About Bartholomäberg: History, culture, and nature

Our municipality of Bartholomäberg is the sunny balcony of the Montafon. It enjoys the most hours of sunshine in the entire valley and offers unparalleled views. You don't really need any more reasons to choose Bartholomäberg for your vacation in Austria – but we've put together a few anyway. The extensive municipality of Bartholomäberg stretches from 600 meters above sea level up to 1,300 meters. Around 2,350 people live in this area today.

A region steeped in history. The word "Montafon" originally comes from the Romansh language. Until the 16th century, Romansh was spoken in this part of Vorarlberg. However, it is not entirely clear which word it derives from. Either it comes from "mont davon," which roughly means "mountain in front" and could refer to "Vorarlberg." The other possibility would be "munt tovun," which could be translated as "pierced mountain." This would fit in with the valley's mining history, which was particularly pronounced in Bartholomäberg.

History of the municipality of Bartholomäberg

This small village was the first settlement in the Montafon region. The first people settled here over 4,000 years ago and began mining at a very early stage. Excavations reveal the unique history of the settlement. Long before the Middle Ages, people were digging for treasures in the ground. The Silbertal Mining Museum and the Schruns Local History Museum illustrate how hard life was for miners at that time. The particularly beautiful church in Bartholomäberg also dates from the heyday of mining in the 14th century. The parish church from the Baroque period was the first church in the valley. To this day, it remains a popular destination and a fixture in the cultural landscape. If you find yourself on a walk through Bartholomäberg, be sure to marvel at the impressive organ and the late Gothic winged altar in the parish church.

• In the heart of Montafon: Bartholomäberg is located above Schruns in the center of Montafon, making it the ideal starting point for exploring the valley.  
• Places such as St. Anton and Silbertal (each about 10 minutes by car) and Gaschurn (about 25 minutes) are easily accessible from here.
• All three mountain ranges that you can see from Bartholomäberg are close enough for a variety of day trips. The peaks of Silvretta, Verwall, and Rätikon await you with incomparable mountain experiences. Not only can you marvel at the beautiful nature of the Montafon, but you can also learn a lot about the peculiarities of this unique valley.
• The numerous small huts that you will see on your hikes, for example, are known as Maisäss. They were formerly used as agricultural stopovers between the alpine pastures and the valley. A hike in the picturesque Maisäss landscape will remain in your memory for a long time.

If you want to do all the ski tours in Montafon, you need one thing—plenty of time. Because there are more than 20 designated ski tours in Montafon. Some of them are also in Bartholomäberg, e.g., from Kristberg to the historic mine or from Bartholomäberg via Jagdhütte to Rellseck. One of the most extraordinary tours is certainly the Madrisa circular tour, which leads from Montafon to Switzerland and back. It follows smugglers' trails up to an altitude of over 2,800 meters.

Hikes in Bartholomäberg

Whether in winter or summer, Bartholomäberg offers unforgettable holiday experiences all year round. A total of 267 hiking tours with over 1,160 kilometers of trails await you in Montafon, where you can discover the special features of this region. A list of all hiking trails can be found on the tourism association's website. For example, you can embark on the "Three Lakes Hike" and experience Lake Torasee, Lake Fulasee, and Lake Fritzasee, all of which are located directly on Bartholomäberg. Or you can hike from Bartholomäberg via Innerberg to Kristberg. It takes a little less than three hours, is beautiful, and is also suitable for strollers. In winter, there are guided trekking tours with llamas—a very special animal experience, especially for families with children.

Hosts in Bartholomäberg

Relaxation is a top priority in Bartholomäberg. The beautiful natural surroundings of the Montafon are not the only place where you can relax and unwind. Many hotels in the region have invested in expanding their wellness areas in recent years. More than 40 hotels now offer wellness vacations in Montafon. This allows you to combine active days in the mountains with relaxing hours in the soothing whirlpool or hot sauna. Here you can forget your everyday life. Your hosts in Bartholomäberg will give you a warm welcome.

Photo credits:
Image 1: Patrick Säly – Montafon Tourismus GmbH, Schruns
Image 2: Andreas Haller – Montafon Tourismus GmbH, Schruns
Map: Montafon Tourismus GmbH, Schruns

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