, but with our philosophy. Manuel: And that’s where awareness-raising begins and sustainability is taken seriously.

Judith 47

#6 How will sustainability in the Montafon be implemented even better in the future?

Manuel: We are creating awareness of this important topic with the new innovation hub, which is unique anywhere in Austria. Known as “PIZ Montafon”, it is a special research laboratory and will run for a whole year. We won’t solve any problems directly with this full-year programme; instead, it’s about focusing on and paying more attention to the topic as well as about providing support with implementation. The various aspects have to be made public and it needs to be shown that everyone is toeing the same line: hosts, guests, municipalities, decision-makers and many others. Judith: This topic is so extensive and fully of possibilities, which is why we also want to take our hosts by the hand, help them with the implementation, give them ideas and show them what’s involved. It’s important to create awareness, to use instructions, checklists, etc. to show that there’s more to it than organic detergent or a paper drinking straw. Manuel: For us as a destination, it’s enormously important that we don’t miss any connections. We take the topic very seriously, in all aspects and areas of the valley. Imposed implementation of this topic won’t work; that wouldn’t be right. Sustainable thinking is a very extensive process which you have take seriously for the long term, something we’ve already been doing in the Montafon for a long time. What does it really mean to act sustainably? Switching over to using an organic paper napkin is not enough. Creating value in the region must be understood. For example, we have to highlight all the fabulous products we have in the region and that a regional cycle delivers something for everyone in the valley in a sustainable way.

A sustainable approach to the future of tourism

Chris: It’s not about doing everything perfectly right away. What’s important is to start, improve step by step and simply do your best. Those who act sustainably have primarily understood that it’s about the big picture and the idea behind it, and not about being better off economically.

#7 How will PIZ Montafon be implemented in the future?

Manuel: I’m constantly noticing how people have no idea what’s behind this whole topic. They are often prepared to engage with it, but are overwhelmed by the implementation. And that’s exactly what PIZ Montafon is about: creating awareness that a change is under way. We will bring together people of all ages, give instructions, present best practice examples, provide experts, etc. We will try to reduce the overload that exists in some areas and aim to provide support where possible. Chris: With PIZ Montafon, we’d like to offer a platform: anyone who is motivated and receptive is cordially invited to come on this journey with us. From the outset, we focus on offering support and making recommendations. We do not and will not impose obligations on people. Judith: We have to highlight the opportunity that, on the whole, we have the possibility to make changes and to make a difference. We can show that every single person in the valley can contribute something to this. We don’t want to convince, we want to inspire. PIZ Montafon should be a source of inspiration for the willing and the capable. And we’re already looking forward to that hugely

Innovation Hub PIZ Montafon

With PIZ Montafon, we’d like to offer a platform: anyone who is motivated and receptive is cordially invited to come on this journey with us. Chris

PIZ Montafon – Future Laboratory for Sustainable Tourism – is a project of the Montafon Tourism Office and came about from an idea of BTV (Bank für Tirol und Vorarlberg) and Illwerke (illwerke vkw AG). Its central objectives are to raise awareness of and provide information about sustainable tourism. Tourist businesses should be involved in order to form a network made up of experts and the “Next Generation”. New opportunities for the region should arise through the co-creative development of concrete solutions and highlighting examples of success. PIZ Montafon is located in the premises of the old district court in Schruns. Curator: Chris Eichhorn Contact: piz@montafon.at

MONTAFON

PRACTISED SUSTAINABILITY IN THE MONTAFON FOR PEOPLE AND THE ENVIRONMENT

The Montafon is more than just a valley. The Montafon is tourist destination and biosphere in one. And as such, the Montafon bears responsibility – for its precious nature and cultural landscape as well as for its residents. Topics such as environmental protection and sustainability are therefore clearly important in the Montafon as well. Where is the valley already making these pioneering changes? What ideas for protecting and consciously managing the environment and its resources have already been implemented? We show you a few examples on the following pages.

