Elbigenalp: Stage, Cabinet of Curiosities and Church History

Elbigenalp offers cultural attractions with very different character: a stage set against a striking rock backdrop, a diverse collection and churches with histories of their own. There is also the Geierwally Circular Trail and a natural woodland playground on Gibler Alm. You can plan your stay around theatre and culture, a longer hike or a visit to the playground.

Stage, woodcarving and the Cabinet of Curiosities

The Geierwally open-air stage is built into the striking rocks of Elbigenalp’s Bernhardstal Gorge. It is associated with plays and concerts linked to the Lech Valley. The rocky setting shapes the character of the venue, while the programme connects the stage with themes from the valley. For tickets, contact Lechtal Tourism, Dorf 46, 6652 Elbigenalp. Check ticket information before your visit.

Elbigenalp is home to Austria’s only carving school. The Geierwally Circular Trail starts and ends in front of the school, at the paid car park. Allow around three and a half hours for the full trail. This lets you factor the time into your day as a separate activity, rather than treating it as one of the shorter cultural stops.

At the Cabinet of Curiosities, you can explore a collection by Johann Anton Falger covering a wide range of subjects. On display are copies of important historical documents, climate studies, anatomically accurate drawings, geological finds and examples of old Lech Valley traditional dress. Historical documents, scientific observations, natural finds and clothing are presented side by side. The Cabinet of Curiosities is housed in the former Elbigenalp doctor’s house.

Churches and historical traces

The pilgrimage church of Christ on the Mount of Olives lies north of the village on a rocky outcrop. It was built between 1670 and 1680. The Roman Catholic parish church of St Nicholas in Elbigenalp is a listed building. Visitors interested in sacred architecture will find different points of interest: the pilgrimage church is defined by its location and date of construction, while the parish church is notable for its protected status.

The Martinskapelle (St Martin’s Chapel) also brings together different historical periods. It was built over an ossuary in the 15th century; inside the chapel are 18 panels depicting the Dance of Death, dating from 1840. The gap between the chapel’s construction and the date of the panels makes the site’s history particularly tangible. For culture enthusiasts, these panels add a specific visual theme to the larger church buildings.

Activities and holiday apartments in Elbigenalp

Gibler Alm has a spacious natural woodland playground. If you want to include a playground as well as cultural activities in your day’s plans, this is a clearly defined attraction. The Geierwally Circular Trail offers a different focus: its total duration of around three and a half hours gives you a concrete guide for planning your time. You can choose between the two options according to your preferred plans for the day, without assuming any particular suitability or pace.

If you would like to make the stage, Cabinet of Curiosities and churches the focus of your stay, you can search for a holiday apartment in Elbigenalp. The circular trail also gives you a concrete point of reference when choosing where to stay: its start and finish are at the car park in front of the carving school in Elbigenalp. The right accommodation for you depends on your own plans; the cultural attractions and activities mentioned here offer different ideas without implying that the holiday apartment has any particular facilities.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Forchach, Mitteregg, Reutte, Tannheim, Pfafflar, Berwang, Steeg, Wängle.

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