Fontanella: Mountain Village, Seewaldsee Lake and Hiking

Fontanella between mountain village and activities

Fontanella is the highest mountain village in the valley and is known for its location as the “sunny balcony of the Großes Walsertal”. Planning a trip here involves considering different perspectives: the village’s history, summer swimming at Seewaldsee Lake, a hike via the Fatnella Alpe and winter sports in Faschina. Which of these is your priority may also determine the best time to travel and how to plan each day.

Local history and farming traditions

Fontanella was settled by Walser colonists in the 14th century. “Village of Musicians” is another name for the village. Cattle farming and dairy farming were part of its traditional economy. After the valley road was built in 1885, the production of hard cheese was intensified, while grain cultivation was gradually abandoned. These dates point to different periods in the village’s history: the 14th century marks the settlement, while 1885 marks a later change in agricultural production. In Fontanella’s history, its cultural moniker and farming livelihoods exist side by side.

Seewaldsee Lake: summer by the water

The small Seewaldsee Lake lies at an altitude of 1,200 m, nestled among meadows. Its low water inflow results in exceptionally pleasant temperatures for swimming in summer. Swimming is therefore clearly a seasonal activity. Seewaldsee Lake can be reached from Fontanella/Säge in about 35 minutes. The Seewaldsee tourist train also takes visitors from Fontanella-Säge to the lake. The service is seasonal; check before your trip whether the train runs on your planned date. The lake’s elevation, meadow setting and summer swimming define its character as described here.

Hiking via the Fatnella Alpe

The hiking route via the Fatnella Alpe leads from Faschina to Fontanella. For the return journey, you can take the L570 regional bus, which runs from the centre of Fontanella back to Faschina. If you plan to combine the hike with a bus ride, check the current timetable. This lets you plan the route in the stated direction and account for the return journey as a separate part of your day. The hike and a summer visit to Seewaldsee Lake suit different day plans: one is a route between Faschina and Fontanella, the other an outing to the lake for swimming.

Winter sports in Faschina

The Faschina-Fontanella ski area is located in the Großes Walsertal Biosphere Reserve. Night skiing takes place weekly in Faschina, right at the Guggernüllilift. This makes the activity specific to a particular location and recurring weekly schedule. Check the night-skiing dates before your trip. Compared with summer swimming at Seewaldsee Lake, the timing of this weekly activity is an important planning consideration.

Choose your travel dates based on your interests

When looking for a hotel in Fontanella, it helps to have a clear idea of what you want your stay to revolve around: the village’s history, Seewaldsee Lake in summer or a hike via the Fatnella Alpe with a return bus ride. If you also want to include night skiing, consider Faschina as a separate activity. This way, you can plan your trip around specific activities and where and when they take place.

Discover more destinations: Faschina, Nüziders, Bludesch, Nenzing, Sankt Anton Im Montafon, Damüls, Gaschurn, Innerbraz.

Go to the main travel overview: Bludenz.