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Alp Nova

Alpine dairy at around 1,730 m in the Nova valley: 80,000 kg of milk become Sura Kees, butter and cheese – on foot from the Garfrescha cable car, 600 m from our house.

all year 🌧️ Also in bad weather

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Alpe Nova lies at around 1,730 m in the Nova valley between St. Gallenkirch and Gaschurn, below the Nova Stoba – practically on our doorstep. The farming cooperative manages 84 ha of pasture within 300 ha of alp; in summer the dairy couple turn around 80,000 kg of milk into Montafon Sura Kees, alpine butter and semi-hard cheese. If you want to see how skimmed, naturally soured milk becomes lean Sura Kees, this is the place: in summer Montafon Tourismus runs guided alp hikes from the Garfrescha top station over the Gantakopf (1,958 m) to the alp, where the cheesemaker explains the dairy. Snacks made from the alp's own produce are served for the whole family.

The Garfrescha cable car starts 600 m from our house; from its top station you reach Alpe Nova over the Gantakopf in about 2½ hours. Alternatively take the Versettla cable car in Gaschurn (5 minutes by car, bus 650) up to the Nova Stoba at 2,010 m and descend into the Nova valley; around the Nova Stoba, activity stations on cows, sheep, bees and herbs teach children how alpine farming works. In early September (2026: on 5 September) the cows of the Nova and Zamang alps return to the Valisera cable car in the big cattle drive – 2 km from our house, with cheese tasting, music and a children's programme.

🧭 Route description

Garfrescha cable car (600 m from the house) to the top station, then about 2½ hours over the Gantakopf; or Versettla cable car Gaschurn to the Nova Stoba (2,010 m) and descend into the Nova valley.

💡 Tips & refreshments

Alpine summer roughly June to mid-September, closed in bad weather (+43 664 4835 372). Check the cable cars' summer operating dates (Nova Bahn 2026: 4 July to 13 September); the lifts are included with the Freizeit-WildPass. Bring cash and a cool bag for the cheese, and sturdy shoes for the Gantakopf.

🚌 Getting there by public transport

Landbus 650, stop Gaschurn Versettla cable car (approx. 10 min from St. Gallenkirch); ski bus in winter.

🅿️ Parking

Large free car park at the Versettla cable car in Gaschurn (summer; paid in winter).

Last updated: 13 Sep 2026

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