Discover the power of the planet: The Georunde Rindberg trail in Sibratsgfäll
Just a bit off!
Get up close and personal with the power of nature across 8 stations at the Georunde Rindberg in Sibratsgfäll.
This house is crooked. But why? And why is everything else in the house, the oversized table, the chairs, etc., crooked as well? To discover the answer, hike the Georunde Rindberg trail in Sibratsgfäll in the Bregenzerwald and discover for yourself why everything here is slightly askew. Hint: a powerful landslide took place here some years ago. Across 8 interactive and entertaining stations, discover nature’s innate power for sudden change.
Flysch: A sign of instability
Sibratsgfäll, located in a side valley near Hittisau, is 900 metres above sea level. Impressive mountains like the Gottesackerwände, the Hoher Ifen, Diedamskopf and the Winterstaude can be admired from the village. Did you know that the mountains in the Nagefluhkette nature park are comprised of a rock conglomerate called “Flysch,” which is often found in areas with unstable landscapes prone to landslides? Indeed, Sibratsgfäll and also other places in the area are actually in motion!
A slippery slope
A landslide began on the Rindberg in the spring of 1999, which lasted about 150 days and destroyed several houses. To experience for yourself what it feels like when everything goes sideways, check out “Felbers Schiefes Haus (Felber’s crooked house)” along the Georunde Rindberg trail. Though the structure remained largely intact, it slipped about 18 meters downhill. Today, an abandoned house is home to a small exhibition detailing the events of that time.
Better understanding a natural phenomenon
As you might expect, the landslide is firmly anchored in the memories of villagers. To deal with the trauma of this event, the villager’s chose an unusual approach: Together with architects and designers from the Bregenzerwald, the award-winning “Georunde Rindberg” trail featuring artistic installations was created. In 2017, it received the Austrian State Prize for Design in the ‘Spatial Design’ category for its convincing combination of landscape and architecture.
To visit “Felbers Schiefes Haus,” please register by calling +43 5513 2112 13 (Sibratsgfäll tourist office).
The Georunde Rindberg trail takes about one hour to complete and comprises 130 metres in ascent and descent. The Georunde is accessible on foot during the snow-free months. Individual stations along the trail are also accessible in winter. Those with snowshoes can complete the whole circuit!
