And these insider tips can be found at the "Gsibergers".
But wait a minute... who are the "Gsiberger" anyway? Bordering Tyrol, Switzerland, Liechtenstein and Germany lies the small state of Vorarlberg, whose inhabitants are known as "Gsiberger". The westernmost part of Austria also scores, apart from the unusual naming of the "locals", with some other surprises and nature-related insider tips.
First, however, a short excursion into the linguistic lexicon of the Vorarlbergers and to the origin of the name. Unlike the rest of the Austrian dialects, the Vorarlbergers lack the past tense form of the verb "to be". That's why in the Vorarlberg dialect they don't say "I was", but "i bi gsi"... Since this usage caused confusion in the other 8 Austrian provinces as well, the name "Gsiberger" was created, which is still used in a joking way, especially by the Tyroleans.
The language usage is very similar to Schwyzerdütsch (Swiss German) and therefore there is a whole series of peculiar terms that could fill an entire lexicon. Even the rest of Austria would need this to avoid being completely misled on their next Vorarlberg vacation. In order to make a visit to an inn easier after a river gorge hike, here are some phrases and words:
- Flädlesuppa - pancake soup
- Schübling - Knackwurst
- Rag salad - sausage and cheese salad
- G'hörig guat - really good
- I muas schaffa goh! - I have to go to work!
- Honds free! - Have a pleasant time!
With these small aids, you can now start to dive into the beautiful nature of Vorarlberg, which is characterized by impressive mountain ranges, species-rich mixed forests and crystal-clear waterfall gorges. The following gorges provide inspiration for adventurous 1-3 h hikes directly in nature and away from crowds.
Bürser Schlucht- "A natural wonder of the ice age".
Bürser Schlucht is located in the heart of Vorarlberg with a 4.6 km long circular trail directly on the water. Due to the melting of the glaciers, the once quiet Alvier stream has formed into its current gorge over the last 10,000 years. Due to the melting ice, the brook has dug itself into its own gravel and today offers us extremely rare insights into the recent history of the earth. In addition, you will find an almost primeval forest-like tree population, which makes the landscape one of the most beautiful in the Alps. The approx. two-hour hike over hill and dale consists of natural paths with painstakingly maintained climbs, stairs and bridges.
Froedic river walk
A little more to the northwest is the river Frödisch in Röthis. The special feature of this hike is that you are not on well-trodden paths, but have to find your own way through the water and over the stones. Due to the seasonal change in water level, there are different routes, which allows the duration of the hike to vary. But after all, it's all about enjoying and relaxing cooling down on hot summer days. After about 30 minutes of adventure hiking, river up, you reach the actual gorge, which is followed by a beautiful waterfall. This flows into a round pool, which is perfect for cooling off.
Örflasch Gorge
In the rather unknown valley of the Emmebach in the Bregenzerwald mountains lies the impressive Örflaschschlucht. This gorge was also formed in the course of the last great ice age and due to the course of the Emmebach, the deepening in the special geological formation has occurred over the millennia. This gorge also offers you various hiking trails and, in contrast to the Frödische River hike, it is the more leisurely variant, with well-maintained paths. The entire area is protected, which has resulted in the development of an impressive flora, with numerous lime-beech-fir and spruce trees. Due to the humid climate, the rugged limestone walls are adorned with mosses and ferns and a primeval forest-like flair developed.
On all three hikes, numerous inns invite you to enjoy the specialties of the "Ländle" and also to use the vocabulary you just learned right away. If you would like to discover even more insider tips, take a look at our Magazine and our "Hidden Places" over.