Museums in Montafon
Culture, History & Rainy-Day Tips in Montafon
History, traditions, mining, mountaineering, the development of skiing and contemporary art: the museums in Montafon offer fascinating insights into life in the region and how it has evolved over time. Discover the Montafon Local Heritage Museum in Schruns, the Alpine and Tourism Museum in Gaschurn, the Silbertal Mining Museum and the Frühmesshaus Museum in Bartholomäberg.
The cultural offering is complemented by historic churches, the Bartholomäberg silver mine, Kunstforum Montafon and special places of remembrance. The museums and cultural sites are therefore ideal excursion ideas and rainy-day activities during your holiday in Montafon.
Montafon Local Heritage Museum in Schruns
Founded in 1906, the Montafon Local Heritage Museum has been housed since 1978 in a stone building around 500 years old on the church square in Schruns, the main town of Montafon. The museum preserves cultural artefacts from throughout the valley and provides insights into the traditional way of life of the Montafon people. The Montafon Archive and a specialist library are also housed here and are available for research purposes by prior arrangement.
Several temporary exhibitions throughout the year complement the museum’s permanent collection.
Opening hours:
Tuesday–Friday and Sunday: 2.00–5.00 pm
Church square in Schruns
Telephone: +43 555674723
What You Can See:
The originally furnished home, consisting of a kitchen, chamber and living room, offers an insight into traditional domestic life in the valley. A particular highlight is what is believed to be the oldest Montafon table, dating from 1712. Various traditional workshops and a hammer forge have been recreated in the cellar vaults. On the first floor, you can visit a historic mountain school classroom. Since 2022, the new multimedia exhibition “WohlWolle – Textile Cultural Heritage and Contemporary Fashion” has enriched the permanent exhibition. The former prison cell recalls the building’s earlier use as a district prison and explores the period of National Socialist rule in Montafon. In the adjoining outbuilding, you will find an alpine dairy and what is believed to be Vorarlberg’s largest traditional chimney hood – a remarkable feature of architectural history.
Guided Church Tour in St. Gallenkirch
The parish church of St. Gallenkirch, originally built in 1305, is one of the most beautiful churches in the region. Its 18th-century Old Testament ceiling paintings, known as a biblia pauperum, are unique in the southern German-speaking region. Remains of rediscovered Gothic frescoes in the chancel indicate the existence of an earlier medieval building.
Tuesday at 4.00 pm | Duration: approximately 45 minutes
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Alpine & Tourism Museum in Gaschurn
The museum is located in an early 19th-century wooden house whose architecture impresses through its simplicity and beauty. Its former resident, Franz Josef Battlogg (1836–1900), was a priest, alpine pioneer and church musician. Against the impressive mountain backdrop of the Silvretta and Verwall, the museum focuses on the history of mountaineering and tourism in Montafon through permanent and temporary exhibitions.
Opening period:
20 June–26 October
Dorfstraße 9, 6793 Gaschurn
Telephone: +43 555674723
Museums as a Rainy-Day Activity in Montafon
There is still plenty to discover in Montafon during rain and changeable mountain weather. The region’s museums explore history, craftsmanship, mining, mountaineering and traditional ways of life, making them a varied rainy-day activity for adults, families and guests interested in culture.
A visit to a museum in Schruns, Gaschurn, Silbertal or Bartholomäberg can also be perfectly combined with a leisurely restaurant visit or relaxing wellness at Genusshotel Vermala afterwards.
Montafon Mining Museum in Silbertal
The Montafon Mining Museum was founded in 1996 and is housed together with the Silbertal municipal offices in the former school building dating from the 1920s. The permanent exhibition focuses on mining in Montafon during the 14th, 15th and 16th centuries. Silver, copper and iron were valuable raw materials extracted around Silbertal, Kristberg and Bartholomäberg during the late Middle Ages. The museum therefore provides the ideal complement to the Silberpfad and Silberspielwelt at Kristberg, as well as the historic mine in Bartholomäberg.
Opening hours:
Tuesday–Friday and Sunday: 2.00–5.00 pm
Dorfstraße 8, Silbertal
Telephone: +43 555674723
What You Can See:
The exhibition invites visitors of all ages to discover the fascinating world of mining and learn about the lives of miners in centuries past. At its centre is a small reconstructed mine tunnel featuring a mine cart and miner. Historic photographs and documents, traditional tools and ores from the local mining area complement the collection. The exhibition also explores the miners’ social conditions and aspects of mining law, including the historical role of the mining judge. Temporary exhibitions are presented throughout the year.
Frühmesshaus Museum in Bartholomäberg
The Frühmesshaus in Bartholomäberg is an outstanding Baroque architectural monument and has enriched the village centre as a museum since 2009.
For centuries, the Frühmesser was the village’s second priest and was responsible, among other duties, for celebrating early morning Mass. The Frühmesshaus enjoys a particularly special location with unique panoramic views across the valley. The historical roots of settlement in Montafon can also be found here, and Bartholomäberg was the valley’s principal village for many years.
Opening hours:
Tuesday–Friday and Sunday: 2.00–5.00 pm
Dorf 11, Bartholomäberg
Telephone: +43 555674723
What You Can See:
The museum focuses particularly on the region’s Baroque architectural heritage. The outstanding design of the early Baroque building and masterpieces of Baroque furniture create an atmospheric setting for exhibitions on the cultural history of Montafon and the fascinating history of Bartholomäberg. Temporary exhibitions explore both local subjects and the main themes presented in the other Montafon museums.
Historic Silver Mine in Bartholomäberg
Step into the mysterious world of the miners and discover the fascination of this historic mine during an expert-guided tour. Learn about the harsh working conditions endured by miners in centuries past.
