Walgau#

Walgau Valley, Vorarlberg, valley of the River Ill (south-eastern tributary of the River Rhine) extending from the narrows at Loruens (alt. 583 m) to the upper Illschlucht gorge at Feldkirch (alt. 458 m). The plain of the Walgau valley (alluvial zone) is approx. 20 km long and up to 4 km wide. The Walgau valley is joined by the Klostertal Valley and the Montafon Valley (upper part of the River Ill) east of Bludenz (alt. 588 m) and by the Grosses Walsertal valley near Thueringen (alt. 573 m). The valley´s name dates back to the time of Rhaetian and later the Romansh-speaking settlers and means "Gau der Welschen" ("area of the Romance-speaking"). In the south the Walgau valley is delimited by the Raetikon Mountains, in the north the valley ascends in terraces to the foothills of the Walserkamm range and the mountains surrounding the source of the Lech River. Settlements are mostly located on the alluvial cones of the tributaries of the River Ill or on the sun-exposed terraces on the north side. Agriculture in the Walgau valley is mainly based on grassland farming with dairying and animal breeding (Braunvieh breed of cattle), partly on field husbandry and vegetable farming (mainly part-time farmers). Among the most important sectors in the Walgau valley are textiles, metal, building materials, foods, wood, paper and chemicals; tourism is only marginally important. Other important municipalities in the Walgau valley are Buers (alt. 570 m), Nenzing (alt. 530 m) and Frastanz (alt. 509 m). Along the southern edge of the valley run the Arlbergbahn railway line and the B 190 federal road; the Rheintalautobahn motorway (A 14) reaches the Walgau valley at the south portal of the Amberg tunnel, runs along the River Ill and joins the Arlberg-Schnellstrasse express road (S 16) at Bludenz.