Discover Bludenz: Cultural Heritage and Mountain Region

Bludenz is the center of a mountain region with five valleys. The Vorarlberg Alpine Region lies in the far west of Austria and includes the Brandnertal, the Alpine town of Bludenz, the Klostertal and the Großes Walsertal Biosphere Reserve. When choosing a hotel in Bludenz, you can first decide which themes matter most for your stay: town history, cultural heritage, mountain scenery or active pursuits.

Cultural history and art trails

The Upper Gate (Oberes Tor) is the historic gateway to Bludenz’s Old Town. On the Muttersberg, the “Alpine Art Muttersberg” circular trail features six installations created by artists. The 2.7-kilometre “Silberpfad am Kristberg” (Silver Trail at Kristberg) takes a different cultural focus: its twelve stops, some of them interactive, introduce visitors to the fascination of mining. The two trails therefore differ both in theme and length: art takes center stage on the circular trail at Muttersberg, while mining is the focus of the Silver Trail.

The Frühmesshaus Museum presents exhibitions on the cultural history of the Montafon and the history of the local community of Bartholomäberg. The range therefore extends from art installations and a themed educational trail to exhibitions about cultural and local history.

Mountain hikes and trails

The Muttersbergbahn cable car takes you up to Muttersberg, at an elevation of over 1,400 metres. From there, hiking routes lead to the Fraßenhütte mountain hut and the summit cross on Hoher Fraßen. The summit hike to Gamsfreiheit offers views of the Großes Walsertal, Klostertal and Montafon valleys, as well as toward the Rätikon range. These options differ in their named destinations and in the focus of the views on the Gamsfreiheit hike.

The Bürser Schlucht gorge offers rare insights into the more recent history of the Earth and features a tree population that is almost rainforest-like. The path through this natural monument leads back to Bürs via the “Kuhloch” and takes about two hours. You can reach the Bürser Schlucht by taking regional bus L580 to the “Bürs Dorfmitte” or “Bürserberg Gemeindeamt” stop. The approximate duration and the named bus stops give you specific information to help plan this route.

Natural areas and regional themes

The Großes Walsertal was recognized as a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in November 2000 and is considered a model region for sustainable living and economic activity. The Gadental European Protected Area provides a habitat for endangered species such as the rock ptarmigan and lady’s slipper orchid. In Klostertal, the Verwall and Klostertaler Bergwälder European Protected Areas offer unspoiled nature and quiet retreats that invite visitors to hike and explore in summer. These areas have different priorities, from protecting endangered species to offering summer hiking and exploration opportunities.

Cycling, skiing and regional products

The Brandnertal Bikepark offers 30 kilometres of trails across eleven main routes, with numerous variations. The Raggal ski area has three drag lifts and seven kilometres of groomed slopes. These details highlight the difference between the activities: the bike park focuses on trails and route variations, while Raggal offers lifts and groomed slopes.

The shop at biosphärenpark.haus sells regional products such as cheese and sausage specialties, as well as handicrafts. Walserstolz mountain cheese is made exclusively in the Großes Walsertal using traditional methods by hand. Together, these details show two aspects of regional produce: the shop’s range of different products and handicrafts, and the limited origin and traditional production of a specific mountain cheese.

More destinations

Discover more destinations: Sankt Gallenkirch, Partenen, Bartholomäberg, Bludenz, Braz, Bürserberg, Dalaas, Damüls, Fontanella, Gargellen, Gaschurn, Klösterle, Lorüns, Nüziders, Raggal, Sankt Anton Im Montafon, Schruns, Silbertal, Sonntag, Thüringerberg, Ausserbraz, Lech, Tschagguns, Brand, Stuben Am Arlberg, Blons, Innerbraz, Bürs, Vandans, Nenzing, Bludesch, Sankt Gerold, Gemeinde Ludesch and Buchboden.

To the main travel overview: Vorarlberg.