Montafon

File:Gemeinden im Montafon.svg

The Montafon is an association of ten communities ("Stand Montafon"),{{Cite web |url=http://stand-montafon.at/stand/ueber-uns/geschichte |title=Die Geschichte des Standes Montafon — Stand Montafon |website=stand-montafon.at |access-date=2 January 2017 |archive-date=5 July 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150705020651/http://stand-montafon.at/stand/ueber-uns/geschichte |url-status=dead }} all of which belong to the Bludenz district. The main town is Schruns. Regional tourism is marketed by the Tourist Association Montafon, run by the municipalities, the Vorarlberger Illwerke and the regional mountain cableways.{{Cite web |url=http://www.montafon.at/impressum |title=Impressum: Montafon Tourismus GmbH |website=www.montafon.at |access-date=2 January 2017 |archive-date=7 November 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131107223927/http://www.montafon.at/impressum |url-status=live }}

The municipalities:

• Bartholomäberg ({{convert|1,100|m|abbr=on|disp=semicolon|sp=us}})
• Gaschurn ({{convert|1,000|m|abbr=on|disp=semicolon|sp=us}})
• Lorüns ({{convert|583|m|abbr=on|disp=semicolon|sp=us}})
• St. Anton im Montafon ({{convert|650|m|abbr=on|disp=semicolon|sp=us}})
• Sankt Gallenkirch ({{convert|900|m|abbr=on|disp=semicolon|sp=us}})
• Schruns ({{convert|700|m|abbr=on|disp=semicolon|sp=us}})
• Silbertal ({{convert|890|m|abbr=on|disp=semicolon|sp=us}})
• Stallehr ({{convert|600|m|abbr=on|disp=semicolon|sp=us}})
• Tschagguns ({{convert|700|m|abbr=on|disp=semicolon|sp=us}})
• Vandans ({{convert|660|m|abbr=on|disp=semicolon|sp=us}})

The route from Bludenz into the valley: The state road B188 leads past an old cement plant and through the town of Lorüns. Then one drives through the Alma woods and past the Tränabächle (Brook of Tears). The valley unfolds its full splendor beginning at St. Anton (in the local dialect: "Santatöni") on the left, with Vens and Vandans on the right. St. Anton should not be confused with the more well-known ski resort of St. Anton am Arlberg.

Passing on to Rodund the main electrohydric plant of the Vorarlberger Illwerke comes into view. Continue on through Gantschier and Kaltenbrunnen to Schruns and Tschagguns (in the local dialect: "Schru und Tschaggu"). Above Schruns is the mountain town of Bartholomäberg, with its outlying areas Jetzmunt and Lutt overlooking St. Anton, and its southeastern precincts Kristberg and Innerberg overlooking the Silbertal Valley. This valley stretches southeast from Schruns towards the Arlberg mountain range, passing the outpost of the Fellamendli. The hamlet of Latschau, with its hydroelectric power station and the main base of the Golm ski resort, projecting up over Tschagguns, and opposite Bartholomäberg.

From Schruns and Tschagguns form the midpoint of the Montafon; this divides the outer valley ("Außerfratte") from the inner valley ("Innerfratte"). Continuing up to St. Gallenkirch, the road branches off at Galgenul towards Gargellen, another rugged branch valley that ends at the ski resort of Gargellen. Continuing up the main Montafon valley, the road passes through Gortipohl and on to Gaschurn (in the local dialect: "Gaschorra"), then to Partenen. Here the road snakes up to the Silvretta mountain pass.

File:View of Grappeskopf, Montafon.jpg

The economy in the Montafon is dominated by a mixture of traditional rural activities like forestry, hydroelectric energy production, agricultural products, as well as tourism-related services and products.

