Quality over quantity: this guiding principle has shaped the development of Lech Zürs for decades. The aim has always been to preserve the village character of the area and to consciously manage its spatial development. The local development plan and the spatial development strategy of the municipality of Lech carry this vision forward into the present day. Because even today, less is still more. By limiting the number of guest beds to 10,000, Lech Zürs is committed to sustainable, high-quality tourism (Spatial Development Concept of the Municipality of Lech, page 28). Agriculture, landscape conservation and thoughtful spatial planning continue to shape the character of the region to this day.

It’s wonderful that there are still wonders to be discovered high up in the Arlberg: the wonders of nature.

95 per cent of the wood chips come from Vorarlberg: using this renewable energy source, the biomass heating plants in Lech, Zug, Oberlech and Zürs produce enough energy to supply almost 100 per cent of all households and businesses with cosy warmth. It is a concept admired throughout the region, with roots dating back to the last century.

It all began with the biomass heating plant in Oberlech. This was followed in 1999 by the second plant in Lech, and in 2007 by the third in Zug. In 2009, the Oberlech plant was expanded. A photovoltaic system on the façade generates 100 megawatt-hours of green electricity per year. Finally, in 2010, the fourth heating plant was built in Zürs. The biomass heating plants save around 7.75 million litres of heating oil or 24,000 tonnes of CO₂ emissions annually (facts and figures on the biomass heating plants). The 2010 Vorarlberg Timber Construction Award proves that energy efficiency and architectural heritage are not mutually exclusive.

Long before the energy crisis and rising electricity prices began to affect our lives, the municipality of Lech began planning its own hydroelectric power station on the Zürsbach. The Lech municipality’s Zürsbach small-scale hydroelectric power station has been in operation since January 2023. With a standard annual output of around 7 million kilowatt-hours, it covers around 15 per cent of Lech’s total electricity demand. Since 2025, the electricity generated has been made available to residents and businesses via the Arlberg-Klostertal Energy Community. Through its own heating plants and the hydroelectric power station, Lech Zürs is boosting local value creation and reducing its dependence on energy market prices.

Ski-Zürs AG, Lech Bergbahnen AG and Seillifte Oberlech are fully committed to renewable energy sources, and all cable cars, chairlifts, snow-making systems etc. are powered entirely by electricity generated from Austrian hydropower, solar energy and other renewable energy sources. Find out more.

In the interests of environmental sustainability, Lech Bergbahnen AG is committed to the resource-efficient use of water, energy and raw materials. This is demonstrated by measures such as efficient snow management, the connection of all buildings to the biomass combined heat and power plant, geothermal heat pumps, solar thermal systems, photovoltaic systems and heat recovery systems, as well as comprehensive energy monitoring. The company is certified to ISO 9001 and ISO 14001.

Economic sustainability stems from a commitment to regionality. Whether it be investments in construction or culinary partnerships, at Lech Bergbahnen AG, regional suppliers and producers are always given priority. Socially sustainable initiatives form a further dimension. The best example of well-thought-out efficiency is the construction of the Zuger Bergbahn. With its dual use as a lift system and staff accommodation, it is a win-win for the people, the town and the natural environment in Lech.

... doesn’t need to be produced either! Ski-Zürs-AG has been operating according to this principle for many years, whether in relation to cable car systems, buildings or system components. Efforts to run the business using as little energy as possible culminated in 2016 in the introduction and implementation of an energy management system in accordance with EN ISO 50001.

Since 2020, the company has been sourcing exclusively TÜV Austria-certified green electricity from hydropower and solar energy supplied by illwerke vkw AG. Measures such as the utilisation of waste heat and braking energy from the cable cars contribute to energy efficiency. In addition to purchasing snow-making machines, pumps and compressors with the highest efficiency ratings, Ski-Zürs-AG also prioritises the responsible use of water and energy in its snowmaking operations. To determine the optimum amount of snow required for artificial snowmaking, the piste grooming machines measure the snow depth to the nearest centimetre during grooming. Only as much snow as is necessary is then produced.

This is one of many steps the company is taking towards an environmentally conscious and successful future.

Good lighting provides guidance and safety, creates a sense of depth and promotes a sense of well-being. What’s more, bespoke site lighting can also be seen as a statement of sustainability, energy efficiency and a high quality of the environment. Goodbye to light pollution! With the innovative concept devised by lighting expert Dieter Bartenbach, Lech is focusing on maximum impact with minimum energy consumption to stylishly showcase the ensemble of buildings, bridges, riverside promenades and the church.

