Silbertal between Mining History and Nature Experiences

Silbertal combines the history of mining with varied trails and impressive nature experiences. Those planning a trip with children will find just as many points of interest here as culture enthusiasts: on the Kristberg, the Silver Trail and St. Agatha Chapel highlight the area’s mining history, while interactive stations along the Litzbach make the natural environment accessible in a playful way. When choosing a holiday apartment in Silbertal, it is therefore worth first organising the experiences you would like to have.

Mining History on the Kristberg

At the Montafon Mining Museum Silbertal, the permanent exhibition focuses on mining in the 14th, 15th and 16th centuries. The museum shares a building with the municipal office in an old schoolhouse dating from the 1920s. This allows visitors to discover the region’s history in a building that itself has a distinctive historical character.

The landscape on the Kristberg is also connected with mining. Miners worked the heights there and prospected for silver, copper and iron. St. Agatha Chapel on the Kristberg was dedicated to Saint Agatha of Catania, who is regarded as the patron saint of goldsmiths and bell founders. At the same time, the chapel references copper and silver mining on the Kristberg.

Educational Trails, Legends and Special Discoveries

The Silver Trail on the Kristberg is a 2.7-kilometre educational trail with twelve partly interactive stations. They convey the fascination of mining in an engaging way. At the end of the Silver Trail, near the Miners’ Chapel and below the Kristberg Panoramic Inn, lies the Silver Play World, an additional attraction for children.

The Legends Hiking Trail offers a different narrative perspective. It provides access to ten legendary sites with captivating stories and valuable information. After taking the Montafon Kristberg Cableway, the trail begins at St. Agatha Chapel. The Legends Hiking Trail also offers a view of the Wildried, one of the highest-lying raised bogs in the Alps. The Gaglaweg Silbertal, in turn, combines traces of old mining, legendary figures and wild nature with the stories of the valley.

Nature Experiences for Different Day Plans

The Verwall European Protected Area has existed in Silbertal since 1995 and covers a total of 12,122.91 hectares. The wild Litz stream rises in this European protected area in Vorarlberg. Along the Litzbach, the Litzbach Adventure Trail leads through a nature experience with eleven interactive stations, allowing visitors to discover nature in a playful way. The trail is particularly suitable for children and families.

Anyone who would like to get to know the forest more closely can plan a guided forest tour with the Montafon Forest School. There, children and adults explore the forest using their senses and learn about its functions. This results in a clear choice for trip planning: the Silver Trail and the museum focus on culture and mining, while the adventure trail, Forest School and Legends Hiking Trail combine nature, stories and physical activity.

Silbertal as a Starting Point for Your Trip

When looking for accommodation in Silbertal, the desired mix of these experiences may be the deciding factor. For cultural and historical interests, the Mining Museum, Silver Trail and St. Agatha Chapel are the main highlights. Families can also consider the Silver Play World and the Litzbach Adventure Trail. The Silbertal Kristbergbahn stop is served by bus route 680 and should therefore be included in your arrival plans if the Kristberg is on your itinerary.

In summer 2024, the Silbertal Open-Air Stage was the venue for the Montafon Legends Festival; the play “Drusentor Seppeli” was performed there. When searching for a holiday apartment, you can therefore assess Silbertal according to whether you would like to combine mining history, nature trails, legends and family-oriented discoveries in a single stay.

If you would like to compare other places for your trip planning, here is a compact selection: Bludenz, Sonntag, Lech, Tschagguns, Sankt Gallenkirch, Nenzing, Bürserberg, Braz.

To the overarching travel overview: Bludenz.