Silvretta Road 
The Silvretta Road (Silvretta-Hochalpenstrasse), completed in 1953, was built in association with the storage reservoirs supplying the power stations of the Ill hydroelectric scheme (Illwerke). A toll road open only in summer, it stretches from Partenen (1,027m/3,370ft to Galtür (1,584m/5,197ft), linking the Montafon valley with the Paznauntal. There are a number of fine lookout points, with large parking lots, from which the peaks and glaciers of the Silvretta group on the Swiss frontier appear breathtakingly close.
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Must-see attractions nearby:
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The road climbs, with many sharp bends, to the Vermunt reservoir (1,743m/5,719ft) and the Gross-Vermunttal. On the highest point, the Bielerhöhe (2,032m/6,667ft) - the watershed between the Rhine and the Danube - lies the Silvretta reservoir, which has a capacity of 38.6million cu.m/8490million gallons.
Gesellschaft für Musiktheater
Turkenstrasse 19
A-1090 Wien
Austria
Turkenstrasse 19
A-1090 Wien
Austria
Related Attractions
Bielerhöhe and Silvretta Reservoir
At the Bielerhöhe (2,032m/6,667ft), on the boundary between Vorarlberg and Tirol, lies the huge Silvretta reservoir, 2.5km/1.5mi long and 0.75km/0.5mi wide, with a dam 80m/260ft high, 52m/170ft across and 430m/470yds long. It takes some two hours to walk round the reservoir.
Area Mountain Climbs
Some two and a quarter hours' walk to the south of the Silvretta Reservoir lake lies the Wiesbadener Hütte (2,443m/8,015ft; accommodation), the starting point for the ascent of Piz Buin (3,316m/10,880ft), the Schneeglocke (3,225m/10,581ft) and the Dreiländerspitze ("Three Countries Peak", 3,212m/10,539ft), at the boundaries of Vorarlberg, Tirol and Switzerland. All these climbs should be undertaken only with a guide.
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Klein-Vermunttal
Past the Silvretta Reservoir, the Silvretta Road now rapidly descends the Klein-Vermunttal (valley). In 5km/3mi the Kopserstrasse branches off to the left and over the Zeinisjoch (1,842m/6,044ft), an old pass between the Montafon and the Paznaun valley, to the Zeinisjoch-Haus (1,22m/5,978ft; accommodation); to the south lies the Kops reservoir; the surrounding area is good for skiing.
Partenen
Partenen (1,027m/3,370ft), at the head of the Montafon, is a holiday and winter sports resort, with power stations supplied by large conduits bringing down water under pressure. It is a good base for climbing and skiing in the Silvretta and Verwall groups. There is a funicular up the Tromenir (1,730m/5,675ft), from which it is a 45minute walk (part of the way through tunnels) to the Vermunt reservoir. To the north of Partenen rears the Versalspitze (2,464m/8,084ft).
Vermunt Reservoir
9km/5.5mi beyond Partenen the Silvretta Road comes to the Vermunt reservoir (1,743m/5,719ft; power station), with a dam 50m/165ft high and 273m/300yds long. 5km/3mi further on, below the great dam of the Silvretta reservoir, a road branches off on the right to the Madlenerhaus (1,986m/6,516ft; accommodation), a good base for climbs in the Silvretta group (experienced climbers only, or with a guide) - e.g. Vallüla (2,815m/9,236ft; four hours), the Grosslitzner (3,111m/10,207ft), the boldest peak in the Silvretta (six hours, difficult), or the Westliche Plattenspitze (2,880m/9,449ft; five hours).
