Fontanella: Seewaldsee, mountain village and Walser history

Fontanella combines the character of a mountain village with a lake, hiking destinations and a rich history. As the valley’s highest mountain village and the “sunny balcony of the Großes Walsertal,” the village is strongly shaped by its location. Nature, outdoor activities and culture can each take centre stage when planning your holiday, depending on the experiences you would like to focus on.

Seewaldsee and its plant life

The small Seewaldsee lies at an altitude of 1,200 metres, surrounded by meadows. Because it receives little water, it offers exceptionally pleasant temperatures for swimming in summer. The lake can be reached from Fontanella/Säge in about 35 minutes. The seasonal Seewaldsee tourist train also takes visitors from Fontanella-Säge to Seewaldsee; check before your trip whether the service runs on your chosen date.

A distinctive natural highlight can be found at Hahnenkopf, on the northern edge of the Großes Walsertal Biosphere Park: the area is home to more than 150 plant species. The fully protected Turk’s cap lily is particularly spectacular there. This diversity of plant life is a lovely point of interest for anyone interested in local nature as well as the lake and mountain scenery.

Planning hiking and winter sports

The hiking route over the Fatnella Alpe leads from Faschina to Fontanella. For the return journey to Faschina, you can take Landbus L570 from the centre of Fontanella. This gives you the option of planning the route in one direction and arranging the return journey separately. Check the bus timetable before your hike.

In winter, there is another reason to include Faschina in your plans: the Faschina-Fontanella ski area is in the Großes Walsertal Biosphere Park, and night skiing takes place weekly in Faschina directly at the Guggernüllilift. As the offer follows a weekly schedule, it is advisable to check the dates before travelling. Whether you are weighing up summer plans by the lake, a hike or a winter stay, you’ll find a range of specific activities rather than a single prescribed holiday theme.

Walser history and local traditions

Fontanella was settled by colonists from Valais in the 14th century. Being known as a “village of musicians” is also part of its local identity. Together, these historical and cultural connections give the mountain village a distinctive story that goes beyond its landscape.

The village’s former way of making a living also tells a story of change: livestock farming and dairy farming were part of its historical livelihood. After the valley road was built in 1885, the production of hard cheese was intensified, while grain cultivation was gradually abandoned. This sequence shows how local agriculture changed over time, without implying that the same activities are offered today.

Choose the right starting point

When choosing a holiday apartment, you can start by considering which themes you would like your trip to focus on: swimming at Seewaldsee in summer, the route over the Fatnella Alpe, winter sports in Faschina, or the history and nature of the Großes Walsertal. If your travel group has different interests, it can help to consider these destinations individually and take the relevant timetables or dates into account when planning.

Discover more destinations: Innerbraz, Nüziders, Braz, Gaschurn, Partenen, Lech, Sankt Gallenkirch.

Go to the main travel overview: Bludenz.