Satteins can be explored through several themes, from church architecture and archaeological sites to the Satteins wetlands and a mountain bike stage. Local points of interest range from a chapel consecrated on a precisely recorded date to medieval ruins and a landscape with a distinctive biotope profile.

Chapels and Church History

St. Sebastian’s Chapel stands right beside the ancient and important route from the Walgau valley via Schwarzen See to Rankweil. The building is thought to have been erected in fulfilment of a vow connected with the plague of 1349. On 27 July 1508, Auxiliary Bishop Frater Stephanus of Chur consecrated the chapel in honour of Saints Roch and Sebastian. Inside is a small Late Gothic high altar. Thus, a possible explanation for the building and the precise date of its consecration sit side by side; the small high altar adds a specific artistic feature to the historical context.

The parish church of St. George can also be understood through several historical periods. A church at this site is documented as early as 850. In 1426, it was elevated to parish church status. The new building was constructed between 1822 and 1824 to a design by Alois Negrelli. The early church, its parish status and the new building mark different stages in the history of this church site.

Castles and Archaeological Sites

The Schwarzenhorn ruins lie on a ridge above the village of Satteins at the edge of the forest, east of the Pfudidätschbach stream and directly beside the old Gulmweg trail. The castle was built in the mid-13th century and was first mentioned in 1256. Remains of the keep still survive. Its location and the surviving masonry provide two concrete clues to Schwarzenhorn’s place in the history of the area.

The Horwa ruins lie in Satteins, around 200 to 250 metres above Schwarzenhorn Castle. Excavations from 1992 to 1994 showed that the complex consisted mainly of a circular wall enclosing the plateau and a tower on the east side. The description of Horwa therefore differs from that of the surviving keep at Schwarzenhorn, giving details about the overall complex and the tower’s location.

Vatlära has its own distinct setting: the settlement (refuge fort) lies northeast of Schwarzen See on a long, wooded hill. Its outer perimeter wall is about 180 metres long. Its location and approximate wall length offer a different point of reference from the details given for Schwarzenhorn and Horwa.

The Roman past includes the discovery of a Roman portico villa in Satteins in 1920. The Roman villa of Satteins is located at Rühe, above the northern edge of the Satteins wetlands, and is an archaeological monument that has been covered with earth again. Thus, alongside the castle’s structural remains, there is an archaeological site and a monument preserved in a different way.

Wetlands, Food and Cycling

In the regional biotope inventory, as of 18 June 2020, the Satteins wetlands are listed alongside the Frastanz wetlands as the largest remaining valley-floor peatland in the Walgau. They are also described there as a habitat for numerous rare and highly endangered plant communities. In the same edition of the inventory, the groundwater-fed Puntenifa stream is counted among the area’s last “Gießbach” streams. The nature highlights therefore include both the peatland and a distinctive feature of its waterways.

The Gasthaus Schwarzer See is located right beside Schwarzen See in Satteins. It serves Austrian cuisine and regional specialities. If you plan to eat there, check the latest information about the menu and opening arrangements in advance.

For an active itinerary, the Five Valleys Mountain Bike Tour offers another point of interest: Stage 2 passes through Satteins and climbs on farm tracks towards the transmitter. As route signage and conditions can change, check them before setting off.

Discover more destinations: Weiler, Frastanz, Schlins, Koblach, Feldkirch, Viktorsberg, Batschuns, Übersaxen

Go to the main travel overview: Feldkirch.