Archduke John's Journey from Meran to Vorarlberg

Austrian Monarchy.

Tyrol and Vorarlberg.

On 2 July of this year, His Imperial Highness the Most Serene Archduke John arrived in Landeck. His Highness had departed from the post road near Meran, choosing the arduous mountain path across Passeier and the Timmels into the Oetzthal, undeterred by the adverse weather and snowstorms encountered on the way. His Imperial Highness condescended to pass the night in Lengenfeld, and on the following day continued the journey via Roppen and Imst to Landeck. From Landeck, His Imperial Highness first proceeded to Nauders to inspect the fortification works there; having returned, he took his midday meal in Landeck, to which both district captains of Vorarlberg and Oberinnthal had the good fortune of being admitted. After the meal concluded on the 3rd of this month, favored by very agreeable weather, His Highness set out from the so-called Steig into the Paznaun Valley, where he lodged in the district court seat of Ischgl; on the following day, after hearing Holy Mass, His Imperial Highness continued the tour via Mathon and Galtür up to the highest point of the Zeinisjoch and across its very steep mountain ridge near Partenen into the Montafon Valley. Continuing further, His Highness took the route through Gaschurn and St. Gallenkirch toward the district court seat of Schruns, and finally arrived on that same day (4 July) at 8:30 in the evening via Bludenz in Feldkirch. In all towns reached by His Imperial Highness along this route—which he had previously traversed in 1801, precisely 40 years ago—his arrival was celebrated with mortar salutes, parades of the Landesschützen, and other fitting honors, and the most serene traveler was welcomed with evident emotion and enthusiastic devotion to the imperial house.