View source for Montafon

{{Short description|Valley in Vorarlberg, Austria}}
[[File:2008.07.24.MontafonerSteinschafBartholomaebergH.JPG|thumb|[[Montafon stone sheep]] in [[Bartholomäberg]] in the Montafon valley (2008)]]
'''Montafon''' ({{IPA|de|mɔntaˈfoːn|lang|De-Montafon.ogg}} in local dialect: "''Muntafu''") is a 39&nbsp;km long valley in the westernmost [[Austria|Austrian]] federal state of [[Vorarlberg]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Bergdörfer: Orte im Montafon {{!}} Ausflugsziele in Vorarlberg|url=https://www.montafon.at/de/Mein-Montafon/Bergdoerfer|access-date=2021-07-11|website=www.montafon.at|language=de}}</ref>
It is traversed by the river [[Ill (Vorarlberg)]] and extends from the city of [[Bludenz]] and the [[Verwall Alps]] in the north, to the [[Silvretta]] and [[Rätikon]] mountain range in the south. [[Piz Buin]], at 3,312 meters, is the highest peak within the Silvretta mountain range and the highest peak in Vorarlberg. The Montafon region has a population of 16,421<sup>(2021)</sup>.<ref>{{Cite journal|title=VORARLBERG - BEVÖLKERUNGSSTAND IM MÄRZ 2021|url=https://www.vol.at/2021/05/bevoelkerungsstatistik_032021.pdf|journal=Verwaltungszählung Vorarlberg 2021}}</ref>
== Geography ==
[[File:Gemeinden im Montafon.svg|thumb|Map with municipalities in Vorarlberg belonging to Montafon]]
The Montafon is an association of ten communities ("Stand Montafon"),<ref>{{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=2017-01-02}}</ref> all of which belong to the [[Bludenz District|Bludenz district]]. The main town is [[Schruns]]. Regional tourism is marketed by the [[Tourist association|Tourist Association]] Montafon, run by the municipalities, the Vorarlberger Illwerke and the regional [[Mountain railway|mountain cableway]]s.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.montafon.at/impressum|title=Impressum: Montafon Tourismus GmbH|website=www.montafon.at|access-date=2017-01-02}}</ref>
The municipalities:
* [[Bartholomäberg]] (1,100 <abbr>m</abbr>)
*[[Gaschurn]] (1,000m)
*[[Lorüns]] (583 m)
*[[Sankt Anton im Montafon|St. Anton im Montafon]] (650 <abbr>m</abbr>)
*[[Sankt Gallenkirch]] (900m)
* [[Schruns]] (700 <abbr>m</abbr>)
*[[Silbertal]] (890 <abbr>m</abbr>)
* [[Stallehr]] (600 m)
* [[Tschagguns]] (700 <abbr>m</abbr>)
*[[Vandans]] (660 <abbr>m</abbr>)
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 [[Hydroelectric power station|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|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 (austria)|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|center|thumb|550x550px|Panorama from Grappeskopf (2,205m) near Gortipohl, Montafon]]
== Economy ==
The economy in the Montafon is dominated by a mixture of traditional rural activities like [[Wood industry|forestry]], hydroelectric energy production, [[agriculture|agricultural]] products, as well as [[tourism]]-related services and products.
[[File:Almabtrieb Schwarzenberg 2.JPG|thumb|Festive "Almabtrieb" parade in September]]
=== Agriculture and Farming ===
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 [[pasture]]s in summer, ensuring a sufficient food supply for the [[cattle]] throughout the year.<ref>{{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=2017-01-02}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{Cite web|last=www.webdesignsteyr.at|first=Web-& Mediendesign aus Steyr www ebgrafix at|date=2020-06-30|title=Montafon|url=http://www.planetreisen.at/2020/06/30/montafon/|access-date=2021-07-11|website=planetREISEN - der Reiseclub für Grün-Bewegte!|language=de-at}}</ref>
=== Tourism ===
==== Sports ====
[[File:Skigebiet Silvretta Montafon - panoramio (2).jpg|thumb|The [[Silvretta Montafon (Ski area)|Silvretta-Montafon]] 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 650 to 1,430 meters. The construction of the [[Montafon Railway]] in 1905 also helped develop the seasonal tourist industries.<ref>{{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=2017-01-02}}</ref>
There are five ski regions: [[Silvretta Montafon (Ski area)|Silvretta Montafon]], Golm, Gargellen, Silbertal-Kristberg and Silvretta-Bielerhöhe, with a total of 60 ski lifts and 225&nbsp;kilometers of ski slopes in the region. [[Freeriding (winter sport)|Freeriding]] is a popular sport and there are various fun parks with half-pipes. For [[Cross-country skiing (sport)|cross-country skiing]] there are 121&nbsp;kilometers of classic routes, as well as 33&nbsp;kilometers of skating-routes.