File:Almabtrieb Schwarzenberg 2.JPG

Farming and agriculture are part of traditional Alpine transhumance. This is a three-phase seasonal droving of grazing livestock between the valleys in winter and the high mountain pastures in summer, ensuring a sufficient food supply for the cattle throughout the year.{{Cite web |url=http://unesco.scharf.net/cgi-bin/unesco/element.pl?eid=48 |title=Österreichische UNESCO-Kommission - Nationalagentur für das Immaterielle Kulturerbe |date= |website=unesco.scharf.net |publisher= |access-date=2 January 2017 |archive-date=9 April 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140409013314/http://unesco.scharf.net/cgi-bin/unesco/element.pl?eid=48 |url-status=dead }} While tourism and other industries contribute more to the economy, seasonal migration to high pastures is still an important economic factor for parts of the population. In the autumn, if no animals have died and there have not been any accidents up in the mountains, the farmers decorate the cattle and bring them down from the mountain pastures in a festive parade, a highlight of regional culture.{{Cite web |last=www.webdesignsteyr.at |first=Web-& Mediendesign aus Steyr www ebgrafix at |date=30 June 2020 |title=Montafon |url=http://www.planetreisen.at/2020/06/30/montafon/ |access-date=11 July 2021 |website=planetREISEN - der Reiseclub für Grün-Bewegte! |language=de-at |archive-date=24 July 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210724080418/https://www.planetreisen.at/2020/06/30/montafon/ |url-status=live }}

File:Skigebiet Silvretta Montafon - panoramio (2).jpg ski area]]

Tourism plays a vital role and the Montafon is well-known for its skiing, hiking, and mountain biking. The Silvretta high alpine road (German: Hochalpenstraße) gives access to remote ski areas that are located altitudes of {{convert|650|to|1,430|m|sp=us}}. The construction of the Montafon Railway in 1905 also helped develop the seasonal tourist industries.{{Cite web |url=http://www.vorarlberg.at/vorarlberg/geschichte_statistik/statistik/landesstatistik/weitereinformationen/wirtschaft/tourismusaktuell.htm |title=State of Vorarlberg - Tourismus facts and figures |last= |first= |date= |website=www.vorarlberg.at |publisher= |access-date=2 January 2017 |archive-date=22 June 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100622053959/http://www.vorarlberg.at/vorarlberg/geschichte_statistik/statistik/landesstatistik/weitereinformationen/wirtschaft/tourismusaktuell.htm |url-status=dead }}

There are five ski regions: Silvretta Montafon, Golm, Gargellen, Silbertal-Kristberg and Silvretta-Bielerhöhe, with a total of 60 ski lifts and {{convert|225|km|sp=us}} of ski slopes in the region. Freeriding is a popular sport and there are various fun parks with half-pipes. For cross-country skiing there are {{convert|121|km|sp=us}} of classic routes, as well as {{convert|33|km|sp=us}} of skating-routes.

Ski mountaineering has become more and more popular and can be pursued on every mountain in the Montafon.{{Cite web |url=http://www.montafon.at/skitouren |title=Skitouren Vorarlberg : Wintersport im Montafon, Alpen |website=www.montafon.at |access-date=2 January 2017 |archive-date=28 September 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120928022856/http://www.montafon.at/skitouren |url-status=live }}

During the summers and autumns the vast hiking trails along all of the mountain ranges are very popular, among locals and tourists alike. There are even trails that can be accessed via pushchairs ("Muntafuner Gagla Weg“). Nine of the ski lifts are also open during the summer and autumn seasons and allow for quick and convenient ascents or descents in the mountains. All hiking and biking trails are well-marked. Many areas are protected and biking is not always allowed. 26 alpine huts are open during the summer, and special buses for hikers operate in the area.

Mountain hiking and climbing are possible on a great variety of trails, with a broad range of difficulties. For beginners, there are eight climbing parks and 15 fixed rope routes.

There are also two 9-hole golf courses in Tschagguns and in Partenen.{{Cite web |url=http://www.montafon.at/en/activities |title=Activities in the Montafon - Montafon Austria |website=www.montafon.at |access-date=2 January 2017 |archive-date=5 September 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140905152350/http://www.montafon.at/en/activities |url-status=live }}

File:Kristberg03.jpg

Montafoner Resonanzen is a music festival consisting of a series of events in the Montafon region. It is held annually on weekends in August and September. Each weekend is dedicated to another genre (classical, jazz, Austrian folk musik, organ, cross-over). The locations vary each year. Guests may combine hiking and eating out with the concerts, considering the musical performances are held at extraordinary locations like the Tübinger Hütte at {{convert|2,191|m|abbr=on|sp=us}} (Gaschurn) or the Panoramagasthof Kristberg.{{Cite web |title=Montafoner Resonanzen 2021 |url=https://www.montafon.at/montafoner-resonanzen/de |access-date=24 May 2021 |website=www.montafon.at |language=de |archive-date=24 May 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210524144209/https://www.montafon.at/montafoner-resonanzen/de |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |date=10 August 2018 |title=kultur-online - Jazz auf der Schutzhütte |url=https://www.kultur-online.net/inhalt/jazz-auf-der-schutzh%C3%BCtte |access-date=24 May 2021 |website=kultur-online |language=de |archive-date=24 May 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210524144222/https://www.kultur-online.net/inhalt/jazz-auf-der-schutzh%C3%BCtte |url-status=dead }}

