Damüls

Damüls is a village community and popular tourist resort in the district of Bregenz in the westernmost Austrian state of Vorarlberg. Damüls also holds the European record as the village with the highest annual snowfall – the average is 9.30 meters per year. In 2006, Damüls was awarded the honorary title "the snowiest village in the world".[3]

Damüls
Coat of arms
Location in the district
Damüls
Location within Austria
Coordinates: 47°17′N 09°53′E
CountryAustria
StateVorarlberg
DistrictBregenz
Government
 • MayorStefan Bischof
Area
 • Total20.91 km2 (8.07 sq mi)
Elevation
1.428 m (4.685 ft)
Population
 (2018-01-01)[2]
 • Total313
 • Density15/km2 (39/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+1 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+2 (CEST)
Postal code
6884
Websitehttp://www.damuels.at/

Population
Historical population
YearPop.±%
1869383—    
1880365−4.7%
1890278−23.8%
1900241−13.3%
1910225−6.6%
1923204−9.3%
1934218+6.9%
1939209−4.1%
1951223+6.7%
1961241+8.1%
1971322+33.6%
1981304−5.6%
1991309+1.6%
2001326+5.5%
2011316−3.1%

Geography

Damüls has an area of 20.92 km². It borders on the Bregenz Forest, the Biosphere Reserve Großes Walsertal, the Laternsertal, and all other Vorarlberg districts (Bludenz, Feldkirch and Dornbirn). The most famous mountain peak in the area, a popular hiking destination from Damüls, is the Damülser Mittagsspitze (2095 m).

History

In the late Middle Ages, around 1300, the Walser ethnic folk group fled from the Swiss Kanton Wallis to this area seeking a better way of life and agricultural land. They were allowed to settle in Vorarlberg, in the west of Tyrol and in Graubünden. From 1313 onwards, Damüls was populated by Walsers. At the time, the Supreme Court (Damüls and Fontanella) was independent - the inhabitants of Damüls, in return, joined the Montfort House to serve with "spear and shield" in the event of war.[4]

Culture

The Vorarlberger FIS Skimuseum Damüls offers a journey through the 100-year history of skiing in Vorarlberg. In addition to historic and rare Alpine skis, ski jump-related objects are also on display.

The Church of St. Nikolaus occupies a prominent place in the mountain village of Damüls.

In the region, many old traditions are still alive and well, including the typical dialect that is still spoken here. Wearing traditional folk costumes ("Tracht") on festive occasions also contributes to an authentic yesteryear atmosphere.

Damüls in summer

Alpine Transhumance, or mountain mobile meadow culture, is still practiced in Damüls. This means that farmers bring their cattle to wherever food is available in the mountains. Depending on the season, cattle will change stables several times a year. Alpine transhumance is also called "Dreistufenwirtschaft" (literally "three stage economy") in German because the mountain pastures are managed in three stages – lower, middle, and upper mountain altitudes. This transhumance is one of the prime factors preserving the natural and cultural landscape of the region, along with the strong tradition of cheese production in Vorarlberg. In 2011 UNESCO declared the “Dreistufenwirtschaft” in the Bregenz Forest to be an intangible cultural heritage.

View of the Damülser Mittagsspitze and the ski area of Damüls/Mellau

Tourism

Thanks to the merging of the two ski areas of Damüls and Mellau in 2010, the largest ski area in the Bregenz Forest, and one of the largest ski regions in the state of Vorarlberg, was created: The ski area Damüls-Mellau. This resort region is known for its abundance of snow.[5]

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See also

References
  1. "Dauersiedlungsraum der Gemeinden Politischen Bezirke und Bundesländer - Gebietsstand 1.1.2018". Statistics Austria. Retrieved 10 March 2019.
  2. "Einwohnerzahl 1.1.2018 nach Gemeinden mit Status, Gebietsstand 1.1.2018". Statistics Austria. Retrieved 9 March 2019.
  3. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2013-11-04. Retrieved 2013-11-08.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  4. "Das Dorf Damüls | Die Dörfer | REGION". damuels.travel. Retrieved 2018-08-16.
  5. "Skiresort Damuels Mellau Faschina | Snowiest village in the world". damuels.travel. Retrieved 2018-08-16.
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