Description of the attraction
The city of Elbigenalp is located in the Lech Valley, formed from the south by the Lechtal Alps and from the north by the Allgäu Alps. The city was founded in 1488 and belonged to the monastery of St. Mang in Bavarian Füssen. In those days, Elbigenalp was considered a city of masons and plasterers, many of whom later emigrated to other countries, leaving behind numerous decorations on city buildings. The traditions of the past are supported by the only school in Austria that trains stone and wood carvers.
Perhaps the main attraction of Elbigenalp is the Church of St. Nicholas, which has been preserved since the XIV century. The parish church was built in an open field and is surrounded by a cemetery, on the territory of which there are also two chapels. The temple, dominated by a slender Gothic tower, is decorated in a Baroque manner. In 1775-1776, the interior was painted with bright frescoes by the artist Johann Jacob Zeller.
To the north of Elbigenalp, the Chapel of the Holy Cross rises on a cliff. Once in this village, it is also worth visiting the Regional Museum. Finally, in the local town hall, you can find the Museum of the Lithographer Anton Folgner. A native of Elbigenalp, painter, printmaker and lithographer Anton Folgner created two series of "Dance of Death" for his hometown. They can be seen in the cemetery chapel of St. Martin.
Elbigenalp is a convenient starting point for hiking trips in the mountains. Tourist routes pass through the villages closest to Elbigenalp - Obergrunau, Untergrunau and Grissau. Each of them has chapels that are considered architectural monuments.
