In spring, we recommend this roughly 6-hour stage of the Walserweg trail through the Ludescherberg European Protection Area from Raggal to Bludenz to nature enthusiasts. The nature reserve was created by human use, as without the regular mowing, which is done in late summer, Ludescherberg would be largely forested today. Be honest, would you believe that?
Thanks to the nature-friendly cultivation, the meadows are home to 250 ferns and flowers, including roughly twenty varieties of orchids and nine different gentian varieties. Ten endangered bird species have also already been spotted here in the area.

The entire area is a mosaic of dry rough pasture and wetter litter meadows. The rough pasture meadows are among Central Europe’s most biodiverse habitats. Some meadows contain over 70 different types of plants on just 20 m². That is in addition to the many insects, spiders, reptiles and bird species. A unique specimen is the owly sulphur. This rare animal can only be seen on sunny and warm days from May to July. Unrelated to either the dragonflies or butterflies, the species is a member of the neuroptera family.
The diverse flora and fauna is only  possible thanks to nature-kind farming. If you want to know more about this kind of cultivation, you can read up on it in the history of the ‘meadow masters’.
By the way: Maria and Bernhard Walter from Ludesch, who farm a sunny steep slope in the Natura 2000 region of Ludescherberg, were winners in the 2018 ‘Meadow Championship’.

• The many-coloured meadow – Visiting the Steurer family, the meadow masters

Note:
After the day hike, take Landbus bus 76/78 back to Raggal. The last bus leaves Bludenz railway station at 6.09 pm! Detailed timetable information: Verkehrsverbund Vorarlberg (Vorarlberg Transport Association) timetables (in German)