The Heimatschutzverein Montafon heritage preservation society is the umbrella society for the Montafon museums, and includes the Heimatmuseum [Heritage] Schruns, the Tourismusmuseum [Tourism] Gaschurn and the Bergbaumuseum [Mining] Silbertal.

The establishment and care of the museums and the Montafon archive in Schruns are, with many other projects, part of the wider history of Montafon. There is an extensive events programme associated with the most important activities. Today the Society has about 700 members, and is one of the most sstrongly growing cultural organisations in the Province.

The Society issues numerous publications, such as the annual reports, the Montafoner Schriftenreihe journal andthe special volumes of the Montafoner Schriftenreihe. It also provides the information for the cultural and historical hiking trails. Montafon.

Contact:
Dr. Andreas Rudigier, Tel. +43 (0)5556 74723, museen@montafon.at

• Montafon Heimatmuseum [Heritage] Schruns

  The Heimatmuseum is housed on Kirchplatz in a 500 year old Rhaeto-Romanic house, once a judge’s residence. It contains ancient cultural artefacts from the whole Valley and gives an account of the lives of Montafon’s inhabitants. The museum was opened in 1906.
  The special exhibition gives an insight into various forms of mountain exploration and mountaineering. Probably the most popular painter of the Alps, Edward Theodore Compton, illustrates with selected pictures (of Montafon mountains, naturally) the artistically challenging vision of the mountains. A direct comparison with Munich Professor of Fine Art Mathias Schmid, who worked here for half a century, provides charming opportunities for contrast. In particular, this juxtaposition gives a rapidly changing portrayal of the early days of alpinism. Karl Blodig on the other hand, the 150th anniversary of whose birth will be celebrated during the year, represents the epic-dramatic depiction of mountain experiences in Montafon. The linguistically expansive works of Blodig are set against early photographs, some contrasting and some complementary, of the Montafon mountains. The pictorial and verbal impressions of the mountains are completed by living Montafon men and women with their precious mountaineering memories. At listening points, these contemporary witnesses recount their personal recollections of their most striking mountain experiences.
  
  Opening times:
  16. December 08 - 18. April 09 and June - October 09
  Tue-Sat 16.00-18.00 Uhr, Guided tours on request:
  +43 (0) 5556 74723, museen@montafon.at
  
  

  VIA VALTELLINA - In the tracks of pack animals from Gargellen to Veltlin – and on smugglers’ paths from Partnun back to Tschagguns

  
  You hike from Gargellen over the Schlappiner Joch (2,203 m) as far as Klosters. Night in a hotel in Klosters. On Day 2, ascent from Dürrboden (2,007 m) to the Scaletta Pass (2,606 m) and through the Val Susauna into the Engadine. Onwards by Rhätische Bahn railway over the Bernina Pass to Alp Grüm. Night in new tourist dormitory accommodation. On Day 3, visit the glacier mills and descend to Poschiavo (1,014 m). From there, ascent to the mysterious San Romerio Church (1,793 m). Night in the authentic mountain lodge with a comfortable room. On Day 4, descent to Miralago and Tirano. Return on the Rhätische Bahn to Klosters / Küblis. Travel by bus to St. Antönien / Partnun (1,770 m). Hike on smugglers’ paths to the Tilisunahütte mountain lodge (2,208 m) with night in a room. On Day 5, descent via the Tobelsee and Gauertal to Tschagguns.
  
  Follow in the tracks of pack animals carrying wine, experience the carefree joy of hiking, the impressive landscape and culinary delights.
  Dates: 21-25.06.2009
  Average hiking time: 5-6 hours
  Price: EUR 385.00
  Services:     3 x Night with half-board (room)
                   1 x Night with half-board (dormitory)
                   Journeys on the Rhätische Bahn and buses
  Participants: 10-14 persons
  
  Registration and information:
  BergAktiv - Wanderführer Montafon
  Tel. +43 (0)664 921 6810
  bergaktiv-montafon@aon.at
   www.bergaktiv.org
  

• Montafoner Tourismusmuseum [Tourism] Gaschurn

  The Tourismusmuseum has been set up since 1992 in an old Montafon house. The history of tourism has long since been displayed, but from summer 2009 the focus of the presentation will shift rather more to Alpine life. The exhibits start with Franz Josef Batlogg, a priest who was a non-conforming pioneer in Gaschurn of the culture of the mountains. His story is characterised by enthusiasm for the mountains and music. The historical curate’s house offers a major opportunity to bring to life this enigmatic personality in the authentic building where he worked (as a parish priest). This exhibition project also provides a unique occasion to define, test and adapt anew for the future a remarkable property with a very special atmosphere.
  
  Opening times :
  Tue and Fri: 15.00 - 18.00 hrs
  Tel. +43 (0)5558 82010 oder 83150
  
  

• Montafoner Bergbaumuseum [Mining] in Silbertal

  The Bergbaumuseum in the Gemeindeamt parish office in Silbertal portrays the history of mining in Montafon, which was a significant sector of the local economy for several centuries.
  
