Parish church Silbertal

For a village the size of Silbertal this church is astonishing: a two-aisled hall church in early-Gothic style with a 57 m tower, the tallest in the Montafon. The plans came from Friedrich von Schmidt, cathedral architect of St Stephen's in Vienna, and were executed by the Feldkirch master builder Fidel Kröner; the church was consecrated on 12 October 1893. It replaced a 14th-century church, consecrated in 1332, that had become too small for the growing community. One peculiarity: the main entrance is on the east side – the only Montafon church built that way. Inside, Hans Martin of Munich painted the frescoes in 1896, the altars by August Valentin were installed between 1909 and 1911, the pulpit is by Moriz Schlachter, and the organ was built by Anton Behmann in 1903 with 840 pipes. After the bronze bells were melted down in 1916, four steel bells have hung in the tower since 1923. The patrons are Saints Nicholas and Joseph.

From our house it is 15.9 km or 21 minutes; by bus take the 650 to Schruns and the 680 on into the Silbertal. Right next to the church is the Montafon Mining Museum, and a few minutes further on the valley station of the Kristberg cable car – church, museum and Kristberg together make a well-rounded half day.

Last updated: 13 Sep 2026