Sustainability in the Montafon

In focus BIOSPHERE MANAGEMENT A unique offering of mountain experiences draws more and more people to the Montafon from near and far throughout the year. To maintain the balance between an attractive tourism region and conservation, the Montafon is advancing the concept of biosphere management. Rethinking the relationship between guests and locals and shaping it appropriately has for many years been a major concern for the Montafon Tourism Office. “Tourism destinations are biospheres, biospheres that need the involvement of all companies, workers, the local population and guests. We’re committed to that,” says Manuel Bitschnau, Managing Director of the Montafon Tourism Office. To achieve this, all areas of interest will be networked and important tourism decisions taken jointly. The focus here is particularly on protecting the forests, game and cultural landscape as well as maintaining freely accessible areas for leisure activities.

bewusstmontafon AN INITIATIVE FOR THE WHOLE VALLEY By combining forces, it has been possible to refocus on the production of real, regional products from the Montafon and at the same to boost awareness of them among guests and locals alike. The “bewusstmontafon” (Consciously Montafon) association has set itself the objective of promoting the cooperation of the agricultural, dining and retail sectors. Several successes have already been achieved through the initiative of its committed members – from the renaissance of the Sura Kees to the conservation of the Montafon Steinschaf (stone sheep). The logo guarantees the use of regional ingredients. This at the same time ensures that a bit of Montafon is to be found in each certified product.

Alpine dairy farms

There are 12 alpine dairy farms in the Montafon that produce the famous Sura Kees! A nice hike to one of the 12 Montafon alpine dairy farms is always worthwhile. You also have the possibility to drop in and enjoy a hearty snack.

Location Silbertal MISSION ZERO SILBERTAL

To show how exiting from fossil energy can work in a rural area, the Silbertal has embarked on “Mission Zero Silbertal”. The initiative focuses on the region’s biggest consumers of oil. A raft of measures is being put in place to support public transport and electromobility. Cycle paths are also being extended. Guests are encouraged to arrive on public transport and once here also to enjoy an extensive range of sustainable transport options. These include, for example, e-bike rental, e-car sharing offers for guests and an e-shuttle bus from Schruns train station to their accommodation. Another goal of Mission Zero Silbertal is to move as many households as possible from environmentally harmful oil heating systems to renewable alternatives.

Mission

At the Kristbergbahn and a number of other businesses, this switch has already been made: since 2020, the cableway, the existing lifts and the snowmaking system have been powered with green electricity. What’s more: An electric skidoo has been purchased to transport luggage.

Sustainability in the Montafon

Golm Adventure Mountain A CLIMATE-NEUTRAL WAY TO SKI If there’s one thing you really don’t have to worry about on the Golm Adventure Mountain, it’s the environment. That’s because on the Golm Adventure Mountain, you’ll make your turns in Austria’s first climate-neutral ski area. How does that work? For many years, targeted measures for a sustainable mountain environment have been put in place here. These include the Hüttenkopfbahn, which went into operation in winter season 2012/13 and was the first cableway in the world to run on the power of the sun. In fact, every third guest is conveyed in an environmentally friendly way using solar energy, thanks to the installed photovoltaic modules. Of

course, the protection of resources using snow management systems was also the focus of attention in the case of snowmaking. For example, measuring the exact depth of snow ensures that snow is only artificially produced where it is actually needed. In addition, a special drainage system was installed on the slopes in the Golm adventure mountain ski area which returns meltwater to the Lünersee power plant to generate green electricity. And all this has already paid off: in 2018, the Golm Adventure Mountain together with Golm Silvretta Lünersee Tourismus was named Austria’s first climate-neutral tourism area.

Ticket 52

Did you know that the Green Ticket gives you a day ticket including arrival by bus and train from across Vorarlberg and from the border train stations in Tyrol, Germany and Switzerland?

Cleaner together MONTAFON CLEANUP DAYS The idea behind the Montafon CleanUP Days is quickly explained: volunteers set off in small groups to collect rubbish on the mountain peaks, hiking trails and along river banks. In 2021, it was time: during the Montafon CleanUP Days, almost 350 volunteers arranged into self-organised groups freed nature in the Montafon of discarded rubbish. Both locals and guests got stuck in. The event was the initiative of “Patron Plasticfree Peaks” and the team behind cabinski Montafon in collaboration with the Montafon Tourism Office and the four Montafon cableway companies. The collected rubbish was then disposed of at one of the eight waste collection points. And, of course, the joint success was celebrated at a convivial Meet & Greet on the Saturday evening.