To this end, special glare-free lighting systems have been developed which, over time, reduce their intensity – and thus also their energy consumption – by up to 70 per cent. To achieve the desired spatial lighting effect, the LED luminaires have been fitted with high-efficiency components. This allows for direct top-down illumination without light scatter or light pollution.

As a result, the distinctive streets and façades shine in a glare-free glow, inviting visitors to take a leisurely stroll and linger.

Following extensive planning, the “Lechwelten” opened in the spring of 2024 in the heart of the village. The venue provides a valuable boost to the village centre and year-round tourism in Lech Zürs. As a venue for local events and clubs, it also strengthens the local identity. The modern timber-frame building was constructed to the highest quality standards. Particular attention was paid to environmentally friendly construction processes. Furthermore, all materials used were selected to be as durable, recyclable and easily disposable as possible. Local and regional tradespeople and craftsmen were commissioned to promote value creation in the surrounding area.

The building itself has been assessed and achieved 753 out of a possible 1,000 points under the ‘klimaaktiv’ building standard (Silver). It also boasts an excellent atmosphere of well-being – thanks to barrier-free access right up to the roof terrace and an induction loop system throughout the event hall, ensuring accessibility for everyone. Lechwelten also holds the Austrian Eco-Label for conference and event venues (UZ 200).

Of all the ways to travel to Lech Zürs, there is one that is best for the environment: travelling without your own car. This option also proves to be extremely stress-free. With the two railway stations at St. Anton and Langen am Arlberg, the region is perfectly connected to the international rail network. As Railjet stations, both offer several direct services daily from Zurich and Vienna. Efforts are constantly being made to optimise these services, ensuring that both day visitors and overnight guests can arrive and depart seamlessly.

The yellow local buses provide transport from the platform (line 760 from St. Anton to Lech and line 750 from Langen to Lech). Alternatively, private shuttles cover the final leg to your accommodation. Once here, you can also enjoy the beauty of the mountains at your leisure without needing a car. Where would you like to go? One of the blue local buses is bound to be ready to depart.

Since the 1990s, public transport in Lech Zürs has been moving towards the future: the Lech local bus service began operating in the summer of 1997 with four buses on two routes. Two and a half years later, the ‘Blue Fleet’ – a distinctive feature of the townscape – had already carried more than a million passengers.

To this day, this convenient service has brought about a noticeable and measurable change in the town’s mobility. More and more locals and visitors are leaving their cars at home and using the ski bus. Electric mobility also got off to an early start here. In the summer of 2011, e-bike hire began, and a year later the first e-charging station opened. A groundbreaking milestone followed in the 2018/19 winter season: in cooperation with illwerke vkw AG (formerly Vorarlberger Kraftwerke AG), Europe’s first fully electrified ‘Green Garage’ for electric vehicles was established.

Today, there are a total of 35 public charging points in Lech Zürs, including 4 fast-charging stations. The first fully electric buses have been in service since the 2025/26 winter season. They are powered by electricity from the Zürserbach hydroelectric power station.

In 1937, Austria’s first T-bar lift was built in Zürs. As winter sports developed, issues relating to the maintenance and restoration of alpine landscapes subsequently came to the fore. From 1978 to 2000, international high-altitude environmental conferences were held in Lech, at which experts addressed topics relating to alpine vegetation, high-altitude revegetation and the management of degraded land.

High-altitude renaturation and a targeted eco-audit for ski resorts originated here. This is described in the report by Bergbahnen Lech AG: Read the report. The 2008 environmental statement by Skilifte Lech, Ing. Bildstein Ges.m. b.H, provides further documentation on environmental management and renaturation efforts: .

Skilifte Lech also demonstrate innovation through their valuable collaboration with high-alpine agriculture. Scottish Highland cattle have been reared in Oberlech since 2008. The animals graze on steep slopes, thereby helping to maintain and keep the alpine cultural landscape open. In 2013, the Schottenhof was built at 1,760 metres above sea level and has since served as a site for rearing Highland cattle. Some of the meat from these animals is processed and served in local restaurants. In this way, livestock farming, landscape conservation and regional value creation remain closely interlinked.

Ever since the area was first settled some 700 years ago, this high-altitude region has been characterised by extensive grazing and haymaking. Lush green pastures and flowering mountain meadows stretch as far as the eye can see. From that time right up to the present day, Lech’s farmers have earned their place through their hard work in maintaining the landscape. Even the steep, nutrient-poor meadows up to an altitude of 2,000 metres are mown. These nutrient-poor meadows are often characterised by a high level of biodiversity. In Lech Zürs, these meadows are therefore not fertilised and are mown only once a year (in some cases even only every two years) from a specific date onwards, in order to support and preserve this exceptional biodiversity.

