Lorüns: Landscape and history at the entrance to the Montafon Valley

Lorüns lies at an elevation of 583 m at the entrance to the Montafon tourist region. The village is situated between the Rätikon and Verwall mountain ranges; the surrounding mountain landscape includes Gavalina and Davenna. The landscape, settlement history and trails offer different insights into the destination. Specific points of interest include the Prazalanz scree fan, the parish church of St. John of Nepomuk, and hiking and cycling routes.

Natural and cultural landscape in Lorüns

The Prazalanz scree fan is a natural cultural landscape with diverse flora. A municipal bulletin from August 2022 described the meadows of Prazalanz as a frequently used local recreation area; check the current situation if you are planning a visit. Various forest biotopes are also among Lorüns’s landscape features.

Local history and the parish church

The history of the village is closely linked to the Ill River. The plain in the narrow valley at the entrance to the Montafon was settled as early as the Middle Ages, despite the risk of flooding from the Ill. Around 1500, there was a chapel in Lorüns dedicated to St. John of Nepomuk because of the danger the Ill posed to the village. The medieval settlement and the dedication of the chapel thus provide two historical connections to the river.

The Catholic parish church of St. John of Nepomuk was built from 1956 to 1960 to plans by architect Otto Linder. On June 7, 1964, Auxiliary Bishop Bruno Wechner consecrated the church. The construction period and the consecration mark two distinct stages: construction was completed four years before the consecration. The parish church is listed as a protected immovable monument in a Federal Monuments Authority preservation order for the district of Bludenz.

The windows also feature specific art-historical details: the glass mosaic windows were installed in 1963 and 1964 and were created by painter Hubert Berchtold. Concrete glass windows on the south wall and beneath the gallery were made by W. Derix in Rottweil. The window works therefore differ both in their execution and in their attribution to their creators.

Hiking trails and directions

According to a municipal bulletin from August 2022, the “Diebschlössle” hiking trail branched off in Lorüns from the right-bank Ill riverside path at the former “Alte Stroß.” The bulletin also described the Illdammweg as part of the regional “Illweg” and noted its use by holidaymakers. The trail connections differ: for Diebschlössle, a junction is identified; for the Illdammweg, its inclusion in the regional Illweg is noted. Before setting out, check the current signs at Diebschlössle, as well as the maintenance and condition of the Illdammweg.

Cycling tour to Partenen

Another specific tour runs from Lorüns to Partenen. It can be ridden on city, trekking or e-bikes. Lorüns railway station is not far from the start of the cycling tour. Two practical points for planning are therefore the type of bicycle and the starting point: the route can be ridden on the bicycle types listed, and the station is a reference point for finding the tour’s starting point.

Discover more destinations: Nenzing, Dalaas, Sonntag, Bludenz, Blons, Damüls, Tschagguns, Sankt Anton im Montafon

Return to the parent travel overview: Bludenz.