Hiking Trail | Hiking Trail

A6: From Vermuntsee to Gargellen

Alpe Vergalden in Gargellen
Vermuntsee

Photo: Julia Mangeng - Silvretta Historica; Montafon Tourismus GmbH

Hochmadererjoch

Photo: Julia Mangeng - Silvretta Historica; Stand Montafon

Church Gargellen

Factbox

Difficulty: schwer
Distance: 21.7 km
Ascent: 1456 m
Descent: 1798 m
Duration: 8.8 h
Deepest point: 1412 m
Highest point: 2527 m
Condition:

Experience:

Landscape:

  • Höhenprofil

    Vermuntsee - Hochmadererjoch - Tübinger Hütte - Vergaldaalpe - Vergaldatal - Zentrum Gargellen

    Church of St. Magdalena, Gargellen

    Not only wine and traded goods once entered the Montafon via the Schlappiner Joch. During the Thirty Years’ War, which turned former neighbors into political and confessional opponents in the Silvretta region, the Prättigau people came to Gargellen with hostile intent in 1622. They devastated the little church that had just been built and consecrated. Conversely, Montafon inhabitants also crossed passes and mountain saddles to set fire in Prättigau.

    The complex religious and political conditions of the 17th century are also shown by the fact that the church in Gargellen, rebuilt after its destruction in 1622, was consecrated in 1644 by Bishop Johann VI of Chur. For the church and altar consecration, the bishop had to travel through Reformed areas, even the city of Chur was by then already Reformed. Prättigau also had converted to the new faith but was still under Habsburg and thus Catholic rule.

    Despite all the political and confessional turmoil of its time, Gargellen’s church today shows an astonishingly rich interior: Just five years after the episcopal consecration, David Bertle, likely a predecessor of the famous Montafon artist family Bertle, created the popular Sebastian altar, which today serves as the right side altar. The left side altar dates from the late 17th century and originally came from Lech am Arlberg. This altar was brought to Gargellen in the late 18th century, when the church received its baroque onion dome tower. The main altar from 1906 is a Neo-Romanesque work but still displays two figures from the late Middle Ages: St. Magdalena and St. Martin.

    Gargellen also has the Fidelis Chapel, another picturesque sacred building, but with a less pleasant background. The chapel is dedicated to St. Fidelis of Sigmaringen, who preached in Prättigau and was violently killed after a sermon in 1622.

    Presented by: Montafon
    Author: Andreas Marent

  • Difficulty: schwer
    Condition:

    Experience:

    Landscape:

    		Altitude: 2527 m 1412 m Best season:
    JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN
    JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC

  • Directions

    From the starting point of the route, Vermuntsee, the path leads us through the Maderer valley towards Hochmaderer (2,823 m). From the summit, simple climbing sections lead us down the west side. Surefootedness and a head for heights are absolutely required here. The path continues over gently sloping, rock-strewn hillsides and rough boulder terrain towards Tübinger Hütte. From there, the path leads us over the Mittelbergjoch and Vergaldner Joch (2,515 m), further towards Matschuner Joch, before reaching the center of Gargellen through the Vergaldatal.

    Start Vermuntsee
    Coordinates:
    Geogr. 46.92694 N 10.05387 E
    Destination Zentrum Gargellen

    Waypoints

  • Public transportation:

    Just leave your car parked

    The regional buses operate throughout the Montafon. The main lines run every half hour from Schruns train station.

    Bus stop at the start of the route: Partenen Vermuntsee / Line 650

    Bus stop at the end of the route: Gargellen Schafbergbahn / Line 670

    Timetable: www.vmobil.at

    Arrival by train to Montafon

    The Montafon railway runs hourly (sometimes half-hourly) from Bludenz station. There are also direct connections from Lindau (D) and Bregenz.

    Timetable: www.oebb.at

    Approach:

    Take the A14 to the Bludenz/Montafon exit and then continue on Montafonerstraße L188 to Partenen to the toll station for the Silvretta High Alpine Road. From there, you reach Vermuntsee via the Silvretta High Alpine Road. (Toll required)


    Route Planner

    Park:

    Parking is available at Vermuntsee