Kleinwalsertal

Stretching out your legs on a ‘Güütschle’ (lounger) or ‘Bööchle’ (bench), feeling the fresh air flowing into your lungs, spending time in the moment – the wooden loungers and benches to be found throughout the Kleinwalsertal are always happy for hikers to take a rest on them. The vitality trails of the ‘Walser Omgang’ (‘Walser Circuit’) lead into the innermost part of the soul. They challenge you to ‘find your way’, ‘discover the diversity of life’ and ‘free yourself’! The walks lead through forests and to alps across borders and provide views right into the Allgäu. The paths follow the course of the Schwarzwasserbach and the Breitach. Wild water makes its way through the Breitachklamm and cuts bizarre structures into the rock, the deepest gorge in central Europe. Higher up, there are several via ferratas and climbing enthusiasts can conquer the Widderstein, Kanzelwand or the Hohe Ifen.

The snow-covered vitality trails become cross-country ski runs in winter. They say here that the rhythmic movements in the fresh air ignite the fire of life and create impulses for regeneration, activation and equilibrium. Recuperation can even be measured: experts at the ‘life-fire hotels’ test which impulses are good for health.

The Allgäuer Alps embrace the Kleinwalsertal and seal it off from the rest of Vorarlberg. It is only accessible to visitors travelling from the German side. The language of the locals reveals the influence of Swiss ancestors, which is why the people of Kleinwalsertal welcome you with a charmingly mingled dialect that clearly distinguishes itself from the one spoken in the Allgäu. The 13th century saw people migrate from Valais to the Vorarlberg region and settle in its inhospitable high valleys. Their existence was difficult and full of privation.

But lives changed when tourists first discovered the Kleinwalsertal more than 100 years ago. Skiing became popular. Today, the Kleinwalsertal and its Bavarian neighbour Oberstdorf offer skiing fun ‘with no boundaries’. It’s always worth a trip, particularly when, at the end of December, one leg of the Four Hills Tournament is staged at the Schattenberg Ski Jump. Or when the eagles spread their wings on the big jump: ‘God’s forefinger’ stretches up to the skies just before the entrance to the valley.

The people of the Kleinwalsertal make their way gently and cautiously and feel that remaining authentic and offering quality is important. ‘Önsche Walser Chuche’ continues the traditions of Walser cuisine. It’s a contemporary interpretation of the treasures sourced from local farmers, hunters and producers and spices them up with fresh ideas. The ‘Walser Genuss Tage’ (‘Walser Days of Pleasure’) invite visitors to sample the ‘Genussregion Kleinwalsertal’ (‘Kleinwalsertal Region of Pleasure’). How is bacon smoked? How does milk get to the breakfast table? ‘Käsknöpfle für Anfänger’ (‘Cheese spätzle for beginners’) reveals many a kitchen secret.

It’s also possible to enjoy meetings, conferences, workshops and other events in the Kleinwalsertal: whether on a grand scale in the ‘Walserhaus’ event centre, in the Travel Charme Ifen conference hotel in Hirschegg or in cosy hotels with conference rooms – anyone looking for a suitable location will find the appropriate setting here.