In the 2012/13 season, the first SBX World Cup Montafon was held as part of the FIS Snowboard World Cup. The World Cup takes place annually in December, with races carried out in the Silvretta Montafon ski area, starting below the Hochjoch summit and finishing near the cable car's mountain station. The difference in altitude between start and finish is around {{convert|200|m|sp=us}}. During the World Cup, visitors can watch the snowboarders and skiers during the day time and enjoy concerts in Schruns in the nighttime.{{Cite web |url=https://www.montafon.at/weltcup/de |title=Weltcup Montafon im Dezember 2019 |website=www.montafon.at |language=de |access-date=24 March 2019 |archive-date=27 April 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180427115813/https://www.montafon.at/weltcup/de |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |url=https://www.vorarlberg.travel/en/weltcup-montafon/ |title=Weltcup in Montafon – The world's top-ranking ski- and snowboard-crossathletes |date=17 September 2018 |website=Urlaub in Vorarlberg |language=en-US |access-date=24 March 2019 |archive-date=6 March 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190306044313/https://www.vorarlberg.travel/en/weltcup-montafon/ |url-status=live }}

The Montafon-Arlberg Marathon is a mountain marathon taking place since 2003. It encomprises {{convert|42,195|m|sp=us}} and {{convert|1,500|m|sp=us}} in altitude in two federal states (Vorarlberg and Tyrol).{{Cite web |title=Montafon Arlberg Marathon 2021 - Der Berglauf in Vorarlberg und Tirol! |url=https://www.montafon.at/montafon-arlberg-marathon/de |access-date=11 July 2021 |website=www.montafon.at |language=de}}{{Cite web |last=Arlberg |first=Tourismusverband St Anton am |title=Montafon Arlberg Marathon |url=https://www.stantonamarlberg.com/de/events/sommer/montafon-arlberg-marathon |access-date=11 July 2021 |website=www.stantonamarlberg.com |language=de |archive-date=11 July 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210711175425/https://www.stantonamarlberg.com/de/events/sommer/montafon-arlberg-marathon |url-status=live }}

Alpine Transhumance plays a vital role in traditional Alpine culture, just as do Yodeling, Alphorn, Schwingen, and cheese production.

The Montafon festive costume for women consists of a black dress (Juppa), whose bodice (Miadr) is laced at the front. An apron (Schoß) in pastel colors is tied over it. The embroidery is particularly valuable on this costume: the "Brosttuach" is tied in the front of the bodice (ibresa), the apron straps (Schoßbänder) are tied over the apron. Nowadays, the "Libli" (actually part of the younger girls' costume) is mainly worn by dance groups instead of outerwear. In this case, a white blouse is also part of the costume. The picture is rounded off by a red petticoat, red stockings, shoes with buckles and a bow tied around the neck.{{Cite web |title=Vorarlberger Landestrachtenverband: Festtagstracht |url=http://www.trachtenverband.at/trachten/montafon/festtagstracht.html |access-date=11 July 2021 |website=www.trachtenverband.at |archive-date=20 September 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210920113144/http://www.trachtenverband.at/trachten/montafon/festtagstracht.html |url-status=dead }}

The most striking feature of the Montafon festive costume is the embroidery. This consists of two or more parts, depending on the occasion and the outer clothing of the costume. All embroidery is handmade, embroidered with silk on black velvet. A skilled embroiderer needs around 500 working hours to produce a complete embroidery.{{Cite web |last=Michaela |date=8 January 2020 |title=Montafoner Tracht |url=https://www.silberbergmontafon.at/montafoner-tracht/ |access-date=11 July 2021 |website=Silberberg GmbH Montafon |language=de-DE |archive-date=11 July 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210711175432/https://www.silberbergmontafon.at/montafoner-tracht/ |url-status=live }}

Today, the traditional garment is still being manufactured at the Juppenwerkstatt Riefensberg.{{Cite web |title=[SCHAU-]Werkstatt & Verkauf – Juppenwerkstatt Riefensberg |url=http://www.juppenwerkstatt.at/sample-page/das-haus/aufgaben/aufgaben-2/ |access-date=11 July 2021 |language=de-DE |archive-date=11 July 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210711175416/http://www.juppenwerkstatt.at/sample-page/das-haus/aufgaben/aufgaben-2/ |url-status=live }}

• Glöggli-Tschopa: The curly cut Glögglitschopa, so named after the red or green lined frill on the back, has long, narrow sleeves with lapels made of embroidered silk atlas. A characteristic of a well-fitting Glögglitschopa is the Benkli, a fold running from the middle of the breast cloth to the Glöggli.
• Schlutta: The Schlutta, originally the warden chopa, is a brocade jacket. The collar has a delicate white tip.

