Customs, knowledge, craft techniques | Winter in Montafon # 2023

WINTER IN MONTAFON - EXPERIENCE IN DEALING WITH THE DANGER OF AVALANCHES

Montafon region is vividly depicted in the film about the danger of avalanches. People and nature, culture and landscape are presented as a harmonious whole, with the intangible world heritage at its center.

The acquisition of knowledge about avalanches has been necessary for the survival of the Alpine region since the beginning and has mainly taken place orally through Alpine organizations, within families, in schools and in the professional communities concerned (hunters, farmers, etc.). To this day, avalanches cannot be fully calculated and predicted by science. This makes the importance of empirical knowledge in dealing with this natural hazard all the greater.

Based on avalanche measures in the Montafon, the history and techniques of avalanche protection measures are presented. In addition to specialist knowledge, the film also provides an insight into how people deal with the forces of nature in winter with the help of stories passed down by word of mouth - storytelling in the Montafon forming another intangible cultural heritage in the film. As the topic of avalanche danger affects several federal states, there is also a detour over the Arlberg to the Alpinarium Galtür, where a museum commemorates the major avalanche disaster happened 20 years ago.

IMMATERIAL CULTURAL HERITAGE

Customs, knowledge and old craft techniques

In the 15 documentaries, the intangible cultural heritage is presented as an integral part of the Austrian cultural landscape. The films search for traces of the past in order to make the creation and changes of intangible cultural heritage visible. They document the current situation, whereby the character that creates identity for the present is highlighted. And they address the question of what importance the care of heritage has for the future of the Austrian cultural landscape.

“Heimat Österreich” takes you to the most beautiful cultural landscapes in Austria. Elaborately designed documentaries portray long-held traditions and customs, explore popular pilgrimage sites and show how culture and nature intertwine in the heart of Europe.