In summer, around 2,000 head of cattle graze on the extensive alpine pastures, including animals from the Klostertal, Tyrol and Switzerland. The milk from Lech is particularly appreciated by local restaurants and their guests. The same goes for yoghurt, cream cheese and the hay milk ice cream crafted by the local baker. Whether as producers of regional delicacies, through the management of protected and restricted forests, or by maintaining the characteristic cultural landscape – Lech’s farmers make a tangible contribution to agriculture and regional value creation in Lech.

It’s teeming with life; plants are sprouting and blossoming. Long before the Alps became a recreational area for people, they were a habitat for a wide variety of plants and animals. Preserving these habitats is a vital task – particularly where agriculture, tourism and nature intersect.

In Lech Zürs, various measures are being implemented to this end. In the ski resort, care is taken during work on the slopes to preserve existing vegetation as far as possible and to replant areas that have been disturbed. At the Schlegelkopf and in other areas, hay flowers and plant species suited to the local conditions are used for this purpose, amongst other things.

A clearly defined standard is also adhered to for artificial snowmaking: no chemical additives are used in the snow-making process.

These measures are individual building blocks in the management of the alpine habitats around Lech Zürs.

BIODIVERSITY.
With its biotope inventory, the state of Vorarlberg provides 
provides official information, species lists and local authority reports.

AMPHIBIANS.
The wetlands and ponds in Lech Zürs
a wide variety of amphibians can be found, such as
Alpine newt, grass frog and Alpine salamander.
 

BIODIVERSE MEADOWS – PAZÜEL MOWING MEADOWS.
In this traditional mountain haymaking area below
the Rüfspitzen, alongside rare plants,
, you can also discover numerous butterflies, dragonflies and other
insects can be spotted.
 

BEARDED VULTURE.
To date, there is still no evidence of bearded vultures breeding
in Vorarlberg. However, these majestic scavengers
with a wingspan of up to 2.90 metres do, however,
visit from the nearby Lech Valley.

BERGMÄHDER SCHÖNENBERG.
This Natura 2000 site is a natural
highlight of European significance. Rare
orchids, arnica, gentians and many other
flower species can be found here.

AUENFELD.
Situated between the Lech and the Hochtannberg, this
biotope, home to the source of the Bregenzerach, is home to many rare
animals and plants. The area comprises several
marshland areas

GIPSDOLINES IN OBERLECH.
Between Oberlech and the Mohnenmähder lie
three bizarre gypsum doline landscapes, comprising the
Lower, Middle and Upper Gypsum Holes. The mixture
of acidic and alkaline soils results in
a distinctive diversity of plant species in the nature reserve
Gipslöcher.

MOORS IN LECH.
Peat was still being extracted in Lech right up until the 1930s.
Bogs store carbon in the peat and provide a habitat 
for rare species.

THE LECH.
The 256 km-long river rises in Vorarlberg in the 
Hochtannberg region. It is particularly attractive as it winds its way through the 
Zugertal valley and the Lech Gorge. 
In the ‘Am Gieße’ floodplain area of the Lech, there grows, for example, 
the extremely rare blue willow.

PURPLE GENTIAN.
This particular species of gentian is found mainly in the
Western Alps and reaches the eastern limit of its range in Lech.
Its flowers have a delicate
honey scent and are pollinated by bumblebees.

FIR HEDGEHOG.
The ‘gardener of the Swiss stone pine’ loves to bury
Swiss stone pine seeds on prominent rocky outcrops at
the mountains. From seeds that he can no longer find,
later grow into Swiss stone pines – as is the case in Lech Zürs.

Michelin-starred chefs who work with regional ingredients. Butchers and bakers who know their local suppliers by their first names. Alpine huts that cater to guests rather than turning out crowds. In Lech Zürs, responsible business practices are reflected not only in energy consumption figures and emissions levels. They are also evident in the way people work together, strengthen regional cycles and interact with one another.

‘Think globally, act locally’ has been more than just a much-quoted slogan here for many decades. This philosophy is evident, for example, in the “Echt Lech” initiative: seven mountain farms from Lech and Zürs use it to showcase their agricultural work and market regional specialities. The processing and marketing of regional food helps to keep value creation within the region and create sales opportunities for local agriculture.

