The Rätikon is a

mountain range A mountain range or hill range is a series of mountains or hills arranged in a line and connected by high ground. A mountain system or mountain belt is a group of mountain ranges with similarity in form, structure, and alignment that have arise ...

of the

Central Eastern Alps The Central Eastern Alps (german: Zentralalpen or Zentrale Ostalpen), also referred to as Austrian Central Alps (german: Österreichische Zentralalpen) or just Central Alps, comprise the main chain of the Eastern Alps in Austria and the adjacent ...

, located at the border between

Vorarlberg Vorarlberg ( , ; gsw, label= Vorarlbergisch, Vorarlbearg, , or ) is the westernmost state () of Austria. It has the second-smallest geographical area after Vienna and, although it also has the second-smallest population, it is the state with the ...

Liechtenstein Liechtenstein (), officially the Principality of Liechtenstein (german: link=no, Fürstentum Liechtenstein), is a German-speaking microstate located in the Alps between Austria and Switzerland. Liechtenstein is a semi-constitutional monarchy ...

and Graubünden. It is the geological border between the

Eastern Eastern may refer to: Transportation *China Eastern Airlines, a current Chinese airline based in Shanghai * Eastern Air, former name of Zambia Skyways *Eastern Air Lines, a defunct American airline that operated from 1926 to 1991 * Eastern Air ...

and

Western Alps The Western Alps are the western part of the Alpine Range including the southeastern part of France (e.g. Savoie), the whole of Monaco, the northwestern part of Italy (i.e. Piedmont and the Aosta Valley) and the southwestern part of Switzerland ( ...

and stretches from the

Montafon Montafon ( in local dialect: "''Muntafu''") is a 39 km long valley in the westernmost Austrian federal state of Vorarlberg. It is traversed by the river Ill (Vorarlberg) and extends from the city of Bludenz and the Verwall Alps in the no ...

as far as the

Rhine ), Surselva, Graubünden, Switzerland , source1_coordinates= , source1_elevation = , source2 = Rein Posteriur/Hinterrhein , source2_location = Paradies Glacier, Graubünden, Switzerland , source2_coordinates= , sour ...

. In the south, the

Prättigau The Prättigau, in the canton of Graubünden (Grisons), Switzerland ). Swiss law does not designate a ''capital'' as such, but the federal parliament and government are installed in Bern, while other federal institutions, such as the federa ...

is its limit, and in the north, it is the Walgau. In the east, it borders the

Silvretta The Silvretta Alps are a mountain range of the Central Eastern Alps shared by Tirol, Vorarlberg (both in Austria) and Graubünden (Switzerland). The Austrian states of Tirol and Vorarlberg are connected by a pass road ( Silvretta Hochalpens ...

groups. The Rätikon mountain range derives its name from

Raetia Raetia ( ; ; also spelled Rhaetia) was a province of the Roman Empire, named after the Rhaetian people. It bordered on the west with the country of the Helvetii, on the east with Noricum, on the north with Vindelicia, on the south-west with T ...

, a

province A province is almost always an administrative division within a country or state. The term derives from the ancient Roman ''provincia'', which was the major territorial and administrative unit of the Roman Empire's territorial possessions outsi ...

of the

Roman Empire The Roman Empire ( la, Imperium Romanum ; grc-gre, Βασιλεία τῶν Ῥωμαίων, Basileía tôn Rhōmaíōn) was the post-Roman Republic, Republican period of ancient Rome. As a polity, it included large territorial holdings aro ...

, named after the Rhaetian (''

Raeti The Raeti (spelling variants: ''Rhaeti'', ''Rheti'' or ''Rhaetii'') were a confederation of Alpine tribes, whose language and culture was related to those of the Etruscans. Before the Roman conquest, they inhabited present-day Tyrol in Austria, ...

'' or ''Rhaeti'') people.

Topography and geology

The classification of the Rätikon to the central Eastern Alps is based solely on geographic-geological traditions. Large parts of the Rätikon consist of

sedimentary rock Sedimentary rocks are types of rock that are formed by the accumulation or deposition of mineral or organic particles at Earth's surface, followed by cementation. Sedimentation is the collective name for processes that cause these particles t ...

s (

limestone Limestone ( calcium carbonate ) is a type of carbonate sedimentary rock which is the main source of the material lime. It is composed mostly of the minerals calcite and aragonite, which are different crystal forms of . Limestone forms when ...

). From a geological point of view, the north-west Rätikon is assigned to the

Northern Limestone Alps The Northern Limestone Alps (german: Nördliche Kalkalpen), also called the Northern Calcareous Alps, are the ranges of the Eastern Alps north of the Central Eastern Alps located in Austria and the adjacent Bavarian lands of southeastern Germa ...

, while the South-West Rätikon belongs to the

Bündner Schist The Bündner schist or Bündner slate (german: Bündnerschiefer; french: schistes lustrés) is a collective name for schistose rocks that form a number of geologic formations in the Penninic nappes of the Alps. Bündner schists were originally ...

/Bündner slate of the Western Alps.

Peaks

Its chief peaks are: * Schesaplana 2964 m (9725 ft) *Schiltfluh 2890 m (9482 ft) * Panüelerkopf 2859 m (9380 ft) * Drusenfluh 2829 m (9282 ft) * Madrisahorn 2830 m (9285 ft) * Sulzfluh 2820 m (9252 ft) * Wildberg 2788 m (9147 ft) * Rätschenhorn 2703 m (8868 ft) * Zimbaspitze 2643 m (8678 ft) * Schijenflue 2627 m (8619 ft) * Vorder Grauspitz 2599 m (8528 ft) * Falknis 2566 m (8419 ft) * Naafkopf 2571 m (8445 ft) *Hornspitze 2537 m (8323 ft) * Glegghorn 2447 m (8028 ft) * Vilan 2376 m (7795 ft) * Sassauna 2308 m (7572 ft) For a list of passes see Passes of the Silvretta and Rätikon Ranges. A multiday hike that follows a big portion of the Rätikon chain on its southern side is called "Prättigauer Höhenweg".

