The Silvrettahaus in Bielerhöhe

Those who make the journey are treated to superlative views of glacier-covered three thousand metre peaks, the blue-green hues of the reservoir and the magnificent Silvrettahaus with its curved facade. It is open during both the summer and winter season.

Alpine architecture at its finest

The building, which houses 14 hotel rooms, appears to have three layers: a foundation of stone bricks, a curved white façade adorned with many stylish windows and a wooden roof that reaches towards the skies. The Silvrettahaus is actually reminiscent of Alpine hotels from the 1930s, yet is in fact much newer: First opened in the early 1990s, the Silvrettahaus was built according to plans drafted by the Vorarlberg architectural firm Dietrich/Untertrifaller. The design was awarded the renowned Piransi prize.

Always worth a closer look

Whether for an overnight stay or simply to dine, the multifaceted Silvrettahaus (hotel, refuge on the pass, and organisational hub for snow clearing equipment) is always worth a visit. The subtle design is impressive: views from the rooms and from the restaurant extend over the reservoir to the numerous surrounding peaks. The Silvretta Hochalpenstraße High Alpine Road is only open in summer and plenty of motorcycles and a few cars pass by. In winter, it is place of tranquillity as the Bielerhöhe is only accessible via cable car and a tunnel bus journey.

Sublime explorations

The high-Alpine landscape of the Bielerhöhe is easy to explore. A leisurely tour around the reservoir on the mostly flat path takes around two hours. Alternatively, the five-hour tour to the Wiesbadnerhütte mountain hut leads to Vorarlberg’s highest mountain, the Piz Buin at 3,312 m. Two days are recommended for this tour and hikers should be able to navigate a few small climbing sections.

The Silvrettahaus hotel is open from early/mid June to early October and from December (shortly before Christmas) to April.