Thematic Trail | Hiking

Walser Cultural Route: Hirschegg village round

Katholische Pfarrkirche St. Anna in Hirschegg

Kapelle Maria Hilf an der Leidtobelbrücke

Altes Gemeindehaus von der Oberseitestraße gesehen

Factbox

Difficulty:	leicht
Distance:	3.77 km
Ascent:	100 m
Descent:	100 m
Duration:	1.2 h
Deepest point:	1045 m
Highest point:	1144 m
Condition:
Experience:
Landscape:

Höhenprofil

Cultural route in Hirschegg past historical places and monuments that tell stories centuries old.

On this cultural route, old houses, barns, and other contemporary witnesses tell their centuries-old stories. Information boards at the buildings and cultural-historical sites of the Walser Cultural Route provide interesting historical information. Additionally, you can listen to the audio guide at each station in outdooractive. The cultural route and thus the history of the Walsers is embedded in a unique natural landscape with beautiful panoramic views.

The village walk starts at the Parish Church St. Anna in Hirschegg. The walk initially passes the School and Sexton’s House. From the center of Hirschegg, it goes, briefly very steeply, down to the Breitach. Continuing along the Breitachweg and past the Maria Hilf Chapel. After the Leidtobel Bridge, a covered wooden bridge, the Breitachweg is briefly left by taking a detour to the Marksmen’s House at the Leidtobel Bridge. Then the walk returns to the Breitachweg. The next station on the cultural route is the Mineral Spring Maria Höll, which is attributed healing powers. From there, the trail leads up over the state road to a house over 400 years old, the Walser House Kessler. Along the Panorama Path to the Old Community House, which was the administrative seat of the valley community for over 150 years. Shortly after, there is a small, freestanding storage house, which was affiliated with every Walser farm until about 200 years ago for storing grain, flour, and other foodstuffs. At the height, the walk continues to the Cross Church, which was built in 1953 as the first and only Protestant mountain church in the Kleinwalsertal. The final station of the Hirschegg cultural route is a war memorial chapel built in 1935.

Along the Walser Cultural Route, you can also listen to the audio guide at each station in addition to the information boards: Open the Outdooractive app > Map > click the three-dot button > audio guide, or via the link above. Every Tuesday during the summer season, a guided cultural walk with the local historian Stefan Heim takes place. Participants learn additional interesting details about customs and Walser architecture, alongside the information about the buildings and sites on the Walser Cultural Route. For detailed information about Walser culture, the booklet "Original and Originalities" is available at the tourist office.

Naturerlebnis Karte, M 1:12.000. Erhältlich (kostenpflichtig) in der Touristinformation im Walserhaus.

Grenzenlos Wandern im Kleinwalsertal. Wander- und Tourenkarte mit Wanderführer und Panorama, M 1:25.000. Erhältlich (kostenpflichtig) in der Touristinformation im Walserhaus

Alpenvereinskarte Bayerische Alpen, Kleinwalsertal BY2, M 1:25.000

Presented by: Kleinwalsertal Tourismus eGen
Author: Kleinwalsertal Tourismus eGen

Difficulty:	leicht
Condition:
Experience:
Landscape:

Altitude:

Best season:

JAN	FEB	MAR	APR	MAY	JUN
JUL	AUG	SEP	OCT	NOV	DEC

Safety instructions:

EMERGENCY CALL:
144 Alpine emergencies Vorarlberg
112 European emergency number (works with any mobile phone/network)

Equipment:

Sturdy shoes and hiking poles for steep sections recommended. When necessary, rainproof clothing and head covering.

More info & links:

How do you consciously experience nature?

Nature is so much more than the backdrop for unforgettable mountain experiences. It is a habitat for animals and plants. It provides drinking water and supplies us with high quality food. Not only does it provide valuable raw materials such as wood, it also protects against avalanches and mudslides and regulates the climate. It is up to us to support nature in everything that it does for us. One thing is certain, together we can achieve more:

Smart in NATURE

CONSCIOUS together

EXPERIENCE foresight

Smart in NATURE

Take a deep breath and recharge your batteries, be outside and feel free. When we enjoy nature, we are guests in the living room of shy animals and rare plants. If you behave smart, they will be happy to share their living space with you in the future too.

