Gargellner Fenster
The Windows of Gargellen and Village Life
Gargellen Windows – glimpses into the past, present, and future of a small mountain village in the border region with Switzerland. But also deep insights into the village community and the challenges of modern tourism. The Gargellen Windows are inspired by the geological rock windows in Gargellen, which offer insights into the fascinating geology of the entire region and reflect the approximately 300-million-year-old evolution of the Alps.
The name Gargellen comes from the Romansh language and means “whirlpool stream.” This small mountain village is home to about 100 residents, and I am one of them. Growing up in Gargellen was simply wonderful. In the summer, I spent all day in the woods, and in the winter, I skied to school and back down the slopes right to my front door. A little later, as a resident of Gargellen, you’re automatically accepted into all the local clubs—mountain rescue, the fire department, the tourism association, and the ski club—even as a baby. By then, at the latest, it becomes clear whether you really suffer from a fear of heights or not.
Every resident of Gargellen knows every tree and every rock by name, and almost everywhere has a story behind it. Many tell of childhood memories, experiences in nature, festivals celebrated until the early hours of the morning, and the occasional youthful indiscretion. Unfortunately, however, many stories also speak of natural disasters, avalanche accidents, death, and grief. All these stories shape the village’s collective memory and sense of community, and some of them are told through the Gargellner Windows.
However, the Gargellner Fenster are not merely a tourist product or a communication medium; for us, they were above all an opportunity to revive and strengthen the sense of community and village cohesion, thereby enhancing the quality of life in the village. Gargellen is too small for the tension between “tourists” and “locals,” and so our motto is: “If we like it, the guest will like it too.” Quality of life and quality of experience go hand in hand here, so to speak.
With this in mind, we realized that we first needed to clean up and give ourselves a fresh start. We took the saying “Can’t see the forest for the trees” to heart and, in the spring of 2018, headed into the woods with around 80 volunteers, equipped with chainsaws and plenty of energy, and spent five days clearing and tidying up Gargellen. We repeated this effort for three more days in the fall. Many trees had to go, but in return, we grew a whole lot closer to one another.
We also created the Gargellen Window Circular Hiking Trail as part of a community project. Over the course of three days, we hauled about 1.2 tons of materials up the mountain and put in a total of 1,000 volunteer hours. Everyone left their mark along the trail, and you can see that each section has its own unique character.
This project has changed our perspective in Gargellen, and I, too, have discovered a window into myself. I would be delighted if you came to visit us in Gargellen. Perhaps you, too, will find yourself reflected in the Gargellen Windows.
