Press information:
Summer 2011
Vintage cars, marathon runners and happy hedonists
Summer in the Montafon offers many events large and small for everyone
The Montafon offers an attractive programme for hedonists as well as athletes,
nostalgists, culture lovers and everyone who simply loves the mountains. In this
summer season an extensive events programme awaits the visitors. Thereby not only
classic mountain experiences but also entertaining and unusual events are the focus.
There are many possibilities to conquer and experience the mountains. Of course you can
hike to the summit in the classic way. You can measure yourself as a marathon runner with
like-minded people on lonely high routes or pedal uphill on a mountain bike. In the Montafon,
however, there is another very unusual way up the mountain: on 23 July the Montafon
Treppencup will be on the programme for the thirteenth time.
Sport: marathons for bikers and runners and a record staircase
At the Europatreppe 4,000, the longest straight staircase in Europe, hobby athletes from
numerous countries meet for a demanding race. The staircase has 4,000 steps, is 1.5
kilometres long, is over 700 metres in height and with a maximum incline of 86% it is
anything but comfortable. It was built as a supply route for the construction of the large
reservoirs in the Silvretta and today is seen as the "largest fitness device in the world". Many
professionals use it as a fitness device during the summer, including the Austrian ski racers.
The Treppencup is, however, not the only top sporting event in Montafon.
The M³ Montafon Mountain Bike Marathon also has cult status, a particularly demanding bike
marathon, where the high Alpine mountain landscape in the Montafon really comes into its
own. It takes place on 30 July. Then the bikers can choose from three different routes. These
are the "M³ extreme" at 145 kilometres and a spectacular 4,400 metres in height, the "M²
demanding" at 65 kilometres and 2,400 metres in height and finally the "M1 sporty" at 970
metres in height over 26 kilometres. There is also the possibility of combining the M³ with the
Montafon Treppencup.
There is also a marathon for mountain runners. On 2 July the 9th Montafon Arlberg marathon
starts through the rear Silbertal near Schruns and leads over the Winterjöchle and the
Verwall area to St. Anton am Arlberg. What makes this event so special is the route on lonely
Alpine roads in the middle of the Alpine natural landscape without cars, cable cars and lifts.
We are also excitedly awaiting another top class track race.
On 4 and 5 September the 7th Gore-Tex Transalpine Run will make a guest appearance in
the Montafon. The legendary track race, which runs across the Alps in eight stages at 260
kilometres, starts in Oberstdorf and on 4 September leads over the Ravensburg hut and the
Kristbergsattel through the Silbertal to the day's goal of Schruns.
The participants will start from there the next morning and run over the Kreuzjoch and the
Valschavieljöchle to Galtür. The finish and the start the next morning are fascinating
experiences for spectators.
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Nostalgia: Rendezvous with automotive legends
There is no question that the Montafon is a sporting area. But it also has completely different
qualities. Discovering the mountains in comfort and with style has a particular allure.
Therefore the Silvretta Classic Rally Montafon is not only one of the most important events in
Vorarlberg, but also one of the biggest vintage car events in Europe.
From 7 to 10 July automotive gems of yesterday and before will be on the wonderful
mountain roads, taking breaks in numerous places, where they can also be admired by many
fans. Another thing that makes the Silvretta Classic Rally so unique is the presence of
numerous automotive manufacturers, whose classic departments use particularly valuable
exhibits from their museum stocks.
This also delights many celebrities, who enjoy a drive through the Montafon at the wheel of a
luxurious classic. What had its premiere last year will be continued this summer on an even
larger and more impressive scale. At the Silvretta E-car Rally Montafon taking place
simultaneously the most diverse electric vehicles with hardly audible motors will be driving on
the mountain roads.
