Hike to the Walser village of Bürstegg near Lech Zürs in the Arlberg region

Directions

The tour starts in Lech at the “Schlosskopf” bus stop. The route climbs up to Oberlech along a fairly steep gravel path. The Schöneberg Natura 2000 site in Oberlech is one of the most biodiverse areas in the Arlberg region. These extensively managed rough pastures are home to hundreds of plant species and thousands of animal species. Rare orchids, gentians, and many other beautiful plants can be discovered here. In the fall, the meadows turn reddish-brown, giving the landscape a unique character. These mountain hay meadows, some of which are very steep, are mowed once or twice a year. 

The route continues along a narrow gravel path to Skyspace Lech. In this walk-in art installation by American light artist James Turrell, the sky is illuminated in different ways depending on the angle of the light.

On the way to Bürstegg—the oldest Walser settlement in Vorarlberg—the trail winds leisurely through green mountain landscapes. Numerous panoramic views invite you to take a break. A short detour to Bürstegg, with its ancient farmsteads and small chapel at an elevation of 1,719 meters, is well worth it. From here, too, there is a fantastic view of the peaks of the Biberkopf and the Karhorn directly across the way. There are also several lowland bogs here featuring cotton grass, sundew, and other specialized plants. These areas likely gave the small Walser settlement of Bürstegg its name. The name “Bürstegg” is derived from the alpine bristle grass that grows in these fens and is commonly called “Burst” or “Bürstl.”

A gravel path finally leads down to the “Lech Bodenalpe” bus stop, and from there you can take the bus back to the starting point in Lech.