Tip

The Montafon CleanUP Days 2022 will take place from Friday 9 to Sunday 11 September! Being there is definitely worth it!

Feschta im Muntafu (Festivals in the Montafon) GHÖRIG FESCHTA The environmentally friendly implementation of events is growing in importance as a topic not only for organisers, but also for visitors. The quality of the food and drinks on offer as well as the cleanliness and hygiene at the event venue also play an ever important role. As an event-intensive region, the Montafon applies a concept elaborated by different interest groups that sends out a strong signal in the direction of sustainability at events of every kind. The primary objective is to establish a sustainable and climate-friendly event structure that should be implemented on the basis of concrete guidelines and professional advice. The avoidance or reduction of waste, the use of regional products, climate friendly travel to and from the Montafon as well as the protection of resources in the planning of events are just a few examples that can be mentioned as concrete implementation points.

MONTAFON

THE HEARTBEAT OF THE MONTAFON

BÄ

16,394

| ICH RL UE

TÜCHTIG |

| PIONIERHAF T|

BÄ

OF MARKED HIKING TRAILS

| TÜCHTIG | ICH RL UE

INHABITANTS (As at January 2020)

> 2 million OVERNIGHT STAYS 2018/19

BÄ

TÜCHTIG |

| PIONIERHAF T|

| ICH RL UE

TIG CH RÄ

Golm Adventure Mountain, Silvretta Montafon, Gargellner Bergbahnen, Kristbergbahn, Silvretta-Bielerhöhe and others in the region

TIG CH RÄ

Vorarlberg’s highest mountain

1,220 km

| PIONIERHAF T|

PIZ BUIN

CABLEWAYS

Sura Kees, bonfire, organ landscape, Montafon table, solstice, Montafon Steinschaf (stone sheep), Montafon brown cows, alpine meadow landscape, pasture drive, Montafon dialect, traditional Montafon costume

TIG CH RÄ

3,312 m

MONTAFON MOUNTAIN CULTURE:

GESCH ICH TS T

EVENTS

Montafon World Cup, M3 Montafon Mountainbike Marathon, Montafon Arlberg Marathon, Montafon Resonanzen, Mt Folk Tale Festival, Silvretta Classic Rallye Montafon, Montafon Totale Trail, Septimo

GESCH ICH TS T

TOP

GESCH ICH TS T

There, where the Verwall, Silvretta and Rätikon mountain ranges meet, is a very special place: the Montafon. A valley as diverse as the mountain ranges that picturesquely frame it. Where longings are fulfilled, stories written and personal encounters become memories that last forever. Everything you experience in the Montafon fits in with the breathtaking mountains. Because it’s authentic. And because it’s personal.

Montafon Resonanzen

Melodious sounds from different genres – performed in special locations – will be presented by the Montafon Resonanzen from 4 August until 11 September. You can listen to music from a large variety of different styles. The palette ranges from brass, organ and chamber music to jazz and crossover all the way to alpine folk music. montafoner-resonanzen.at

Septimo – Ready for culture

The programme of septimo (1 – 30 September 2022) contains a wide range of different formats that take a look at the past, present and future. The variety of the offers – theatrical productions, cinema screenings, evening talks, hike and excursions to the cultural landscape – corresponds with the distribution of the event venues across all Montafon municipalities. montafon.at/septimo

VIA FERRATAS

KILOMETRES OF PISTES | ICH RL UE

TÜCHTIG |

260 km

BIKE, MOUNTAIN BIKE AND ELECTRIC MOUNTAIN BIKE ROUTES BÄ

GESCHICH TST RÄ C

297 km

| ICH RL UE

TÜCHTIG |

| PIONIERHAF T|

Interactive map for the winter

from Bludenz to Silvretta-Bielerhöhe

CHTIG | EIGENW ILL | TÜ IG IG | HT

TIG CH RÄ

SKI TOURING TIPS

(140 km² of forest)

Verwall, Silvretta, Rätikon

BÄ

| PIONIERHAF T|

TIG CH RÄ

130

LENGTH OF VALLEY

TOTAL AREA

| PIONIERH AF T

TÜCHTIG |

MOUNTAIN CHAINS

H RLIC UE BÄ

| ICH RL UE

39 km

551.87 km²

IONIERHA FT |

TOURISM TOWNS

St. Anton i. M., Vandans, Bartholomäberg, Silbertal, Schruns-Tschagguns, Gargellen, St. Gallenkirch-Gortipohl, Gaschurn-Partenen

