Mountain & Valley
The name “Montafon” has its roots in the Rhaeto-Romanic language. Today the true historical meaning of the name is still unclear. Many attempts have been made to interpret the name. For example, the “durchlöcherter Berg” or “Pitted Mountain” referring to the mining tradition in the valley, or “Bergbrunn” which in English means “Mountain of the Spring”. “Quiet Alpine Mountain” was also suggested and even that the name is simply a double name “mountain, mountain”. Further research brought forward the names “Valley of the Water” or “Two Waters”.
Montafon lies in the south of the Austrian federal district of Vorarlberg in the very south-west of Austria. It is closed in by 3 mighty mountain ranges: to the north you have the striking chalk rock faces of the Rätikon range, located to the south you will find the crystalline central Alpine rocks of the partially glaciered Silvretta Mountains and in the north-east there is the Verwall. Each peak has been given a melodious sounding name such as Schesaplana, Zimba, Drei Türme, Sulzfluh, Madrisa, Litzner, Piz Buin – at 3312m the highest of them all - Vallüla, Patteriol or Maderer.
The mountains are the most important factor in the valley’s history: The Alpine location has left an indelible and unmistakable mark on the people and the culture here, in the early stages it was mining. Although it is presumed that mining took place in pre-Christian times, the first conclusive evidence of mining in the region dates back to the beginning of the high middle ages. Then came the development of the High Alpine Zone with its unique Alpine farming economy system and transit routes which encouraged increased trade (Saumhandel) with southern neighbours. History shows that the surrounding mountains were imperative to the survival of the valley’s population.
The generally increasing level of prosperity towards the end of the 19th Century can be explained not only by the development of winter and summer tourism but also by the fact that the abundance of water in this mountainous region and the steep gradients meant that, at the turn of the century, hydroelectric power production became an important factor for the economy, for tourisms and the general lifestyle of the local people. Sustainable changes in social conditions were brought about by the Vorarlberg “Illwerke” power plants in the 1920s. A large number of new of jobs were created; each power plant and in particular the reservoirs and the construction of the necessary transportation routes such as the Silvretta High Alpine Road, had an additional positive effect on tourism in the region.
(From the Montafon Almanac)
