Großes Walsertal is one of Austria's most authentic alpine valleys, home to the UNESCO Biosphärenpark Großes Walsertal. It's a place where mountain villages, wild streams and steep slopes create a landscape that feels untouched by time, with tourism carefully balanced against nature conservation.

The valley stretches roughly 25 km through the Northern Limestone Alps, between the Bregenzerwaldgebirge and Lechquellengebirge ranges. It's shaped by deep ravines (locally called 'Tobel') and numerous side valleys such as Gadental and Marultal. In summer, hiking, mountain biking and climbing dominate, while winter transforms the region into a peaceful destination for skiing and ski touring. Most villages sit on the sunny northern slope, giving the valley its distinctive character.

• Thüringerberg or Sonntag — via the L193 road (Faschina Straße), accessible by car, then on foot via marked trails, difficulty: easy to moderate
• Faschinajoch pass (1485 m) — connects the valley to the Bregenzerwald, reachable by road and hiking paths

• Parts of the region are protected as a Natura 2000 area (e.g. Gadental)
• Visitors should stay on marked trails to respect the biosphere's quiet zones
• The valley has been part of the Bergsteigerdörfer (Mountaineering Villages) initiative since 2008

It's a unique example of a biosphere reserve managed at the municipal level — the project has won several European awards for sustainable development and nature conservation.