• Pelzkappa: a heavy otter skin hat
• Mäßli: a headgear with the shape of a cylinder that widens upwards without a brim
• Sanderhut: The sander hat is a headgear introduced around 1900 for the Montafon costume.
• Schäppel: a silver or gold crown worn by young girls

File:MontafonTracht1.jpg|"Trachtenbild 1 des Montafones" by Lisl Thurnher-Weiß (1957)

File:Mädchen aus Montafon in Vorarlberg. R. Henkel, Verlag Franz Lipperheide.jpg|"Mädchen aus Montafon" (Maiden from Vorarlberg) in Vorarlberg, around 1880

File:01MontafonTracht.jpg|Montafoner Tracht (Schruns)

File:Die Gartenlaube (1865) b 652.jpg|"Die Gartenlaube" (1865)

File:Frau in Wintertracht aus Montafon, Vorarlberg.jpg|Montafon woman in wintertracht

File:Montafon 140 Gortipohl Haus 19 (fcm).jpg in Gortipohl|180x180px]]

The Montafonerhaus is a house type in the Montafon valley from the 15th to the 20th century. It is a striking feature of the Montafon cultural landscape and is a characteristic of the valley.{{Cite book |last=Josef. |first=Zurkirchen |title=Heimatbuch St. Gallenkirch, Gortipohl, Gargellen |date=1 January 1988 |publisher=Gemeinde St. Gallenkirch |isbn=3854301014 |oclc=74955669 }} The classic Montafoner house mixes stone and wood elements.{{Cite web |title=Architektur in Vorarlberg |url=https://dayoff.travel/geschichten/detail/architektur-in-vorarlberg/ |access-date=11 July 2021 |website=DAYOFF.TRAVEL |language=de-DE |archive-date=11 July 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210711175416/https://dayoff.travel/geschichten/detail/architektur-in-vorarlberg/ |url-status=dead }}

File:Sura-Kees.JPGThe Montafoner Sauerkäse or Montafon cheese (dialect: Sura Kees or Sura Käs, referring to a type of sour cream/curdled milk cheese) is a sour cream cheese made in the Montafon since the 12th century. Montafon has one of the oldest traditions of cheese production in the Alpine region, and this is still an important dairy product. It has very little fat (1-10% fat in dry matter) and is a local speciality, similar to the Tyrolean grey cheese.{{Cite web |title=Montafoner Sura Kees |url=https://www.genuss-region.at/genussregionen/vorarlberg/montafoner-sura-kees/index.html |access-date=2 January 2017 |website=www.genuss-region.at |archive-date=6 May 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190506132835/https://www.genuss-region.at/genussregionen/vorarlberg/montafoner-sura-kees/index.html |url-status=live }}{{Cite news |date=8 April 2014 |title=Montafoner Maisäß - Teil 1 |url=https://huetten.wanderdoerfer.at/magazin/montafoner-maisas/ |access-date=11 July 2021 |website=Das Wanderdörfer Hüttenportal |language=de |archive-date=23 April 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210423093707/https://huetten.wanderdoerfer.at/magazin/montafoner-maisas/ |url-status=live }}

The LEADER programme Gauertaler Alpkultur{{Cite web |url=http://www.kfm.at/alpkultour/ |title=AlpkulTour Kunstforum Montafon Vorarlberg Österreich |last=Vorarlberg |first=Kunstforum Montafon |website=www.kfm.at |access-date=24 February 2017 |archive-date=4 December 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111204155451/http://www.kfm.at/alpkultour/ |url-status=live }} was created to inform guests and locals in the Gauertal valley about the cultural landscape. Knowledge of this cultural landscape is slowly being lost. Therefore, this path was created to present the Gauertal as a good example of local alpine culture and alpine transhumances. As the trails in the Gauertal are quite popular, the hikers had to be routed in such a way that the sensitive alpine areas were no longer seriously affected. At 13 stations, objects were created by artists who devoted themselves to various cultural areas. Panels and info-brochures tell the stories about the land, the people and the culture.

