Siedlungsgeschichteweg

How the people of the Montafon once lived: the settlement history trail at Bartholomäberg – 7 km on the old miners’ path with views of the Rätikon.

moderate summer · 5-10 👨‍👩‍👧 Family friendly 🐕 Dogs allowed 🎫 Included with the Freizeit-WildPass

Elevation profile↗ 449 m ↘ 449 m

The Bartholomäberg is the sunny balcony of the Montafon and one of the valley’s oldest settlement areas – church, farms and Maisäß huts stand scattered across the slope. The settlement history trail explains at stations how people lived from mining, three-level farming and the Walser immigration; it partly follows the old miners’ path. Around 7 km, 450 m of ascent, 2½ hours, moderate.

Dutch travel guides recommend the trail explicitly as a “historical hike with a view”; highlights are the baroque parish church with its famous organ and the Frühmesshaus museum. 20 minutes’ drive, bus from Schruns.

🧭 Route description

The route leads from Barockkirche Bartholomäberg via Ortszentrum, Rellseck, Fritzensee and Knappengrube and back to the starting point.

The plotted track follows the marked trails according to OpenStreetMap; see the map, elevation profile and GPX file above. Please follow the signposting on site.

📍 Stages

Barockkirche Bartholomäberg
Ortszentrum
Rellseck
Fritzensee
Knappengrube

💡 Tips & refreshments

Regional rating: fitness 3/6, technique 3/6.

Start early – summer afternoons often bring thunderstorms. Carry enough water; many huts are only open from late June to late September.

From the holiday house in St. Gallenkirch the starting point is easy to reach by Landbus (stop 400 m away) or car – see the travel notes.

🚌 Getting there by public transport

Landbus 680 Schruns–Silbertal to the Kristberg cable car valley station; hiking bus into the upper Silbertal (summer). From St. Gallenkirch via Schruns approx. 35 min.

🅿️ Parking

Free car park at the Kristberg cable car in Silbertal.

Emergency: Alpine rescue 140 · Euro emergency 112 · Ambulance 144
All information without guarantee. Please check weather, opening hours and cable car operating times before setting off. Alpine tours require personal responsibility, suitable equipment and experience.

Last updated: 13 Sep 2026 · Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL)