Churches in Montafon

Visiting one of the churches in Montafon is a must. In Montafon there are numerous pilgrimage churches, making a brief visit worthwhile in any circumstances. One does not have to be very devout to look round a church. These old walls very often house interesting frescoes and bring together various different architectural styles.

Bartholomäberg - Pfarrkirche Hl. Bartholomäus

One of the most beautiful churches in the Valley is the baroque parish and pilgrimage church in Bartholomäberg, dedicated to St Bartholomew. The foundation stone for this church was laid on 26 May 1729 by Father Johann Franz Marent. There was a celebratory consecration on 6 June 1743, by Bishop Benedikt von Rost, from Chur. Bartholomäberg was the first parish in Montafon, dating from 1100.

The church's oldest and most precious treasure is the Romanic processional cross dating from 1150. A duplicate is on show in the church. Other attractions are:

• High altar by Georg Senn, 1737 late baroque
• Late Gothic side altar
• St. Anna Miners' altar, which by tradition was donated by local miners
• The memorial organ, built in 1792, is one of the most tuneful of its kind in all Austria. It was built between 1746 and 1809 by Johann Michael Graß.
  
  
  Groups during the winter season only on request.

Gargellen - Pfarrkirche zur Hl. Magdalena

The church was built 1611-1617. It was badly damaged in 1622 by an invading army from Prätigau and was finally consecrated by Bishop Johann VI in 1644 after restoration. This parish church was enlarged in 1791-92 and one year later the church tower was constructed according to an old design.

The church was renovated both inside and outside in 1980/1981. In 1999 the dilapidated church roof had to be completely restored, including the rafters, tiles, reinforcing of walls, and interior and exterior renovation. During the building works a relatively well-preserved fresco from the 18th century, which had been painted over, was discovered in the ceiling vault by the high altar. This has since been restored by experts.

Service: Saturday 17.30 hrs

Gaschurn - Pfarrkirche zum Hl. Michael

A historic church in neo-Romanic style, the new parish church was consecrated in 1869 (illustrated in the church window to the left of the transept) by Franz Josef Rudigier, Bishop of Linz, who was born in Partenen.

Notable features of this parish church:

• Altar and ceiling pictures in late Nazarine style by Franz and Jakob Bertle, brothers from Schruns.
• High altar from the workshop of Fidelis Rudhart in Feldkirch (1911).
• The former church had a rare pulpit in the shape of a whale with Jonah the prophet.
• By the church stands the only "Tanzlaube" in Montafon, a building originally used as a social gathering place and court room.

Gaschurn - Kapelle Maria Schnee

The chapel was founded in 1637 by Lukas Tschofen II, a member of one of Gaschurn's leading families of the 17th century, in gratitude for deliverance from great peril; significant baroque pilgrimage church with pilgrims' badges; baroque art in local style with rare illustrations of the Turin Shroud (on the 17th century altar) and the "Maria Schnee" legend (ceiling fresco on the right in the nave); the holy figures of Lukas and Anna over the choir vault portray Lukas Tschofen III and his wife Anna Clawothin, owners of the biggest inn in 17th century Montafon (the Alpenrose, burnt down in 1927); the Lukas Tschofen room at the Gemeindeamt parish office (1681). 

Gortipohl - Kuratie-Kirche zum Hl. St. Nikolaus

The first chapel was founded in around 1503 as a daughter church of St. Gallenkirch by Bishop Stefanus. The present day church was consecrated in 1694 by Bishop Ulrich of Chur, the original building having been destroyed by an avalanche. The Empire style high altar (1852) is dedicated to the church patron St Nikolaus. The organ dates from the 17th century and is probably the oldest in Montafon.

Services: Saturday 19.30 hrs and Sunday 10.15 hrs

Partenen - Pfarrkirche zum Hl. Martin

Small baroque church dating from the 18th century, it was rebuilt in 1800 after a village fire, with the support of Tyrolean communities and artists. The interior is in local style, late baroque, with a noteworthy sculpture of the church patron (in the left side altar) and a rare illustration (1926) of the "14 emergency helpers" by the Vorarlberg church artist Anton Marte (ceiling fresco from 1926 in the nave).

Partenen - Silvretta Bielerhöhe - Barbara Kapelle

The Barbara Chapel was built by Vorarlberger Illwerke AG at 2,030 m above sea level in memory of those killed and injured in the Illwerke power station projects.

Partenen - Vermunt - Lourdes Kapelle

Lourdes Chapel on the Kardatscha. The chapel was built in 1983. After the third bridge of the Silvretta-Hochalpenstraße High Alpine Road, the track leads via the crossroads to the Lourdes Chapel. Access also from Vermunt.

St. Anton i. M. - Pfarrkirche

The interior of St. Anton i. M. parish church is characterised by a special symbiosis between Old and New. The monument to a famous citizen, J. J. Battlogg, is especially noteworthy.

Services: Saturday evening mass 18.30 hrs and Sunday 9.00 hrs

St. Gallenkirch - Pfarrkirche Hl. Gallus

A chapel since 1307, rebuilt as a church in 1474, with the polygonal shape of the choir dating from this period. The Gothic choir vault was renovated in the baroque style. The church with its three rococo altars, chancel and organ housing counts as one of Vorarlberg's most beautiful rococo churches. There is also a beautiful series of frescoes by W. Klausner (1775).

Services: Sunday 8.45 hrs and 19.30 hrs (in winter 18.30 hrs)

Schruns - Pfarrkirche zum Hl. Jodok

Constructed in 1865. Neo-Romanic altars, paintings in the Nazarine style, numerous pictures (both sides of the altar, choir ceiling) by Franz and Jakob Bertle, members of the Schruns family of artists. Hans Bertle (son of Jakob Bertle) produced the five ceiling paintings above the main aisle and the medallions above the windows. The joiner Anton Bertle and sculptor Ignaz Bertle are responsible for the decoration of the pulpit.

Services: Sunday 9.00 hrs and 19.30 hrs (in winter 19.00 hrs)

Silbertal - St. Agatha Bergknappenkapelle

The St. Agatha Miners' Chapel is the oldest church in Montafon and owes its existence to mining. Other witnesses to the period are the "Misfortune Mine" which can still be clearly seen in the church and the "Bruderhüsli" in the Dalaaser Wald forest. The Montafon-Klostertal mining region was once the largest in the whole of Vorarlberg.

Information and photgraphs from St. Agatha's Church, the Bruderhüsli and the hermitage by Jos Erhard are available at www.kristberg.at A conducted tour with Adolf Zudrell through the period of Montafon and Klostertal mining more than 1,000 years ago in St. Agatha's Church on the Kristberg should not be missed.

Registration for the tour in the
Silbertal Tourist Office: Tel. +43 (0)5556 74112
Email: info@silbertal.at or at the
Panoramagasthof Kristberg: Tel. +43 (0)5556 72290
Email: info@kristberg.at

Silbertal - Pfarrkirche zum Hl. Nikolaus

In 1892 when the original, 14th century church became too small for the congregation, it was broken up and on 3 July 1892 the foundation stone for the new church was laid. The new church was erected in neo-gothic style after Viennese cathedral architect Freiherr von Schmidt. The church's consecration was celebrated on 12 October 1893 by Bishop Dr. Zobl. It was decorated in 1896 by master painter Hans Martin from Munich.

Tschagguns - Pfarrkirche „Unsere Liebe Frau Mariä Geburt“

The Gothic choir of the original church, built in 1452-1454, still exists today, but the church was extended between 1812-1814 by Johann Nepomuk Bitschnau. It has elements of Gothic, Baroque and Neo-Renaissance. There are frescoes in the choir and main aisle by Michael Anton Fuetscher (1814). This church, along with Rankweil and Bildstein, is one of Vorarlberg's Maria Pilgrimage Churches.

Services in summer:
Saturday 18.30 hrs, Sunday 10.00 hrs Services

Services in winter:
Tuesday-Friday 19.30 hrs, Saturday 08.30 and 19.00 hrs, Sunday 10.00 hrs

Tschagguns - Kirche Latschau

Built from1966-68 to the plans of G. Meusburger.

Service: Sunday 19.00 hrs

Vandans - Friedhofskirche

The first chapel was built on this site in 1479. It was extended in 1614. In 1650-51 after removal from the Parish of Tschagguns, the chapel was simple and unadorned. The nave was partly rebuilt in 1777, the choir in 1792. There were major renovations in 1850-51. The church was due to be demolished in 1958 and replaced, but was put under Heritage Protection, totally renovated in 1990-1992 and reconsecrated on 29.11.1992. Nowadays sacred concerts, christenings and other celebrations are held there.

Vandans - Venser Kapelle

The Vens Kapelle, also called the Venser Bild, stands in the furthest part of Vandans, at the end of Untervens. This chapel owes its existence to a pledge made in 1613, when a plague raged in the village, which killed 180 inhabitants in just 3 months. A certain Anna Planggin pledged to build a chapel to honour the Mother of God and St Sebastian if the Vens district of Vandans was spared from the plague.

Anna's prayers were answered, the epidemic halted at Mustergielbach and a small chapel was built that same year. The hill-top chapel was extended by more than half in 1697 and a small bell installed. Since then it has served as a pilgrimage church, as the many votive tablets bear witness. Over the years it has been extended once again and frequently restored.

The chapel has three altars and is decorated in baroque style; the main altar has a relief of the Holy Communion, with, above it, a miraculous image of the Madonna and Child. Nowadays, the chapel is a popular place of pilgrimage, and in great demand as a wedding venue.