  Documents, illustrations and exhibits explain many interesting facts about the extraction of iron, copper and silver, the hard life of the miners, the activities of the mining companies, the function of the Bergrichter, judges with jurisdiction in the mountains, as well as transport and smelting.
  There are examples of ore and other geological exhibits from the region. In one room, the production of "white gold" - hydroelectric power - is presented by Vorarlberger Illwerke. Massive construction work was required to build the reservoirs and main tunnels.
  
  Opening times:
  Wed and Fri: 16.00 - 18.00 hrs
  June - October 09: Tue to Sat: 15.00 - 18.00 hrs
  Group tours by prior arrangement on Tel. +43 (0)5556 74112 or email: info@silbertal.at .
  
  

Other museums, exhibitions and guided tours in Montafon

• energie.raum - the Illwerke Informationszentrum information centre in Gaschurn-Partenen
  Vorarlberger Illwerke AG, a company in illwerke vkw, manages the information centre in the Vallülasaal in Partenen "energie.raum". 
  
• Historical tours in the Bergknappenkapelle St. Agatha miners' chapel in Silbertal
  Guided tours with Adolf Zudrell are possible every day on request at the Panoramagasthof Kristberg, Tel. +43 (0)5556 72290 or email: info@kristberg.at,  www.kristberg.at.
  
• Winter Sports Exhibition "Then and Now" in Tschagguns
  The resorts of Schruns and Tschagguns count amongst the oldest winter sports resorts i n the Alps. Since then Winter Sports in Montafon have undergone a massive development. This is best illustrated by a collection of memorabilia assembled by Helmut Marent over several decades and only just made accessible to the general public for the first time.
  Winter sports equipment of every conceivable design and era is displayed next to late and great Montafon ski champions.
  Special exhibition: "100 years of WSV-Tschagguns winter sports club and 60 years of Sesselbahn Grabs chairlift" If interested, please inquire at the Tourist Office Tschagguns:
  Tel. +43 (0)5556 72166-30 + 31 or email: info@schruns-tschagguns.at
  Guided tours with Helmut Marent on request, Tel. +43 (0)5556 75008.
  
• Vermunt Water Mining Tunnel
  New from summer 2007: "Gustav", the speaking locomotive and tunnel blasting simulator The Wasser-Erlebnisstollen Vermunt water mining tunnel leads from a gateway in Trominier through the mountain to the dam wall of Vermunt reservoir.
  You can reach the starting point by taking the Vermuntbahn Partenen cableway. The cable car takes you up to the Bergstation Trominier mountain station, at approx. 1,700 m. There, you will find the entrance to the 1.5 km long water tunnel with its fascinating and unusual rock formations.
  The exhibition, which you walk round inside the mountain and was initially open from July to the end of September 2007, is an account of interesting aspects of the former Trominier transport tunnel and power station construction, and the use of water power in the high mountains. The Wasser-Erlebnisstollen is a living exhibition hall which appeals to all ages and target groups. Contact: Vermuntbahn Partenen, Tel. +43 (0)5556 701-85231, mailto:tourismus@illwerke.at.
  

Power station visits

• Vorarlberger Illwerke AG, Tel. +43 (0)5557 4601-88206,  www.illwerke.at

 

Other museums in the surrounding area:

 

 

• Stadtmuseum beim oberen Tor [History of Town] - Bludenz
  Mon - Sat: 15.00 - 17.00 hrs Beginning June - end September
  

• Heimatmuseum [Heritage] Schattenburg - Feldkirch
   hak.feldkirch.com/schattenburg
  

• Puppenmuseum [Dolls] - Blons
   www.puppenmuseumblons.at
  

• Jüdisches Museum [Jewish] - Hohenems
   www.jm-hohenems.at

   

• Museum Stoffels Säge-Mühle [Sawmill] - Hohenems
   www.museum-stoffels-saege-muehle.at

   

• inatura Erlebnis Naturschau [Nature] - Dornbirn
   www.inatura.at
  

• Rolls-Royce-Museum - Dornbirn
   www.rolls-royce-museum.at
  

• Vorarlberger Landesmuseum [History of Province] - Bregenz
   www.vlm.at
  

• Kunsthaus Bregenz [Art]
   www.kunsthaus-bregenz.at
  

• Schloss Landeck [Castle] - Tirol
   www.schlosslandeck.at
  

• Zeppelin Museum - Friedrichshafen (Germany)
   www.zeppelin-museum.de
  

• Appenzeller Volkskunde-Museum [Folklore] - Stein (CH)
   www.appenzeller-museum-stein.ch
  

• Kunstmuseum Liechtenstein [Art] -Vaduz (FL)
   www.kunstmuseum.li