GESCH ICH TS T

ª Gestalte mit uns die Zukunft

Du willst Teil unseres Teams werden? Unser Unternehmen bietet zahlreiche Möglichkeiten zur beruflichen Entfaltung. Auch Quereinsteiger sind herzlich willkommen. Alle Infos unter www.montafonerbahn.at. Erfolgreich seit 1905

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MOUNTAIN CULTURE

AN ALPINE VALLEY FULL OF TRADITIONS The cultural history of the Montafon really does go back millennia. Hardly any other valley in the Alps has such a distinctive cultural landscape. From its own cheese fresh from the Montafon, the popular Montafon "Sura Kees”, to the unique three-tier agriculture system and the famous alpine pasture summer in the Montafon mountains. Albert Ammann was a herdsman for over 42 years and gives us deep insights into the various areas of the Montafon cultural landscape.

“A SLICE OF HEAVEN” The Maisäß, or traditional alpine pasture land, are magical places for many people in the Montafon. For taking a break, reminiscing and relaxing. The traditional alpine pasture landscape and the associated lifestyle still characterise the people and the overall scenery of the Montafon valley today. But what exactly is a “Maisäß”? In the Montafon, an agricultural area situated between 1,200 and 1,600 metres above sea level was referred to as a Maisäß. Given their forested hillside location, they could not be used for agriculture and were cleared. These pockets of clearing were then used for livestock farming as a middle level between the home in the valley and the alpine pasture above the tree line. The three-tier agricultural practice that emerged marked the cultural landscape and the lives of the farming population for centuries. Life on the Maisäß primarily used to mean arduous work. Mowing, milking, preparing cheese, mucking out, fertilising

and feeding all had to be done without mechanical support. Every blade of grass was valuable and the well-being of cattle often came before that of people. The small buildings hardly had enough room for all their inhabitants. There was no room for comfort. Despite the fact that there was no TV or radio here until a few years ago and that you had to wash from a trough, often with ice-cold water, the weeks at the Maisäß were very popular, particularly among young people. Albert reports on a break from daily life. “When you stayed overnight at a Maisäß, you knew what it felt like to sleep right next to the cattle. The place rustled and jingled and you were only one layer of wood away from it. It was always something very special,” says Albert, wallowing in memories. Social evenings with neighbours, shepherds and hunters provided a happy distraction from the isolation.I always give myself half an hour to lie on the pasture and enjoy the peace and quiet,” enthuses Albert.

Today, use for leisure and tourist purposes is at the forefront. Good access through freight traffic roads and cableways allows for comfortable standards, which were then reserved for the valley floor. Lovingly renovated Maisäß are now often used for recreational purposes or as accommodation for guests. “And when I’m at the Maisäß today, I always give myself half an hour to lie on the pasture and enjoy the peace and quiet,” enthuses Albert.

What is three-tier agriculture?

With this special form of alpine farming, the hillside farmers use the entire vegetation of a habitat in an annual cycle. In spring, the family moves with the cattle from its own property in the valley to the middle level, the Maisäß, for around four weeks. When feeding is finished at the Maisäß, the cattle go to the Alpine pasture in the summer under the care of the herdsmen. With the arrival of autumn, this drift takes place in reverse back down to the Maisäß and then downhill back home where winter is spent.

