The parish church of St. James the Elder offers views across the entire upper Rhine Valley. Fraxern is also a starting point for mountain hikes, including routes to Hohe Kugel. When choosing accommodation, you can consider whether you want to focus your stay mainly on mountain trails, landscape views or cultural attractions. An easy snowshoe tour, the route to Alpe Maisäss, and the parish church and family chapel each offer a different experience.

Hiking and Snowshoeing

Fraxern is a starting point for mountain hikes, including routes to Hohe Kugel. Trails lead via the “Staffel” or “Maiensäss” alpine pastures to Hohe Kugel. An easy snowshoe tour also leads from Fraxern to Hohe Kugel. It is 10.8 km long; its lowest point is at an elevation of 864 m, and its highest point is at 1,645 m. At the same destination, you can choose between hiking and snowshoeing; the distance and elevation figures refer to the snowshoe tour.

The route to Alpe Maisäss starts at Fraxern village square, at an elevation of 817 m, and leads to the alpine pasture at 1,350 m. The destination is 533 m higher than the starting point. The destinations offer different experiences: Hohe Kugel is described as a peak with views, while Alpe Maisäss is the destination of its own route.

Church, Chapel and Landscape

The parish church of St. James the Elder offers visitors views across the entire upper Rhine Valley. It contains stained-glass windows by Leonhard Schnitzer of the Tyrolean Stained Glass Institute. Those looking to combine landscape and culture in one place will find both here: a wide view of the valley and a specific connection to stained glass.

Fraxern’s family chapel is a modern building dating from 2010. Set amid nature, it offers a place for peace and quiet reflection. The Rankweil–St. Arbogast pilgrimage route crosses a gently rising section to the chapel. Trail conditions can vary; check the current conditions before setting out. The parish church combines valley views with stained glass, while the family chapel offers a different experience, with modern architecture and a pilgrimage route.

Local Connections and Getting There

Fraxner Kriasiwasser, also known as Fraxner Kirsch, is a traditionally made fruit brandy distilled from sweet cherries. The fruit grows on the southern slopes of the Rhine Valley, while the brandy is produced in the municipality of Fraxern in Vorarlberg. This specialty thus brings together cherries from the Rhine Valley slopes and production in Fraxern.

Landbus route 492 is scheduled to run between Weiler and Fraxern on weekdays. If you plan to use this service to arrive or depart, check the current timetable with the Vorarlberg Transport Association before travelling.

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