[[Ski mountaineering]] has become more and more popular and can be pursued on every mountain in the Montafon.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.montafon.at/skitouren|title=Skitouren Vorarlberg : Wintersport im Montafon, Alpen|website=www.montafon.at|access-date=2017-01-02}}</ref>
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]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.montafon.at/en/activities|title=Activities in the Montafon - Montafon Austria|website=www.montafon.at|access-date=2017-01-02}}</ref>
[[File:Kristberg03.jpg|thumb|The Panoramagasthof Kristberg is one of the locations of the Montafoner Resonanzen music festival. |200x200px]]
==== Annual events ====
'''[[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 2,191 m ([[Gemeinde Gaschurn-Partenen|Gaschurn]]) or the Panoramagasthof Kristberg.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Montafoner Resonanzen 2021|url=https://www.montafon.at/montafoner-resonanzen/de|access-date=2021-05-24|website=www.montafon.at|language=de}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=2018-08-10|title=kultur-online - Jazz auf der Schutzhütte|url=https://www.kultur-online.net/inhalt/jazz-auf-der-schutzh%C3%BCtte|access-date=2021-05-24|website=kultur-online|language=de}}</ref>
== Sports ==
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)|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 200 meters. During the World Cup, visitors can watch the snowboarders and skiers during the day time and enjoy concerts in [[Schruns]] in the nighttime.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.montafon.at/weltcup/de|title=Weltcup Montafon im Dezember 2019|website=www.montafon.at|language=de|access-date=2019-03-24}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.vorarlberg.travel/en/weltcup-montafon/|title=Weltcup in Montafon – The world's top-ranking ski- and snowboard-crossathletes|date=2018-09-17|website=Urlaub in Vorarlberg|language=en-US|access-date=2019-03-24}}</ref>
The '''[[Montafon-Arlberg Marathon]]''' is a [[mountain marathon]] taking place since 2003. It encomprises 42,195 meters and 1,500 meters in altitude in two federal states ([[Vorarlberg]] and [[Tyrol]]).<ref>{{Cite web|title=Montafon Arlberg Marathon 2021 - Der Berglauf in Vorarlberg und Tirol!|url=https://www.montafon.at/montafon-arlberg-marathon/de|access-date=2021-07-11|website=www.montafon.at|language=de}}</ref><ref>{{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=2021-07-11|website=www.stantonamarlberg.com|language=de}}</ref>
== Culture ==
=== Customs and Traditions ===
[[alpine transhumance|Alpine Transhumance]] plays a vital role in traditional Alpine culture, just as do [[Yodel]]ing, [[Alphorn]], [[Schwingen]], and cheese production.
