Silbertal – Mining, Trails and Nature

Silbertal is ideal for a trip that combines mining history, trails through nature and family-friendly experiences. Around the Kristberg and the Litzbach, there are various ways to discover the valley. When choosing your accommodation, you can therefore consider whether culture, an educational trail, a nature experience or an activity for children should be your main focus.

Key facts on the topic

• The Montafon Mining Museum Silbertal dedicates its permanent exhibition to mining in the Montafon in the 14th, 15th and 16th centuries.
• The Silver Trail on the Kristberg is 2.7 kilometres long and includes twelve partly interactive stations.
• The Legends Hiking Trail leads to ten legendary sites and begins at St. Agatha Chapel after taking the Montafon Kristberg Cableway uphill.
• The Litzbach adventure trail features eleven interactive stations and is particularly suitable for children and families.
• The Verwall European protected area has existed in Silbertal since 1995 and covers a total of 12,122.91 hectares.
• The Silbertal Kristbergbahn stop is served by bus route 680.
• In summer 2024, the Silbertal open-air stage was a venue for the Montafon Legends Festival.

Mining history on the Kristberg

The permanent exhibition at the Montafon Mining Museum Silbertal focuses on mining in the Montafon during the 14th, 15th and 16th centuries. The museum is housed together with the Silbertal municipal office in an old schoolhouse from the 1920s. This allows the historical focus to be linked to a specific building in the village, without limiting your visit to simply viewing the landscape.

The upper slopes of the Kristberg are also part of the valley’s mining history. Miners prospected there for silver, copper and iron. St. Agatha Chapel on the Kristberg was dedicated to St. Agatha of Catania, who is regarded as the patron saint of goldsmiths and bell founders. The chapel also establishes a connection with copper and silver mining on the Kristberg.

The Silver Trail takes up this history. Along a 2.7-kilometre route, twelve partly interactive stations convey the fascination of mining. At the end of the Silver Trail lies the “Silver Adventure World” near the Miners’ Chapel and below the Kristberg panoramic inn. It is an additional attraction for children. The trail length and number of stations give you specific points of reference for planning your own day.

Trails, legends and nature experiences

If you are looking for a trail with a storytelling focus, the Legends Hiking Trail leads to ten legendary sites with stories and information. It begins at St. Agatha Chapel after taking the Montafon Kristberg Cableway uphill. From there, the trail also offers a view of the Wildried, one of the highest-altitude raised bogs in the Alps.

The Litzbach adventure trail has a different focus. This nature experience trail features eleven interactive stations where visitors can experience nature in a playful way. It therefore has a particular focus on children and families. The mountain stream Litz, to which the trail refers, rises in the Vorarlberg Verwall European protected area. This protected area has existed in Silbertal since 1995 and covers 12,122.91 hectares.

The Montafon Forest School also offers guided forest tours. Children and adults explore the forest using their senses and learn about its functions. Depending on your interests, Silbertal therefore allows you to choose between mining history, legends, the stream landscape and the forest, rather than planning all activities according to the same pattern.

Planning and cultural retrospective

For travelling to the Kristberg Cableway, you can take the Silbertal Kristbergbahn stop into account; it is served by bus route 680. Check the applicable connections for your travel date. Those interested in culture can also take note of the Silbertal open-air stage: in summer 2024, it was a venue for the Montafon Legends Festival, where the play “Drusentor Seppeli” was performed. This information refers to the past programme and is not an indication of a future performance.

If you would like to compare Silbertal with other places, you can also consider Fontanella, Stuben am Arlberg, Klösterle and Bürserberg. Further comparison options include Ausserbraz, Sonntag, Bludenz and Braz.

FAQ

What does the Montafon Mining Museum Silbertal showcase?

The permanent exhibition covers mining in the Montafon during the 14th, 15th and 16th centuries. The museum is housed together with the municipal office in an old schoolhouse from the 1920s.

How long is the Silver Trail on the Kristberg?

The Silver Trail is 2.7 kilometres long and has twelve partly interactive stations about the history and fascination of mining.

Where does the Legends Hiking Trail begin?

The Legends Hiking Trail begins at St. Agatha Chapel after taking the Montafon Kristberg Cableway uphill. In total, it provides access to ten legendary sites.

Which activities are particularly suitable for children?

The Litzbach adventure trail is particularly suitable for children and families and has eleven interactive stations. At the end of the Silver Trail, the “Silver Adventure World” is also an additional attraction for children.

What is known about the Verwall European protected area?

The Verwall European protected area has existed in Silbertal since 1995 and covers a total of 12,122.91 hectares. The mountain stream Litz rises there.

How is the Silbertal Kristbergbahn stop served?

The Silbertal Kristbergbahn stop is served by bus route 680. For the specific connection, you should check the information for your travel date.

To the higher-level travel overview: Bludenz District.