Neighboring mountain groups

The Rätikon is adjacent to the following other mountain groups in the Alps: * In the north-east to the

Bregenz Forest Mountains The Bregenz Forest Mountains, also the Bregenzerwald Mountains (german: Bregenzerwaldgebirge), are a range of the Northern Limestone Alps and Eastern Alps, named after the town of Bregenz. The Bregenz Forest Mountains are located entirely in the ...

and to the Lechquellen Mountains, these two groups belong to the Northern Limestone Alps in the Eastern Alps. * In the east to the

Verwall Alps The Verwall Alps or Verwall Group Reynolds, Kev (2005). ''Walking in the Alps'', 2nd ed., Cicerone, Singapore, pp. 321-326. . are a mountain range of the Central Eastern Alps at the border of the Austrian states of Tyrol and Vorarlberg. It inclu ...

(Central Alps) * In the southeast to the Silvretta Alps (Central Alps) * In the south-west to the Plessur Alps (Central Alps) * In the west to the

Glarus Alps The Glarus Alps (german: Glarner Alpen) are a mountain range in central Switzerland. They are bordered by the Uri Alps and the Schwyz Alps to the west, the Lepontine Alps to the south, the Appenzell Alps to the northeast. The eastern part of ...

(Western Alps) * In the north-west of the

Appenzell Alps The Appenzell Alps (german: Appenzeller Alpen) are a mountain range in Switzerland on the northern edge of the Alps. They extend into the cantons of Appenzell Ausserrhoden, Appenzell Innerrhoden and St. Gallen and are bordered by the Glarus Alps ...

(Western Alps)

Tourism

Because of the many mountains, the Rätikon is a first class area for all alpine sports such as

hiking Hiking is a long, vigorous walk, usually on trails or footpaths in the countryside. Walking for pleasure developed in Europe during the eighteenth century.AMATO, JOSEPH A. "Mind over Foot: Romantic Walking and Rambling." In ''On Foot: A Histo ...

skiing Skiing is the use of skis to glide on snow. Variations of purpose include basic transport, a recreational activity, or a competitive winter sport. Many types of competitive skiing events are recognized by the International Olympic Committee (IO ...

(including freeriding),

cross-country skiing Cross-country skiing is a form of skiing where skiers rely on their own locomotion to move across snow-covered terrain, rather than using ski lifts or other forms of assistance. Cross-country skiing is widely practiced as a sport and recreatio ...

mountain biking Mountain biking is a sport of riding bicycles off-road, often over rough terrain, usually using specially designed mountain bikes. Mountain bikes share similarities with other bikes but incorporate features designed to enhance durability and pe ...

, etc. The position of the mountain chain allows for beautiful and panoramic views. The cableways permit shortened ascents and descents and enable pure high-altitude hiking. Thanks to many Alpine shelters ("huts"), daylong or multi-day walks are possible. Many huts are hosted and offer sleeping accommodations. The season usually starts in early April to late September / October, depending on the weather. Before starting a tour, it is advisable to inquire about vacancies and locations at regional tourist offices or in the different villages.

Mountain Huts

Mountain huts operated by the following organizations are found in the Vorarlberg part of the Rätikon: German, Austrian Alpine Club and friends of nature Austria: * Douglasshütte near Brand * Feldkircherhütte near Feldkirch * Haus Matschwitz on Matschwitz near Latschau * Heinrich-Hueter-Hütte near Vandans * Lindauer Hütte near Tschagguns * Madrisahütte near Gargellen * Mannheimer Hütte near Brand * Oberzalimhütte near Brand * Sarotlahütte near Brand * Schwabenhaus on the Tschengla near Bürserberg * Tilisunahütte near Tschagguns * Totalphütte near Brand * Alpine Restaurant "Gamperdona" near Nenzinger Himmel In Liechtenstein's part of the Rätikon, the following huts of the Liechtensteiner Alpenverein may be found: * Gafadurahütte near Nendeln * Pfälzerhütte near Steg In the Graubünden or Grisons Rätikon, huts of the

Swiss Alpine Club The Swiss Alpine Club (german: Schweizer Alpen-Club, french: Club Alpin Suisse, it, Club Alpino Svizzero, rm, Club Alpin Svizzer) is the largest mountaineering club in Switzerland. It was founded in 1863 in Olten and it is now composed of 111 ...

and other mountain houses may be found: * Enderlinhütte near Maienfeld * Schesaplanahütte near Seewis im Prättigau * Carschinahütte near St. Antönien * Mountain huts Sulzfluh and Alpenrösli near St. Antönien

Mountain railways

In Montafon/Vorarlberg: * Lünerseebahn near Brand * Golmerbahn in Vadans/Tschagguns * Bergbahnen Gargellen In Grison/Graubünden: * Älplibahn Malans * Seilbahn Fanas * Madrisa Klosters Bergbahnen

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Ratikon Mountain ranges of the Alps Rhaetian Alps Mountain ranges of Vorarlberg Mountain ranges of Switzerland Mountains of Liechtenstein Mountain ranges of Graubünden