!!!Montafon

Montafon Valley (formerly also Montavon), Vorarlberg, high mountain 
valley of the upper Ill river, 40 km long, surrounded by the 
Silvrettagruppe and Raetikon mountain ranges in the southwest, and the 
Verwallgruppe in the northeast; southernmost valley of Vorarlberg, 
name derived from the Rhaeto-Romanic words mont (mountain) and tavon 
(gorge). Came to Austria in 1394 by purchase together with the town of 
Bludenz. The local people subdivide the region into "Innerfratte" and 
"Ausserfratte" ("Interior" and "Exterior" Montafon), divided by the 
"Fratte" defile near Mauren, a hamlet, southeast of Schruns. The 
valley, which is highly populated today, was first settled by 
Rhaeto-Romans, who have left their mark on numerous local mountain, 
place, field, and family names. Later Alemanni and Walser, emigrants 
from the Swiss canton Wallis (Valais), came to the region. The typical 
Montafon house is a combination of the Rhaeto-Roman stone house with 
the Valais wood house. The economic structure is mainly characterized 
by cattle breeding (Montafon brown cattle), forestry and tourism. 
Until the 18%%sup th/%  century, mining in the Bartholomaeberg - 
Kristberg - Silbertal region. Around the turn of the century one third 
of the Montafon population worked outside the valley as seasonal 
workers (bricklayers, stuccoists, scythe sellers, cabbage cutters, 
etc.). The construction of the Vorarlberg  Illwerke with new roads, 
settlements, railways and lifts greatly stimulated the economy. Winter 
tourism also created a great number of jobs. Since the completion of 
the  Silvretta Alpine Road (starting point Partenen) the Montafon has 
been subject to heavy traffic, with lots of cars passing through to 
Switzerland. The private Montafon Railway (standard gauge railway, 
13 km long, opened 1905) connects Schruns with Bludenz. A 
speciality of the region is the traditional Montafon women´s 
costume. A typical fire custom still practised today is the "Abbrennen 
des Funkens" ("spark burning"). Villages: Schruns (690 m, main 
place); Bartholomaeberg (1,087 m) with Innerberg (1,151 m, 
oldest settlement of the Montafon) and Gargellen (1,423 m, most 
high-lying settlement).


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