Kleinwalsertal (little Walser valley) is a commune of the state Vorarlberg in Austria (Österreich), but only accessible from Oberstdorf in Germany to the north, and thus is an Austrian "practical exclave" or "pene-exclave".

Understand

Kleinwalsertal: Viev from the parsennlift to Riezlern

The Kleinwalsertal with its approximately 5,000 inhabitants and extends over an area of 97 km². It is 15 km long and about 6.5 km wide.

Surrounded of mountains you can reach the valley only from Germany, although it belongs to the Austrian federal state of Vorarlberg. It is the third largest tourist destination of Austria even in summer and winter. Here, the impressing mountain scenery and lots of snow also plays an important role.

It has one German postal code (87568) and one Austrian (6992).

Climate

The best time to visit for summer tourism is from June to August, as temperatures are mild and rainfall is scarce. For the winter season, December to February are the best months.

Get in

The Kleinwalsertal can only be accessed via Oberstdorf in Germany, no streets from Austria.

The next train station is in Oberstdorf.

Get around

The Walserbus offers a very good bus service throughout the valley in both winter and summer. There are even half-hourly services on secondary routes. Using the Walserbus within the Kleinwalsertal is free with the guest card.

See

The small village Hirschegg at the Kleinwalsertal is at a height of 1122 m, and has a ski museum and the "Mountainshow" and even some ski lifts.

Breitachklamm in July

Breitachklamm in February

• Breitachklamm. It as an impressive gorge. 

Stone Age finds

The Kleinwalsertal been inhabited since the Stone Age. Of these artefacts from excavations at the cemetery, where among other things, scrapers, arrowheads and fireplaces dating from the Neolithic period came to light. Parts of these findings can be seen in the mountain scene in the convention center Walserhaus in Hirschegg.

Famous mountains

• Widderstein 2,536 m
• Hoher Ifen 2,230 m
• Kanzelwand 2,058 m
• Fellhorn 2,038 m
• Walmendingerhorn 1,990 m

Do

Its a fantastic mountain area for climbing, hiking or skiing with a wonderful landscape at which you can find even quiet places.

• Routes for a huge variety of mountain sports as well as huts and weather information can be found on the website of the German Alps society DAV at alpenvereinaktiv.com. You can also download the routes on the website outdooractive.com or on the mobile app outdooractive and use it for navigating with your mobile device.

Sleep

• Kinderhotel Alphotel, Schlößleweg 6, D-87568 Hirschegg, ☏ +43 - 55 17 - 54 49, info@alphotel.at. This hotel within the wonderful Austrian mountains is a perfect resort for families. They have a lot of special offers for children and many possibilities for outdoor activity. 

Go next

• Oberstorf, Germany
• Sonthofen, Germany