The vo:dô (von:da) fair is also a delicious example of this neighbourly cooperation. At the start of winter each year, regional farmers and producers in Lech showcase typical Vorarlberg specialities. In this way, long-standing traditions meet new ideas and are given space to develop further.

Museums are more than just places of preservation. They are places for encounter and reflection. As repositories of memory, they make cultural heritage accessible and create space for exchange, participation and new perspectives.

The Lechmuseum also embraces this approach: through changing exhibitions, it addresses socially relevant issues surrounding consumption, resources and responsibility – not in a didactic way, but in an inviting manner and through dialogue with visitors.

Concrete measures are also implemented in the running of the exhibitions: materials are reused, furniture is borrowed and existing items are repurposed. Workshops and various formats invite visitors to get involved, turning the museum into a place of encounter – open and free from the pressure to consume.

The ‘pay as you wish’ principle reduces financial barriers to access and facilitates cultural participation. The Lechmuseum has already been awarded the Vorarlberg Tourism Prize twice for its concept (in 2022 for ‘Ski Labor Lech’ and in 2025 for ‘BLITZBLANK! An Exhibition on Cleaning – Outside, Inside, Everywhere’).
 

Running a business means more than just thinking in terms of figures. It also means taking responsibility – for the region, for the people and for community life. As a local bank, Raiffeisenbank Lech sees itself not only as a financial partner, but also as an active part of local life. The ‘Initiative Lebensraum Lech’, launched in 2006, created a framework that focuses precisely on this: the people of the region.

The initiative creates space for interaction, creativity and personal engagement. It invites people to step away from their everyday lives, try new things and share experiences. Whether it’s dance, art, talks or intergenerational activities – the programme is as diverse as the people in the region. This fosters spaces for exchange, inspiration and community.

This takes the concept of value creation a step further: a portion of the value created by Raiffeisenbank is channelled back via the initiative into projects and programmes for the region. Economic success is thus linked to concrete social and cultural engagement at a local level. The initiative demonstrates how regional cooperation, personal involvement and collaborative shaping of the Lech community are put into practice.

SEWERAGE NETWORK.
A fully biological wastewater treatment plant has been ensuring clean conditions since 1976. The same applies to the fully developed sewerage system. Even the ski huts located far from the town centre are connected to the public sewerage network. Without exceptions and without compromises. Source: https://gemeinde.lech.at/Kanalordnung

THE MUNICIPALITY’S ENERGY OFFICER.
The municipality of Lech has its own energy officer, who acts as a point of contact for residents with general enquiries and is also responsible for a wide range of the municipality’s energy projects. These include, for example, energy accounting, building optimisation, project planning and management of renewable energy generation facilities (PV, hydropower), administration of our energy community, expansion of electric mobility and much more. The municipality of Lech is therefore also setting a strong example in the field of climate protection when it comes to energy.
 

AWARDS.
Lech has received several awards throughout its history. These include the ‘Bergkristall for a Clean Landscape’ from the Alpine Protection Association (2002), the ‘Most Beautiful Municipality in Vorarlberg’ award (2002) and the 2004 Entente Floreale award for ‘Most Beautiful Village in Europe’.

SCHOOL PROJECTS BASED ON THE 17 SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS.
Through the SDGs, the topics of sustainability and sustainable development are also introduced to children and young people at Lech School. During project days and weeks, which vary each year, all year groups discuss the links between the climate, energy and their own lifestyles. The aim is to apply what they have learnt in everyday life in order to recognise the impact of their own actions.

IN LECH ZÜRS, NUMEROUS ORGANISATIONS ARE ACTIVELY COMMITTED TO A FUTURE CHARACTERISED BY SUSTAINABILITY AWARENESS.
In the area of environmental sustainability, they promote children’s education on natural resources and biodiversity and create community gardens. Social sustainability is supported through art and culture workshops for all age groups, as well as initiatives to preserve traditional crafts and music. Organisations such as the fire brigade and mountain rescue service ensure safety in the region. The local authority supports these initiatives, thereby making a significant contribution to the region’s vibrant community life. Further information can be found on the Lech municipality’s website.

Our journey does not end here. Particularly in the sensitive high-alpine region, foresight and sensitivity are what drive us along the path towards the future. Thinking about tomorrow today: this philosophy is deeply rooted in our minds and hearts. It would be wonderful if our places of power and destinations of longing were still to radiate the same energy the day after tomorrow as they have done since time immemorial.

You can download the brochure or order a copy to be sent to your home at: lechzuers.com/de/prospektbestellung