Stay on paths and marked routes

If you follow the marked paths and routes, you are sure to come to new favorite places. In this way you also respect protected areas, because many animals and plants need special protection. Especially in winter, any disturbance unnecessarily costs the wild animals the strength they need to survive.

Avoiding twilight times

Standing on a mountain at sunrise is a special experience. The morning and evening hours are also the time when most wild animals are in search of food. If they are disturbed, they get stressed. If it cannot be avoided, please stay on the marked path, do not use a bright headlamp and enjoy the silence.

Stay clean & take rubbish with you

It goes without saying: You take rubbish with you again, on the mountain and in the valley. Please also organic waste, because it is composted much more slowly at altitude. You can dispose of the rubbish properly at home or in your accommodation – please remember that there are no rubbish bins in public spaces in Kleinwalsertal.

On the natural toilet

If you are looking for a quiet place, please be at least 50 m away from water. Bury excrement or cover it with a large stone. Use fallen leaves or recycled toilet paper and put the paper back in the trash bag.

On tour with a dog

Are you always in control of your four-legged partner, even if he gets his nose for marmots, deer or other wild animals? You are both on the safe side on a leash. Keep dogs on a short leash near grazing cattle. If an attack by a grazing animal is foreseeable: leash off immediately. There are numerous dog stations in the valley for the disposal of dog bags. The farmers and alpine farmers thank you because manure in meadows and fields contaminates the feed and makes grazing cattle sick.

CONSCIOUS to each other

Consideration for other athletes and those looking for relaxation

Everyone loves to enjoy a special piece of earth for themselves. But most of the time we are not traveling alone. No problem, because there is enough space. Allow time, open the way in an accommodating manner, provide support when someone needs help and always give a smile. So nothing stands in the way of friendly cooperation and relaxed enjoyment of nature.

Appreciating the preservation of the cultural landscape

Alpine landscapes are touching with their contrast: Imposing peaks and natural forests alternate with gentle valleys, well-tended meadows and pastures. In the Kleinwalsertal too, this delightful landscape at three altitudes is no coincidence, but the result of an interplay of natural and cultural landscapes. Behind this is the work of farmers, alpine and forestry as well as hunters. With their work, they ensure that the attractiveness of the recreation and leisure area and the diversity of species are preserved. We already say thank you if we stay on the marked trails and enjoy regional products.

EXPERIENCE farsighted

Safe on tour – for you and others

Whether on a ski or snowshoe tour in winter or on a mountain tour in summer, anyone who is out and about in alpine terrain has to be well prepared. This includes careful information and tour planning as well as the right equipment. Correctly assessing alpine dangers requires a lot of knowledge and experience. Why not learn from professionals and go on tour with one of the experienced guides?

Directions

Parish Church St. Anna – School and Sexton’s House – Breitachweg – Leidtobel Chapel Maria Hilf – Leidtobel Bridge – Marksmen’s House – Mineral Spring Maria Höll – Walser House Kessler – Old Community House – Storage House Schpiicher – Cross Church – War Memorial

Start Hirschegg
Coordinates:
Geogr. 47.342263 N 10.168051 E

Destination Hirschegg

Waypoints
Public transportation:

Starting point of the route: Walserbus line 1, bus stop Walser House

>>> Walserbus timetable

Approach:

Most routes from Germany converge in Ulm and continue on the A7. At the Allgäu motorway junction, take the section of the A980 to the Waltenhofen exit and then the four-lane B19 via Sonthofen and Oberstdorf to the Kleinwalsertal. From Austria (Vorarlberg) and Switzerland, the Kleinwalsertal can be reached via the Bregenzerwald (Hittisau) – Riedberg Pass – Fischen – Oberstdorf. Coming from Tyrol, the fastest route leads via the A7 to Kempten and then the B19 towards Oberstdorf. No motorway vignette is required to drive into the valley.

Route Planner

Park:

Paid parking is available at the Walser House

Start	Hirschegg Coordinates: Geogr. 47.342263 N 10.168051 E
Destination	Hirschegg

Höhenprofil

Directions

Waypoints

Public transportation:

Approach:

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