Culture: Old stories, jazz at the reservoir and pure love of life
Culture in the mountains. An attractive combination especially in the Montafon. This summer
the programme practically fulfils your every wish. The cultural festival Montafon summer "das
Leben..? Ein Fest!" [Life..? A party!"] offers a diverse programme from 8 to 17 July with a
food, baroque and children's festival, a comfortable and sentimental evening with Schrammel
music in a wonderful ambience and jazz on the reservoir. Guests can also enjoy the
experience of a late baroque opera in Berger Hof in Bartholomäberg. The story telling play in
Silbertal offers a journey back in time to past eras. From 9 July to 26 August in Silbertal, the
biggest legend "Gspusagang" from Vorarlberg and Switzerland will be performed in one of
the largest open air plays in Europe. The Montafon folk music days are a traditional meeting
point for folk music fans. From 26 to 28 August musicians will be playing and singing in inns,
hotels and individual mountain stations of Montafoner Bergbahnen.
These are just a few of the high points of the mountain summer in Montafon. The popular
holiday region also offers a varied and attractive events programme every day. Fixed big
events on the calendar are for example the mountain breakfast on Saturdays in the mountain
restaurant Schafberghüsli in Gargellen, and the children's day in the chapel on Sundays.
Every second Monday the smuggler's and farmer's market entices you into the mountain
restaurant Schafberghüsli. Every Thursday there is a miner's tour in the St. Agatha miner's
chapel on Kristberg. Enjoy, discover the mountain landscape or just have fun and relax.
Every guest can be happy in Montafon and there is no time to be bored anyway.
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INFOBOX: MONTAFON TOURISM www.montafon.at
Places St. Anton im Montafon 650m Gargellen 1,430m
Vandans 650m St. Gallenkirch 900m
Bartholomäberg 1,100m Gortipohl 950m
Schruns 700m Gaschurn 1,000m
Tschagguns 700m Partenen 1,050m
Silbertal 890m
Events
02.07.2011 Montafon Arlberg Marathon
07.07. to 10.07.2011 Silvretta classic rally Montafon
Silvretta e-car rally Montafon
08.07. to 17.07.2011 Culture festival Montafon summer "das Leben...? Ein Fest!"
09.07. to 26.08.2011 Story telling play Silbertal
23.07.2011 Montafon Treppencup
30.07.2011 M3 Montafon Mountain bike Marathon
M3 extreme 145 kilometres 4,400 metres in height
M2 demanding 65 kilometres 2,400 metres in height
M1 sporty 26 kilometres 970 metres in height
26.08. to 28.08.2011 Montafon folk music days
04.09. and 05.09.2011 Gore-Tex Transalpine Run
Directions
By car from Munich approx. 2 hours 30 minutes 251 km
from Stuttgart approx. 2 hours 50 minutes 285 km
from Frankfurt approx. 4 hours 30 minutes 483 km
from Innsbruck approx. 1 hour 50 minutes 142 km
from Zurich approx. 1 hour 50 minutes 169 km
from St. Gallen approx. 1 hour 88 km
By train There are good ICE and EC connections from Germany, Switzerland and Austria. These
go from Munich, Innsbruck or St. Gallen to Bludenz. From Bludenz you can take the
Montafon train Bludenz - Schruns in approx. 20 minutes. You can find information about
journey times and timetable, connections and services at www.montafonerbahn.at.
By plane The nearest airports are in Zurich (150 km), Munich (280 km), Innsbruck (140 km),
Friedrichshafen (100 km), Memmingen (140 km), Altenrhein (75 km)
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Pressekontakt:
Montafon Tourismus TOC Agentur für Kommunikation GmbH & Co.KG
Daniela Vonbun/ Arno Fricke Tanja Felder/ Sibylle Zuber/ Thomas Ammer
Montafonerstr.21 Kolpingring 16
A-6780 Schruns D-82041 Oberhaching bei München
Tel. +43 (0)5556 722-530 Tel. +49 (0)89 1430 400 19
Fax +43 (0)5556 74856 Fax +49 (0)89 1430 400 29
presse@montafon.at tanja.felder@toctoc.info
www.montafon.at www.press-service.info
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