Buchboden: Pilgrimage Church and Nature Themes

When looking for a hotel in Buchboden, you can tailor your travel plans to your specific interests. The parish church offers a cultural focus, while the gorge, springs and forest ecology provide nature themes. Practical considerations also matter when choosing: the hike to Gadenalpe involves a bus transfer, and use of the Lutz Sulphur Bath and sauna wagon is reserved for association members.

Religious Heritage and Bad Rothenbrunnen

Buchboden Parish Church was built around 1687 and is dedicated as the pilgrimage church of the Nativity of Our Lady, Mary. Its date of construction and dedication give the church two distinct points of reference: you can view it as a historic building while also taking its religious role as a pilgrimage church into account.

Bad Rothenbrunnen also has a historic connection: the old spa house was built in 1834. The Alpengasthof Bad Rothenbrunnen serves traditional Austrian or light regional cuisine, as well as hearty home-style cooking. If you would like to eat there, check that the inn is currently open before your trip. The spa house was built considerably later than the parish church, which dates to around 1687.

Gorge, Springs and Forest Nature

The Kessi Gorge is a natural monument with turquoise-blue water; the River Lutz has carved out the gorge over thousands of years. A hike to water spots in the Großes Walsertal Biosphere Reserve takes you to remarkable places by the water, including the Kessi Gorge, the Bad Rothenbrunnen iron spring, the tufa spring and the sulphur spring. The route therefore includes both a natural monument and three springs. It presents a range of water features rather than focusing on a single type of spring.

The Gadental is a core zone of the Großes Walsertal Biosphere Reserve, where nature can develop without human influence. Unlike the named water spots, the focus here is on a natural area and its development. The forests of the Gadental contain Swiss stone pines and spruces. Deadwood is an important part of the forest ecosystem and provides a livelihood for many animals. Thus, the forest’s ecological functions are among the tangible nature themes, alongside its tree species.

Gadenalpe is an idyllic alpine pasture with three huts and the destination of the hike of the same name. For this hike, take Landbus L570 to the “Sonntag Seilbahn Stein” stop, change there and take Rufbus L571 to the “Buchboden Kirche” stop. Check the timetables for both services before travelling, especially the transfer and the appropriate stop.

Sulphur Spring and Bathing Facilities

The Lutz Sulphur Spring is located in the valley of the River Lutz, near Buchboden. One of Austria’s strongest sulphur springs rises there; the spring has been newly enclosed. The source of the spring and the bathing facilities are separate considerations: use of the Lutz Sulphur Bath and sauna wagon is reserved exclusively for association members.

Discover more destinations: Sonntag, Brand, Gargellen, Schruns, Fontanella, Blons, Klösterle, Bürserberg.

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