Ludesch circuit

Hike to a legendary gem

The old parish church of Ludesch stands in a very special place and is itself the scene of numerous legends.

(Bild: Rubina Bergauer)

A leisurely hike leads to the outskirts of Ludesch, where the old parish church stands on a small hill. The historic walls are the subject of numerous legends.

The district of Barx in Ludesch is home to a particularly interesting historical gem that is the subject of numerous legends: the old parish church, which is dedicated to St. Martin. Situated on a small hill, St. Martin's church overlooks almost the entire village. The sacred building was first mentioned in a document in 842. The originally simple hall church with an almost square floor plan has been enlarged and rebuilt over the centuries - partly because an avalanche destroyed parts of the building in 1460.

When Ludesch was struck by the plague after 1630, the inhabitants vowed to build a new church in the village center to avert greater disaster. However, the existing parish church in Barx continued to be used and maintained. Today, the building presents itself in a predominantly late Gothic style, the massive two-storey tower with gabled spire is striking.

(Bild: Rubina Bergauer)

From the time of the Walser settlement
Inside, the church houses numerous works of art of historical significance. There is still an ossuary in the basement, which was once built at the old cemetery due to the limited space available. Ossuaries are a rarity in Vorarlberg and some of the bones and skulls found in St. Martin are said to date back to the time of the Walser settlement. In the paved passageway, there is also an archaic-looking, low stone cross directly on the church wall.

It is said to be a plague cross, which originally bore the following inscription: "Lament over lament, nine and ninety-nine in one grave!" The lettering is now weathered and it is no longer clear whether the cross with the same arms was really erected in memory of the plague victims of Ludesch.

The wood anemone

Now, at the beginning of spring, the wood anemone with its delicate flower heads is an eye-catcher in the herbaceous layer of the woods. As the plant, which belongs to the buttercup family, has high light requirements, its entire life cycle takes place in spring. Large areas are often taken over by this socially growing species and covered with a carpet of white flowers. All parts of the plant are poisonous; the main active ingredient is protoanemonin, which is found in all buttercups.

Changeable history
It is probably thanks to the long and eventful history of the small church that the historic building is at the center of numerous legends and stories. Most of them involve ghostly apparitions or other haunted elements. Perhaps this is also due to the ossuary, which contains the neatly stacked mortal remains of former settlers and is an impressive symbol of transience.

The square just outside the village, where St. Martin's stands, certainly looks idyllic. Numerous daisies sprout in the meadow around the church and the meditative splashing of a small fountain underscores the peaceful atmosphere on a beautiful spring day. The church is easy to reach on foot. If you start from the center of the village, you can either take the direct route via the Sankt-Martins-Weg or a more varied route. To do this, turn onto "Brunnengarten" and then follow the signs uphill towards Ludescherberg. A meadow path takes you to the forest road. The route to St. Martin is signposted from there.

Fakten

Type: Spring walk/small hike Duration: One to two and a half hours depending on the variant (the route via Außerberg would be significantly longer)

Starting point: Ludesch municipal office

Equipment: shoes with good soles, clothing suitable for the weather, possibly a drink

Public transport: Bus route 560 from Bludenz train station to the municipal office

Note: The interior of the listed church of St. Martin is not freely accessible. The church is open to visitors on the first Sunday of every month from 2 to 4 pm, alternatively an appointment can be made at the Ludesch parish office.

Tufa springs and hollow path
This variant leads past several tufa springs and through a wooded area. You finally reach the church via a hollow path that leads under a blossoming cherry tree. On the way back, you can take the path through the village and pass several gardens full of flowers. If you want to extend the walk, you can return to the forest road and from there continue along the so-called Hüsleweg to Nüziders. A longer tour via Außerberg is also possible, depending on your mood.