If you would like to combine cultural history with different trail themes, Sankt Gerold offers a specific point of interest: the Provostry of St. Gerold. Its history goes back more than 1,000 years; it is also connected with pilgrimage routes and the Path of the Senses. There is also an alpine pasture hike and a mountain biking tour. If you are looking for a holiday apartment, you can consider whether culture, pilgrimage or outdoor activity should be the main focus of your stay.
The Provostry: History and Landscape
The provostry has a history spanning more than 1,000 years. Since the 13th century, it has belonged to Einsiedeln Abbey in Switzerland. The two details refer to different points in time: its long history goes back more than a millennium, while its affiliation with Einsiedeln dates back to the 13th century. The history of the provostry and its connection to a Swiss Benedictine monastery thus stand side by side.
The connection to the landscape is also specific: the provostry is located in the Großes Walsertal Biosphere Reserve. Cultural history and landscape therefore offer two different starting points for planning a trip. If you are particularly interested in the history of the provostry, you can combine this focus with the pilgrimage-route connections; if you would rather plan a tour on foot or by mountain bike, there are dedicated route options in and to Sankt Gerold.
Pilgrimage Routes at the Provostry
The Provostry of St. Gerold lies on Stage 55 of the Via Alpina, the Red Trail, and on the Vorarlberg Way of St. James. This connects two pilgrimage routes with the same place. For the Via Alpina, both the stage and trail color are specified; the Vorarlberg Way of St. James offers a second, separately named pilgrimage-route connection. If you are specifically looking for a stage reference for your trip, the Via Alpina is the relevant point of reference; for the Way of St. James, the regional route name is key.
These pilgrimage-route options can be distinguished from other hiking choices. The Path of the Senses – Path of Silence starts at the provostry and leads back there. The alpine pasture hike on the Walserkamm, by contrast, descends to Sankt Gerold and promises sweeping views. The two walking options therefore differ in their routes: one starts and ends at the provostry, while the other leads downhill to Sankt Gerold.
On Foot or by Mountain Bike
The alpine pasture hike on the Walserkamm combines a descent to Sankt Gerold with sweeping views. The Path of the Senses – Path of Silence has a different point of reference: it starts and ends at the provostry. This comparison helps you assess the hiking options by their respective routes, rather than treating them as interchangeable tours.
The 2-Alps Tour adds a mountain biking option. It is described as a panoramic mountain biking tour and passes the Gaßner Alpe and Plansott Alpe in the Großes Walsertal Biosphere Reserve. The starting point is at the municipal office in Sankt Gerold; the tour then returns to Sankt Gerold. This gives you a choice of different ways to get around and different starting points: a downhill hike, a route that starts and ends at the provostry, or a mountain biking tour that starts at the municipal office.
Getting There by Bus
From Bludenz or Feldkirch railway stations, take the bus via Thüringen Bus-Platz and change to line 77 Großes Walsertal to reach the St. Gerold Gemeindeamt stop. Allow for the change at Thüringen Bus-Platz and check the current timetable before travelling to make sure the connection works for your travel day. This lets you include the bus journey in your travel plans while choosing between culture, pilgrimage routes and tours in Sankt Gerold.
Discover more destinations: Dalaas, Partenen, Thüringerberg, Damüls, Schruns, Innerbraz, Braz, Fontanella
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