From Isolated Mountain Villages to a Shared Alpine Region
Today, hiking from St. Anton via Stuben and Zürs to Lech feels like a seamless journey through one interconnected destination. Yet what now seems effortless was, for many decades, little more than a vision.
In the late 19th century, the communities of the Arlberg were geographically close, but separated by rugged terrain and challenging mountain passes. Everything changed with the construction of the Arlberg Railway Tunnel. When the line opened in 1884, the region became more accessible than ever before, and by 1885 the first visitors were arriving to discover a mountain world that would soon gain international recognition.
Stories of snow-covered slopes and the earliest skiing experiments quickly spread beyond the Alps. With the founding of the Ski Club Arlberg in 1901, a remarkable success story began—one that would shape the identity of the entire region for generations to come.
The Birthplace of Alpine Skiing
Many of the defining moments in alpine skiing can be traced back to the Arlberg.
The first ski race in the Alps took place here in 1904. Just two years later, the region hosted its first organised ski course. In 1920/21, Hannes Schneider established Austria’s first ski school, introducing teaching methods that would influence skiing worldwide.
As innovation flourished, the Arlberg evolved into the centre of a new sporting movement and became internationally known as the birthplace of alpine skiing.
That pioneering spirit continues to define the region to this day.
A Shared Vision Takes Shape
As winter tourism gained momentum, the Arlberg’s infrastructure developed alongside it. In 1937, Zürs became home to Austria’s first drag lift. During the same year, the Galzigbahn in St. Anton began operations as the country’s first cable car specifically designed for winter sports.
Innovation continued in 1970, when technical snowmaking was developed in Lech—an advancement that would transform ski resorts around the globe.
While the Arlberg steadily established itself as one of the Alps’ premier winter sports destinations, a common ambition remained: to bring its communities even closer together.
That vision finally became reality with the opening of the Flexenbahn. Since 2016, Ski Arlberg has formed Austria’s largest interconnected ski area, linking Lech, Zürs, Stuben, St. Christoph, and St. Anton through 305 kilometres of slopes and creating one seamless alpine playground.
From the RUN of FAME to the Arlberg Trail
Perhaps nowhere is this connection more visible than on the RUN of FAME, the longest ski circuit in the Alps. Covering more than 85 kilometres, it allows skiers to experience the full diversity of the Arlberg in a single day.
Yet true pioneers rarely stand still.
In 2021, the region introduced its first joint summer product: the Arlberg Trail. What had long been connected throughout winter could now also be discovered on foot.
For the first time, hikers were able to experience the Arlberg as one continuous destination, moving effortlessly between its villages, landscapes, and stories.
A Circular Journey That Brings People Together
The Arlberg Trail is far more than a long-distance hiking route. It reflects the story of a region that has grown closer over generations.
Across three stages, the trail links the five Arlberg villages while guiding hikers through spectacular scenery stretching between Tyrol and Vorarlberg. Unlike many classic long-distance routes, it combines alpine adventure with exceptional flexibility. Each stage offers alternative route options, complemented by cable car access, comfortable accommodation, and bookable travel packages.
Most importantly, the Arlberg Trail does not simply connect one destination to another.
It forms a loop.
A circular journey that unites landscapes, communities, traditions, and stories—capturing the shared identity of the Arlberg in every step.