=== [[Tracht]] ===
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.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|title=Vorarlberger Landestrachtenverband: Festtagstracht|url=http://www.trachtenverband.at/trachten/montafon/festtagstracht.html|access-date=2021-07-11|website=www.trachtenverband.at}}</ref>
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.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Michaela|date=2020-01-08|title=Montafoner Tracht|url=https://www.silberbergmontafon.at/montafoner-tracht/|access-date=2021-07-11|website=Silberberg GmbH Montafon|language=de-DE}}</ref>
Today, the traditional garment is still being manufactured at the [[Juppenwerkstatt Riefensberg]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=[SCHAU-]Werkstatt & Verkauf – Juppenwerkstatt Riefensberg|url=http://www.juppenwerkstatt.at/sample-page/das-haus/aufgaben/aufgaben-2/|access-date=2021-07-11|language=de-DE}}</ref>
==== Outer wear ====
* '''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.<ref name=":0" />
==== Headpieces ====
* '''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<ref name=":0" />
<gallery mode="nolines" widths="150" caption="Montafoner Tracht">
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
</gallery>[[File:Montafon 140 Gortipohl Haus 19 (fcm).jpg|thumb|A [[Montafonerhaus]] in Gortipohl|180x180px]]
=== Architecture ===
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.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Josef.|first=Zurkirchen|title=Heimatbuch St. Gallenkirch, Gortipohl, Gargellen|date=1988-01-01|publisher=Gemeinde St. Gallenkirch|isbn=3854301014|oclc=74955669}}</ref> The classic Montafoner house mixes stone and wood elements.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Architektur in Vorarlberg|url=https://dayoff.travel/geschichten/detail/architektur-in-vorarlberg/|access-date=2021-07-11|website=DAYOFF.TRAVEL|language=de-DE}}</ref>
=== Cuisine ===
[[File:Sura-Kees.JPG|thumb|Sura Kees cheese|200x200px]]The [[Sura Kees|'''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]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Montafoner Sura Kees|url=https://www.genuss-region.at/genussregionen/vorarlberg/montafoner-sura-kees/index.html|access-date=2017-01-02|website=www.genuss-region.at}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=2014-04-08|title=Montafoner Maisäß - Teil 1|url=https://huetten.wanderdoerfer.at/magazin/montafoner-maisas/|access-date=2021-07-11|website=Das Wanderdörfer Hüttenportal|language=de}}</ref>
=== Gauertaler Alpkultur ===
The [[LEADER programme]] ''Gauertaler Alpkultur''<ref>{{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=2017-02-24}}</ref> 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:
# Entrance gate
# Tree of Myths (alpine myths)
# Note 1: water & alpine pastures
# Watcher (shepherd's life)
# Alpine regions & tourism (no sculpture)
# Note 2 (forest challenges)
# Tribune (life in the Maisäß)
# Cloakroom (changes of culture)
# Avalanche tree (natural hazards)
# Battlefield (history in the Alps)
# Alpinism (no sculpture)
# Cheese harp (life and work)
# Antler tree (alp and hunting)
There are three different paths and each tells a different story:<ref>{{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=2017-02-24}}</ref>
* '''Main tour:''' Gauertaler Alpkultur: Grüneck (1,890 meters) - Obere Latschätzalpe - Obere Sporaalpe - Lindauer Hütte - untere Sporaalpe - untere Latschätzalpe - Wachters Dieja - Plazadels - Matschwitz. Length: 12.7&nbsp;km; duration: approx. four ours
* '''Alptour:''' Grüneck (1,890 meters) - Obere Latschätzalpe - Obere Sporaalpe - Lindauer Hütte - untere Sporaalpe - untere Latschätzalpe - Gauen - Latschau. Length: 11,3&nbsp;km; duration: approx. 3.5 hours
* '''Maisäßtour''' (tour of alpine transhumance): Grüneck (1,890 meters) - Obere Latschätzalpe - Wachters Dieja - Plazadels - Matschwitz. Length: 6,7&nbsp;km; duration: approx 2.5 hours
[[File:HeimatmuseumSchruns.JPG|thumb|200x200px|Heimatmuseum Schruns]]
=== Museums ===
In the Montafon valley, there are four museums:<ref>{{Cite web|title=Montafoner Museen — Stand Montafon|url=https://stand-montafon.at/kultur-wissenschaft/montafoner-museen|access-date=2021-07-24|website=stand-montafon.at}}</ref>
* Heimatmuseum Schruns (Schruns Museum of Local History)
* Alpin- und Tourismusmuseum Gaschurn (Gaschurn Alpine and Tourism Museum)
* Bergbaumuseum Silbertal (Mining Museum Silbertal)
* Museum Frühmesshaus Bartholomäberg
== Trivia ==
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 Kilimanjaro (short story)|''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 August 2, 2006.
== See also ==
* [[Vorarlberg]]
* [[Alpine transhumance|Alpine Transhumance]]
* [[List of museums in Vorarlberg]]
* [[Montafonerhaus]]
== External links ==
* [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)
== Photo gallery ==
<gallery mode="nolines" widths="300">
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]]
</gallery>
==References==
{{Reflist}}{{Authority control}}
{{Coord|47|02|31|N|9|57|06|E|region:AT_type:landmark_source:dewiki|display=title}}
[[Category:Verwall Alps]]
[[Category:Silvretta Alps]]
[[Category:Valleys of Vorarlberg]]
[[Category:Vorarlberg]]