Montafon culture

A RECURRENT TASTE EXPERIENCE

The Montafon Sura Kees shaped the valley community in southern Vorarlberg for centuries. This very healthy low-fat cheese has been produced on the alpine dairy farms since the 12th century. As a versatile ingredient, this speciality has reclaimed its place in Montafon cuisine. And its flavour also has a lot to offer: freshly produced Sura Kees tastes spicy with a mild aroma. As it matures, the flavour becomes more intense – though always with a subtly salty and sour undertone. “Sura Kees obviously tastes different today than before,” says Albert. “But it is still at its best when you leave it to stand for a long time. And when you eat fresh black bread with a bit of fresh pasture butter together with Sura Kees, you’ll get hooked on it.” It’s best to try the traditional cheese right where it’s produced: on one of the 12 Montafon alpine dairy farms. Around twothirds of the Montafon’s area is pasture land and about 60 percent of that lies over 1,700 metres above sea level. Life on an alpine pasture is filled with idyllic natural experiences, but also with a lot of work. A dairy farmer’s day begins at half past four in the morning and lasts well into the evening. At 17 years of age, Albert went up to the alpine pasture for the very first time, and then spent every summer there for the next 42 years. “The stove was just to the left of the door, it was a big pile of rocks with an iron plate to place the copper pans on,” remembers Albert. “Life on an alpine pasture has changed a lot over the years. When I think back, I can remember a life devoid of any comfort. We had no television and no telephone on the alpine pasture. We were with each other and enjoyed the time we spent together. That was nice,” says Albert. And at the end of the pasture summer, when the days grew shorter again and the nights longer, then everyone made their

Sura Kees

Due to the fact that only skimmed milk is used for making Sura Kees, its fat content does not exceed two percent. The cheese has a low fat and cholesterol content as well as high-quality protein, which makes it a healthy alternative to traditional mountain and pasture cheese.

way back down to the valley again. The pasture drives in the Montafon have been celebrated since time immemorial and the healthy cattle are gratefully received by the farmers. Cattle have spent their summers in the high pastures for centuries. Well-fed, the cattle return to the valley in September. “After a whole summer of tough work on the alpine pasture, you obviously look forward to going home,” says Albert. The parade of decorated animals – which also include sheep, goats and donkeys, the so-called “Piefl” – are met with food and drink and even with music in some locations. The “Milchstöfleri” – the cow that has given the most milk over the summer – is given an especially warm welcome. She is easy to pick out by the most beautiful and largest “Maien”, the decorative flowers. The exact start date of the pasture drives depends on the weather. If there is an early snowfall, it can be brought forward at the last minute. “But then, in the spring, you obviously look forward to spending summer with the cattle again on the alpine pasture. That’s always something really special,” says a visibly happy Albert. Do you want to learn more about Montafon mountain culture? Then scan the QR code at the side with your smartphone.

And when I’m at the Maisäß today, I always give myself half an hour to lie on the pasture and enjoy the peace and quiet. Albert

Albert Ammann

Alpine herdsman and dairy farmer for a total of 42 years Wasserstubenalpe | Innerkapellalpe | Alpe Latons

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Waldseilpark Whether you opt for a relaxing walk around the “turquoise-blue Flying-Fox pearl of the Alps” or a challenging tour – the hikingKlettern region offers casual hikers plenty of variety.

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MONTAFON

ZU TISCH IM MUNTAFU The Montafon cookbook

Over 160 pages, 28 cooks provide the secrets to their favourite Montafon dishes. The Montafon Tourism Office was allowed to peek over the cooks’ shoulders in the Montafon kitchens for this cookbook. The result is a culinary cross-section right through Montafon cuisine. From simple to refined, from traditional to modern. The best by far are the really “old” recipes, which were made available to us by aficionados from the Montafon.

The Montafon cookbook

ZU TISCH IM MUNTAFU

In this cookbook, every gourmet learns how unconventional, hardworking, rural, steeped in history and pioneering the Montafon tastes. The values that we nurture and live by in the Montafon have never been prepared so finely. The Montafon cookbook is available in all Montafon tourism offices, in the online shop of the

V O N

H E R A U S G E G E B E N M O N T A F O N T O U R I S M U S

Montafon Tourism Office and in selected bookstores for the price of €29.90. shop.montafon.at

Tips and information

Cooking time: approx. 1 hour Difficulty: average The Arctic char can also be replaced by trout, whitefish or another freshwater fish. Instead of wild garlic, other herbs like parsley, tarragon or spinach can also be used, of course. Recommendation by head chef Holger Stösser of Hotel Montafoner Hof in Tschagguns

An Guata!

