Discover Mathon: Hiking, Culture and Winter Trails

Mathon combines historical landmarks with a variety of trails through the mountain landscape. Hikes begin in the village and lead to a chapel or onwards to Berglisee. There is also a farmers’ museum, regional cuisine and winter trails to Ischgl. If you are looking for a holiday apartment in Mathon, you can therefore plan your stay according to your preferred pace: with short discoveries in the village, longer mountain tours or excursions in the surrounding area.

Hiking between the church, chapel and Berglisee

A good introduction to the history and surroundings of Mathon is the Mathon circular hiking trail. It starts at the Church of St Sebastian. After about 200 m along the main road towards Ischgl, the trail reaches the Three Kings Chapel in Mathon. The parish church was consecrated on 20 June 1682 in honour of Saints Sebastian and Rochus, patrons against the plague. The Three Kings Chapel acquired its present form in 1772 and was fitted with a nativity altar by Georg Witwer from Imst in 1774.

For a longer hike, Berglisee is a good choice. From Mathon, it can be reached on foot or by bicycle via a forest road. The route to the lake also follows a steep trail through forests and alpine meadows. The ascent begins at the Church of St Sebastian and initially follows the main road towards Galtür for about 150 m. The return route leads via Larein Alpe and Tschaffein back to Mathon. There are seats and a small barbecue area on the shore of Berglisee.

Panoramas, nature and winter trails

The Verwall Panorama Tour is another way to explore the landscape around Mathon. It starts and ends at the car park of the Friedrichshafener Hütte in the Piel district between Ischgl and Galtür. The tour covers 7 km and 500 metres of elevation gain, leading to a viewpoint below the Friedrichshafener Hütte. From there, you can see the Silvretta and Samnaun mountain ranges.

There are also various options for planning your day in winter. The Ischgl–Mathon winter hiking trail is 5 km long, takes around 2 hours and is classified as easy. On its way to Mathon, it crosses the Valzurbach and then reaches the wildlife park. In addition, a 5.5 km cross-country ski trail connects Mathon with Ischgl. The Mathon practice lift has an elevation difference of 95 m and is 449 m long. These details make it easier to plan either a winter hike, a cross-country skiing tour or time at the practice lift during your stay.

Silvretta Wildlife Park is located right next to the Wildererhütte on the Silvretta High Alpine Road between Ischgl and Mathon. The Wildererhütte can be reached via the Wildpark Silvretta bus stop. This means that the excursion can also be treated as a separate item on your itinerary alongside the trails in the village.

Culture, crafts and regional cuisine

In the village centre, the Paznaun Farmers’ Museum is located in the building of the Walserstube inn at St. Sebastianweg No. 4, in the immediate vicinity of the Expositur Church of St Sebastian. The exhibition includes a weaving room with an old, self-built loom. It was used to make bed linen, carpets and other textiles from sheep’s wool. The Walserstube inn serves regional cuisine, adding a culinary aspect of the village to a visit to the museum.

A tunnel about 20 m long and the name “Knappaschrofa” also recall an earlier mining project in Mathon. Together with the chapels and the church, they form a cultural tour that combines historic buildings, craftsmanship and local traditions.

Which accommodation suits your travel plans?

When looking for accommodation in Mathon, you can first decide which experiences should shape your stay. If you want to include the circular hiking trail or the ascent to Berglisee, plan your days around the starting points in the village. For a panorama tour, on the other hand, the car park of the Friedrichshafener Hütte in the Piel district is the key starting point. In winter, the trail to Ischgl, the cross-country ski trail and the practice lift offer different types of activities.

You can also take your arrival into account when planning your trip: bus route 260 runs every half hour from Landeck-Zams railway station through Paznaun. Mathon West is listed as the bus stop for the Mathon circular hiking trail.

For the higher-level travel overview: Ischgl.