Around 115 metres of the St.-Anna-Stollen are accessible to visitors. The guided mine tour lasts approximately 30 minutes and is available for groups of around three people or more. For your visit, we recommend a sense of adventure, sturdy footwear and clothing suitable for the conditions. Protective clothing is provided to every visitor during the tour. Please note that the temperature inside the mine is approximately +8°C.
The mine can be reached on foot in approximately 50 minutes from the Baroque church in Bartholomäberg. Advance registration required: +43 664 840 35 96
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Kunstforum Montafon in Schruns
Kunstforum Montafon, known as KFM, offers active formats such as seminars and workshops as well as exhibitions and art education. Its main venue is the former loden factory in Schruns, which provides ideally equipped spaces throughout the year. The exhibition programme focuses on contemporary art from Austria, making KFM an important meeting place for art enthusiasts.
Schualhüsli Bitschweil – School Museum in Montafon
The former primary school in Bitschweil, a district of Tschagguns, is the only school museum in Montafon and recalls the many mountain and village schools that once existed throughout the region.
In 1824, the municipality of Tschagguns decided to educate the children of the remote hamlet of Bitschweil in their own school. The school building has been preserved in its original condition and is now a particularly special cultural site. This small school museum is an excellent example of preserving traditional architecture in harmony with the surrounding landscape and the region’s cultural history.
Opening hours:
Sunday: 1.30–4.00 pm during the summer season
Bitschweilstraße 31, Tschagguns
Telephone: +43 555674723
Places of Remembrance in Montafon
Remembering the Forgotten: 15 Stories
Seventy-five years after the end of the National Socialist regime and the Second World War, memorials were created in every village in Montafon. The central themes include flight and forced labour, but also stories of humanity and non-violent resistance. They tell the stories of people whose fates had almost entirely disappeared from the region’s collective memory. All 15 stories took place in Montafon during the National Socialist period between 1938 and 1945. They describe individual lives, but not isolated experiences. There were countless stories of escape, and thousands of people suffered through forced labour in Montafon alone. At the same time, acts of kindness and resistance occurred more frequently than can be documented within this memorial project.
Remembering the Forgotten in St. Gallenkirch: memorial plaque on the stone wall in front of the municipal office beside the village fountain.
From 1933 onwards, National Socialist terror forced countless persecuted people to flee. Montafon, which borders Switzerland, consequently became the setting for dramatic escape stories.
Many escape attempts failed because of the dangerous and exhausting routes across the Montafon mountains. Numerous refugees were apprehended by National Socialist border guards. Some smugglers took all the refugees’ valuables and abandoned them shortly before the border. Others repeatedly betrayed refugees to the border police in order to collect the offered reward.
However, there were also escape helpers motivated by a deep sense of humanity. The risks they faced were terrifying: arrest could lead to deportation to a concentration camp and, in some cases, immediate execution.
Meinrad Juen from St. Gallenkirch is one of many remarkable examples of civil courage in Montafon. He grew up in modest circumstances as part of a large family. Perhaps partly for this reason, he began smuggling goods across the Swiss border at the age of only 15. When the National Socialists came to power in Germany, it was only a small step from experienced smuggler to escape helper.
Meinrad Juen maintained contacts with resistance groups in Montafon and also established an international network. In 1942, he was arrested for “smuggling Jews into Switzerland”. He escaped and remained in hiding until the end of the war. A report by the local gendarmerie states that Juen is believed to have helped a total of 42 Jewish people escape successfully.
Summer Holidays in Montafon
Culture & Traditions in Montafon
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Frequently Asked Questions about Museums in Montafon
Which museums are there in Montafon?
Museums in Montafon include the Montafon Local Heritage Museum in Schruns, the Alpine and Tourism Museum in Gaschurn, the Mining Museum in Silbertal and the Frühmesshaus Museum in Bartholomäberg. Other cultural attractions include Kunstforum Montafon, Schualhüsli Bitschweil and the historic silver mine in Bartholomäberg.
What can you see at the Montafon Local Heritage Museum in Schruns?
The museum presents the valley’s traditional domestic culture and way of life. Exhibits include historic living spaces, workshops, a hammer forge, a mountain school classroom and displays exploring regional history.
Is there a mining museum in Montafon?
Yes, the Silbertal Mining Museum focuses on mining in Montafon during the 14th, 15th and 16th centuries. Its collection includes historic tools, ores, documents and a small reconstructed mine tunnel.
Is there a museum about the history of tourism in Montafon?
Yes, the Alpine and Tourism Museum in Gaschurn explores the history of mountaineering and tourism in Montafon. Permanent and temporary exhibitions are presented in a historic wooden house.
Are museums in Montafon suitable for families?
Yes, several museums offer engaging insights into traditional craftsmanship, mining, domestic life, schools and everyday life in the valley in earlier times. Which exhibition is best suited to children depends on their age and the current programme.
Are the museums a good rainy-day activity?
Yes, museums, exhibitions and cultural attractions are excellent alternatives during rain or changeable weather. Current opening hours and seasonal programmes should be checked before visiting.
Are there cultural attractions directly in St. Gallenkirch?
Yes, guided church tours are offered in St. Gallenkirch. A memorial from the Remembering the Forgotten project can also be found beside the municipal office, exploring stories of escape, resistance and civil courage during the National Socialist period.
Is Genusshotel Vermala a good base for museum visits?
Genusshotel Vermala is located in St. Gallenkirch and provides a convenient base for cultural excursions and museum visits in Gaschurn, Schruns, Silbertal, Tschagguns and Bartholomäberg.