LOCAL ARCTIC CHAR WITH WILD GARLIC POTATO PURÉE AND RASPBERRY RADISHES Serves

ARCTIC CHAR AND FISH SAUCE ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■

180 g Arctic char fillet per person 2 shallots 1 small piece of fennel a little Pernod / a little white wine / crème fraîche Cream Zest of a lemon Salt, pepper, a little honey

WILD GARLIC POTATO PURÉE ■

approx. 500 g peeled, floury potatoes

■

200 ml cream-milk mixture, equal parts

■

50 g wild garlic paste (mixed wild garlic)

■

40 g butter

■

Salt, pepper, nutmeg, a little garlic

RASPBERRY RADISHES ■

5 to 8 radishes per person, depending on the size

■

3 to 5 raspberries per person

■

a little sugar

■

Raspberry vinegar

Finely chop the shallots and sweat them in a small pan until translucent, add the fennel and also sweat. Add the Pernod and white wine and allow everything to simmer briefly. Add the cream and reduce by half. Then strain everything into another pan and finish with pepper, salt, honey and crème fraîche. Season the Arctic char fillets with salt and pepper and fry in a hot pan on the skin side first until golden yellow, turn, leave to fry for 1-2 minutes and swirl in a little butter. Cut the peeled, floury potatoes into small pieces and cook in salted water until soft. Bring the cream-milk mixture to the boil with the butter and the herbs. Press the cooked potatoes through a potato press. Pour the hot cream-milk mixture onto the potatoes and stir until smooth. Finally, fold in the wild garlic paste and season again if required. Wash the radishes and cut into wedges. Heat a little olive oil in a pan. Add the radishes, sweat them and glaze with a little sugar. Pour on the raspberry vinegar. Finish with a little butter, salt and pepper.

MONTAFON

MY MONTAFON ONLINE MAGAZINE 66

Are you wondering what the “My Montafon Online Magazine” is all about? No need to worry. We’re not going to inundate you with numbers, dates and facts – not at all. In our Online Magazine, we take you with us on our favourite tours, inform you about exciting projects in the valley and tell you the stories that the Montafon has in store for you. We give you a personal

My Montafon Mountain experiences Hosts

MY MONTAFON ONLINE MAGAZINE

cableways

insight into our lives here in the Montafon with a wide variety of articles. Real and authentic. Have fun reading! montafon.at/de/Mein-Magazin

Event

Service

My Magazine

The Montafon is a valley between mountains, formed by glaciers and rising to the rear. But the Montafon is so much more and one thing above all: unique. For between the rugged peaks of the surrounding Alps, there is a concentration of lively village life, cultural and historic attractions and traditional customs. Intangibles like hospitality and zest for life also dwell here. And so the Montafon is a combination of many things. A valley that is more than the sum of its parts. A valley for everybody. A whole.

this unique valley tick? Our podcast gives you an exclusive look behind the scenes, so you can get to know the Montafon and its many hard-working people even better. 67

Want to find out more? Then listen in right now – wherever podcasts are available! montafon.at/Podcast

In Real Mountains. Real experiences. – the Montafon podcast, Jens from Germany meets Montafon resident Hermann. What can one experience in the Montafon? What is life like in the Montafon and what makes

8 R

MONTAF ON

ADVENTURE AREA VALLEY

St. Gallenkirch with view of the Verwall to the east and the Silvretta to the south

(WELCOME TO THE MONTAFON)

OUR VALUES

steeped in history The traces of the 4,000 year-old history of settlement in the Montafon are still evident everywhere in the agriculture, the generation of power, the transport routes and in the tourism industry, and can be experienced by everyone.

pioneering Thanks to progressive ideas, bold decisions and trend-setting projects for the development of the mountains, the foundations for both summer and winter tourism in the Montafon were laid early on and continue to influence the development of the region to this day.

rural The three-tier system of agriculture with the traditional alpine pasture land (Maisäß), the breeding of Montafon cattle and Steinschaf sheep as well as the annual pasture drive are evidence of the active cultivation of the alpine pastures in a well-preserved cultural landscape.

hardworking The local population has always demonstrated great diligence in providing comprehensive infrastructure to ensure that nature is made accessible to the people in the Montafon and can be experienced in all its diverse facets.

unconventional The inhabitants of Montafon are proud of their regional products, their characteristic architectural style as well as their customs and traditions, which have been upheld for centuries and passed down from one generation to the next until today.

Summer Information 2022

Articles inside

Montafon cookbook

Montafon podcast

Practised sustainability in the Montafon

Circumnavigate the Verwall on an e-MTB

Looking forward to winter 2022/23