History Of Sankt Anton am Arlberg
Over 750 years, the community name of St. Anton am Arlberg has changed five times. Originally called Vallis taberna in 1275, this area went under several names, including Stanzertal (1275 – approximately 1805) and momentarily as St. Jakob (1805 – approximately 1811), before adopting its current name, inspired by the old district of Nasserein (1811 – 1927). Strategic location of this district lies between St. Jakob and St. Anton. The name change happened concurrently with the post inn’s relocation to this area, which continued until 1824.
The opening of the new country road in 1824 signaled a change in significance since it avoided St. Jakob and Nasserein in favor of St. Anton, which progressively grew more important. St. Anton’s importance was enhanced by the building of the Arlberg Railway between 1880 and 1884, which resulted in the name of the railway station after the expanding town. Still, the town was known as Nasserein until 1927.
The historical account of St. Anton is intimately related to the evolution of Arlberg Pass as a major trade route following Tyrol and Vorarlberg’s admission into the Habsburg Empire in 1363. The rise in traffic, particularly for the salt transportation, significantly helped the villages on both sides of the pass to be quite economically successful. Still, the transfer of alpine territory to Lindau in 1450 changed traffic paths, which resulted in a period of neglect of the Arlberg Pass until the Josephinische Straße was built in 1787.
The later rise in wagon traffic demanded more infrastructure changes, including building the Kunststraße in 1824. The development of railroads in other regions in the middle of the 19th century reduced traffic through Arlberg, which led to financial problems for St. Anton’s citizens. Many of them thus searched for job possibilities abroad.
From 1880 to 1884, St. Anton benefited greatly economically and the building of the Arlberg Railway and Tunnel represented a remarkable technical accomplishment. As the first train-bound guests arrived, tourism exploded and a road of development turned the town into a major winter sports destination.
Notwithstanding obstacles including the stormy events of World War II and natural disasters like the Wolfsgruben avalanche of 1988, St. Anton showed fortitude and kept on. The 2001 Alpine Ski World Championships confirmed its status as a leading winter sports destination and resulted in major infrastructure changes including the building of the Nessereinbahn and the relocation of the railway line.
Table Of Contents
- 1 History Of Tourism In St. Anton
- 2 Related Articles
- 2.1 Sankt Anton am Arlberg
- 2.2 Skiing and Snowboarding Terrain In St. Anton
- 2.3 Ski Resort Sankt Anton am Arlberg
- 2.4 Nightlife in Sankt Anton am Arlberg
- 2.5 Food & Drinks In Sankt Anton am Arlberg
- 2.6 Things To Do In Sankt Anton am Arlberg
- 2.7 Attractions & Landmarks In Sankt Anton am Arlberg
- 2.8 How To Get Around In Sankt Anton am Arlberg
- 2.9 Accommodations & Hotels In Sankt Anton am Arlberg
- 2.10 How To Get To Sankt Anton am Arlberg
- 2.11 Best Time To Visit Sankt Anton am Arlberg
- 2.12 Economy Of Sankt Anton am Arlberg
- 2.13 Demographics Of Sankt Anton am Arlberg
- 2.14 Weather & Climate In Sankt Anton am Arlberg
- 2.15 Geography Of Sankt Anton am Arlberg
- 2.16 Lift Systems and Infrastructure In St. Anton
- 3 Go Next...
History Of Tourism In St. Anton
The Early Days of Tourism
Early in the 19th century, at the time the Arlberg tunnel was being built to enable rail connections between Austria and Switzerland, tourism first emerged in the town. The opening of the tunnel in 1884 improved the accessibility and appeal of the area for visitors wishing to discover the magnificent mountains and valleys.
The first skiers could be seen on the slopes by late 19th century. The local people, whose way of life revolved on transportation and agriculture, greeted them with suspicion, though. Skiing was considered as a useless and dangerous hobby that disturbed the natural equilibrium. Still, some residents admitted that skiing could be a profitable and fun hobby and started learning and sharing about the game.
The Birth of Alpine Skiing
Founded in 1901, the Ski Club Arlberg today has a worldwide membership of almost 9,000 people. Local skiers like Hannes Schneider, who invented the Arlberg technique, a creative downhill style that replaced the telemark style, helped the sport to flourish. Schneider also starred heavily in well-known ski movies that helped to establish St. Anton’s and the surrounding area’s popularity.
Skiers could negotiate more difficult and varied slopes using the Arlberg technique, which distinguished by the parallel alignment of skis and the use of poles for stability. Because skiers could perform jumps, turns, and maneuvers, it also improved their enjoyment and exhilaration. Establishing itself as the most common approach for alpine skiing, the Arlberg technique had a significant impact on next generations of skiers all around.
The Golden Age of Skiing
Attracted to the challenging slopes and energetic après-ski environment, St. Anton became a popular destination for ski enthusiasts and well-known people from all around the world during the 1920s and 1930s. The village improved its infrastructure and facilities to serve the growing number of visitors, and the first ski lifts and cable cars were built. St. Anton also planned many ski races and activities that attracted media coverage and publicity.
Establishing themselves as a top ski destination, the first Alpine World Ski Championships were held in 1937 at St. Anton Renowned skiers including Toni Sailer, Emile Allais, and Christl Cranz were on display at the 250,000 spectator event. Along with the natural beauty and range of the area, the championships displayed the skill and ability of the Arlberg skiers.
The Post-War Recovery and Expansion
St. Anton recovered from the damages suffered following World War II and returned to be a top ski destination. 2001 saw it once more host the Alpine World Ski Championships. Often regarded as one of the best skiing resorts in the world, it is well-known for its rich après-ski entertainment and lots of skiing possibilities. St. Anton has made large expenditures toward modernizing and improving its conveniences and infrastructure. This covers building new lifts, extending the ski area, and renovating restaurants and hotels.
With a total of 94 cable cars and ski lifts, 340 km (210 mi) of painstakingly maintained ski slopes, and 200km (120 mi) of off-piste trails all accessible with a single liftpass, St. Anton is currently a constituent of the Arlberg region of ski resorts. Trekkers and mountaineers especially like the village in summer because of its amazing alpine scenery and rich cultural legacy.
