Little Walser Valley Attractions Kleinwalsertal
The Kleinwalsertal (Little Walser Valley) lies to the southeast of Oberstdorf near the Austro- German border, and is to be distinguished from the Grosswalsertal (Great Walser Valley) north of Bludenz and south of the Bregenzer Wald. The Kleinwalsertal forms part of the Vorarlberg province but has no road connections with the rest of the province, being cut off by the surrounding mountains. It thus lies within the German customs and economic area and uses German currency. The people of the valley came here about 1300 from the Swiss canton of Valais and have preserved many distinctive characteristics down to the present day. The wide valley, watered by the Breitach, with rugged limestone peaks rearing above the valley sides with their covering of forest, is one of the best known and most attractive of Austria's mountain valleys, and its widely scattered villages attract many visitors, who come in summer for the healthy mountain air and in winter for the snow which can always be relied upon here. The commune, made up of four separate parts (Riezlern, Hirschegg, Mittelberg and Baad), has a population of some 5,000.
The starting point of a visit to the Kleinwalsetal is Oberstdorf, in the Allgäu Alps. 6km/4mi up the valley, at the Walser Schanz Inn, lies the German-Austrian frontier. Beyond this there are fine views of the Hoher Ifen and the Gottesackerwände, with the Widderstein (2,533m/7,720ft) in the background. The first place of any size is Riezlern, followed by the resorts of Hirschegg and Mittelberg. At the head of the valley, 14km/8-1/2mi beyond the frontier, lies Baad.
The starting point of a visit to the Kleinwalsetal is Oberstdorf, in the Allgäu Alps. 6km/4mi up the valley, at the Walser Schanz Inn, lies the German-Austrian frontier. Beyond this there are fine views of the Hoher Ifen and the Gottesackerwände, with the Widderstein (2,533m/7,720ft) in the background. The first place of any size is Riezlern, followed by the resorts of Hirschegg and Mittelberg. At the head of the valley, 14km/8-1/2mi beyond the frontier, lies Baad.
Breitachklamm
Near the Austrian-German frontier, at the Walser Schanz (991m/3,251ft) is the upper entrance to the Breitachklamm (gorge). A footpath with numerous bridges and galleries leads between rock walls up to 100m/330ft high and past a waterfall to the mouth of the gorge, in German territory.
Baad Widderstein
Baad (1,251m/4,105ft) is a hamlet belonging to Mittelberg at the head of the Kleinwalsertal, with the Widderstein (2,533m/8,311ft) rearing above it to the south. In summer it is possible to cross the Hochalppass (1,921m/6,303ft) to join the Bregenzerwald Road at the Hochtannberg pass.
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Hoher Ifen
A little mountain road 4km/2.5mi long winds southwestwards from Riezlern to the Auenhütte (1,250m/4,100ft), from which a chairlift ascends the Ifenhütte (1,595m/5,233ft). From here it is a 2.5 hours' climb to the Hoher Ifen (2,232m/7,323ft), to the northwest, a limestone plateau with steeply scarped sides from which there are magnificent views.
Kanzelwandbahn and Fellhorn
To the south of Reizlern a cableway, the Kanzelwandbahn, runs up to 2,000m/6,560ft, where there is an extensive area of good walking and skiing country. To the north rears the Fellhorn (2,039m/ 6,690ft), reached by a cabin cableway on the German side.
Mittelberg, Austria
Mittelberg (1,218ft/3,996ft) has an interesting parish church dating partly from the 14th C. and a local museum (in Bödmen). Summer facilities include a tennis center and an indoor swimming pool; there are also some fine walks.
Riezlern
Riezlern (1,100m/3,610ft), the largest village in the Kleinwalsertal, lies at the mouth of the Schwarzwassertal, which descends from the Hoher Ifen. In addition to a local museum, it offers a variety of leisure facilities (open-air swimming pool, indoor pool, tennis courts).
Walmendinger Horn
A cabin cableway runs up to the Walmendinger Horn (1,993m/6,539ft) and a chairlift to the Zaferna Alpe (upper station 1,419m/4,656ft; cross-country skiing).
