Montafon★★
The Montafon is a 39 km long valley in southern Vorarlberg, framed by the Silvretta Group (up to 3,312 m, Piz Buin—the highest mountain in Vorarlberg), the Rätikon, and the Verwall Group. Eleven communities—from Schruns (main town, 3,700 inhabitants) via Tschagguns and Gaschurn to Partenen—line up along the Ill.
In winter, the three ski areas Silvretta Montafon (140 km of slopes), Golm, and Gargellen together offer over 200 km of slopes. In summer, the Silvretta High Alpine Road (toll road, €22.50), via ferratas, and the Silvretta reservoir (2,030 m)—a turquoise mountain lake surrounded by three-thousanders—are enticing.
Ernest Hemingway spent two winters (1924/25 and 1925/26) in Schruns and wrote parts of "The Sun Also Rises" at the Pension Taube. A Hemingway trail commemorates this.
💡 Tipp
The Silvretta High Alpine Road (34 curves, €22.50 toll for cars) is one of the most beautiful pass roads in the Alps—but only open from June to October. At the Silvretta reservoir (2,030 m), there is an easy circular hiking trail (1 hr.) and the Wiesbadener Hut for a rest.
Activities & Attractions
★★★ Silvretta High Alpine Road
One of the great Alpine pass roads: 22.3 km, 34 hairpin bends, from Partenen (1,050 m) over the Bielerhöhe (2,032 m) into the Tyrolean Paznaun Valley. At the pass summit, the Silvretta reservoir—an eerily turquoise lake, surrounded by glacier-covered three-thousanders. Circular hike around the lake (1 hr., easy). Starting point for the ascent of Piz Buin (3,312 m, only with mountain guide, approx. €350/person).
Toll: €22.50 (car), €16 (motorcycle). Open: approx. June–October, depending on snow.
★★ Gauablickhöhle Via Ferrata
Spectacular via ferrata (difficulty B/C) near Tschagguns with views into the Rellstal and onto the Zimba (2,643 m). Through a cave and over a 30 m long rope bridge. Approx. 3 hours, only for experienced climbers. Via ferrata set rental in Schruns: €25/day.
★★ Golm — Adventure Mountain for Families
The cable car to the Golm (2,124 m) leads to Vorarlberg's best family mountain: Alpine Coaster (summer toboggan run, 3.5 km, €8.50), forest rope park (€22/adults, €16/children), Flying Fox (€35), and the "Golmi Adventure Trail" for children (free).
Gondola: €22 return (adults), €11 (children). May–October.
★ Hemingway Trail Schruns
A circular walk (1 hr.) through Schruns in the footsteps of Ernest Hemingway: from the Pension Taube (now hotel, rooms from €95) via Café Löwen (where he drank beer) to the ski area, which he described as a "wonderful place." Information boards with photos and quotes.
Freely accessible. Leaflet available at the tourist information.
★★ Maisäß Hikes
The Maisäße are historic alpine settlements halfway up the mountain—precursors of the alpine pastures, where the Montafon people lived with their cattle in early summer and autumn. Today, many of the rustic wooden huts are listed buildings, some are bookable as holiday apartments (from €80/night). The Maisäß hiking trail near Gargellen leads through this unique cultural landscape (3 hrs., easy).