The following artistic interventions have been created in the Gauertaler landscape:

1. Entrance gate
2. Tree of Myths (alpine myths)
3. Note 1: water & alpine pastures
4. Watcher (shepherd's life)
5. Alpine regions & tourism (no sculpture)
6. Note 2 (forest challenges)
7. Tribune (life in the Maisäß)
8. Cloakroom (changes of culture)
9. Avalanche tree (natural hazards)
10. Battlefield (history in the Alps)
11. Alpinism (no sculpture)
12. Cheese harp (life and work)
13. Antler tree (alp and hunting)

There are three different paths and each tells a different story:{{Cite web |url=http://en.golm.at/gauertaler-alpkultour |title=Gauertaler AlpkulTour - on the culture trail |last=Betriebsges.m.b.H. |first=Illwerke Seilbahn |website=Golm im Montafon |language=en-US |access-date=24 February 2017 |archive-date=29 July 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140729154606/http://en.golm.at/gauertaler-alpkultour |url-status=live }}

• Main tour: Gauertaler Alpkultur: Grüneck ({{convert|1,890|m|disp=semicolon|sp=us}}) - Obere Latschätzalpe - Obere Sporaalpe - Lindauer Hütte - untere Sporaalpe - untere Latschätzalpe - Wachters Dieja - Plazadels - Matschwitz. Length: {{convert|12.7|km|abbr=on|sp=us}}; duration: approx. four ours
• Alptour: Grüneck ({{convert|1,890|m|disp=semicolon|sp=us}}) - Obere Latschätzalpe - Obere Sporaalpe - Lindauer Hütte - untere Sporaalpe - untere Latschätzalpe - Gauen - Latschau. Length: {{convert|11.3|km|abbr=on|sp=us}}; duration: approx. 3.5 hours
• Maisäßtour (tour of alpine transhumance): Grüneck ({{convert|1,890|m|disp=semicolon|sp=us}}) - Obere Latschätzalpe - Wachters Dieja - Plazadels - Matschwitz. Length: {{convert|6.7|km|abbr=on|sp=us}}; duration: approx 2.5 hours

File:HeimatmuseumSchruns.JPG

In the Montafon valley, there are four museums:{{Cite web |title=Montafoner Museen — Stand Montafon |url=https://stand-montafon.at/kultur-wissenschaft/montafoner-museen |access-date=24 July 2021 |website=stand-montafon.at |archive-date=20 June 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210620190401/https://stand-montafon.at/kultur-wissenschaft/montafoner-museen |url-status=dead }}

• Heimatmuseum Schruns (Schruns Museum of Local History)
• Alpin- und Tourismusmuseum Gaschurn (Gaschurn Alpine and Tourism Museum)
• Bergbaumuseum Silbertal (Mining Museum Silbertal)
• Museum Frühmesshaus Bartholomäberg

A number of celebrities including Alfred Dassler have stayed in the Montafon valley. Some of the older folks still talk about the long nights in Schruns playing cards and drinking with Ernest Hemingway and John dos Passos. The Snows of the Kilimanjaro (1936) and several other novels and short stories were written in, or they contain material about, the Montafon and the Silvretta glaciers. The famous German novelist and poet Erich Kästner also repeatedly visited the valley, as did the former German chancellor Helmut Kohl. The noted opera singer Elisabeth Schwarzkopf spent her last years in Schruns, where she died on 2 August 2006.

• Alpine Transhumance
• List of museums in Vorarlberg

• [https://www.montafon.at/en Official website of the Montafon region]
• [https://stand-montafon.at/ Official website of the Stand Montafon (Association of the ten Montafon communities in the south of Vorarlberg)] (in German)

File:Montafon 2012 56.jpg|View into the valley

File:Montafon 2012 12.JPG|View into the valley

File:Montafon 2012 24.JPG|View into the valley

File:Montafon-arlberg-marathon-2005.jpg|Montafon-Arlberg marathon (2005)

File:Schruns Montafon (207854089).jpeg|Schruns in the Montafon valley

File:Tschaggungs-Jausenstation-Bitschweil-01.jpg|Jausenstation Bitschweil (small eatery) in Tschagguns

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Category:Verwall Alps

Category:Silvretta Alps

Category:Valleys of Vorarlberg

Category:Vorarlberg