Webcams Current Snow Report Avalanche Report Weather & Traffic
Architecture | Cultural offerings

Ingenious construction of the feed stables in the Hofstatt

Walserställe
Walserstall
Walserstall
Walserstall
Kulturweg: Hofstatt

Factbox

  • In the thickly wooded spruce forests of the valley block house construction has always been logical. Built entirely of wood and surfaced with wooden shingles in earlier times, the livestock feeding stables are either called “Huusschtall” (house stables) in association with a Walser house, or “Waidschtall” (pasture stables) out on the meadows. The typical Walser stable construction looks like this: The cattle stable (cow room) is very carefully carpentered, with thickset timber beams placed so that it is completely closed off to the elements and keeps in the warmth in winter. The hayloft directly above it is assembled in block construction. Thus there are hollow spaces between the unfinished logs, allowing for sufficient fresh air circulation. The entire supply of hay was formerly bound up in bales, so-called “Schochen”, which had been carried down the mostly steep slopes on the workers’ backs and stored in the stables. A Walser stables or barn is protected from avalanches by piling up stones and soil into a dam construction at the upper slope side of the building. In this way the masses of snow which might crash down the mountain cannot severely damage the building, since the upper side of the building has been fitted into the slope. This earthen wall, called an “Arche”, functions like a wedge against snow pressures. 

    Over many centuries both stables have survived the rough weather conditions undamaged. According to precise dendrological studies, the southernmost stable was built in 1430. A beam dating from the year 1410 was also used. This piece of wooden material provides eloquent witness  to the over 600 year construction history of the building. The other stables, only a few meters down the slope, was built in 1560 and, with its 450 years, has also attained a proud age.

    Presented by: Kleinwalsertal Tourismus eGen
    Author: Kleinwalsertal Tourismus eGen

  • Approach:

    Route Planner