Kleinwalsertal

THE AREA

Kleinwalsertal, also known as ''Kleines Walsertal'', is a valley in the northeast of the Austrian state of Vorarlberg. The whole valley is part of Austria and is just an eight hour drive from Utrecht. Kleinwalsertal has something for everyone! The area offers excellent hiking, mountain biking, mountain climbing, trail running, paragliding, skiing, snowboarding, cross-country skiing, ski touring...there are too many options to name. The following are also well worth a visit: summer toboggan run, climbing forest, outdoor swimming pool, museum, Burmi path and the park. Riezlern centre is about a five minute walk from the Lodge. The spire of the Meine Liebe Frau Von Jeruzalem parish church stands out in the cityscape. In addition, Casino Kleinwalsertal (the smallest casino in Austria) and the Kanzelwand cable car are located in Riezlern. Riezlern offers après-ski and peaceful spots in winter. All snowboarders and free skiers can head straight into the park at Crystal Ground Snowpark. 

The Kanzelwand cable car and numerous other lifts in the village await all other winter sport enthusiasts, young and old, as does the Schwendeloipe in the Schwende area.

Cool off in the outdoor swimming pool in summer and head to the spa park to relax. Riezlern is also the starting point for numerous hikes in the Walsergebergte and has a lot to offer visitors in terms of culinary delights.

Kleinwalsertal is an Austrian functional enclave. The valley is to the north of the 2,533-metre tall Großer Widderstein. The towns of Hirschegg, Mittelberg and Riezlern, and Baad at the southwestern end, are separated from the rest of Vorarlberg. They can only be reached from the rest of Austria on foot via Hochalppas and Gemsteljoch. The valley can only be reached by car from Germany via Oberstdorf. Because of this unique situation, Kleinwalsertal allied itself economically with Germany in 1891 by concluding a monetary and customs union with Germany. 

The significance of this special status diminished in 1995 with Austria joining the European Union and the introduction of the euro. The valley is in the Allgäuer Alps and is part of the Bregenz district.