Frutz

The Frutz is a river in Vorarlberg, Austria. It rises in the Frutz Alpine shieling high in the mountains. From there it flows west for 19 kilometres through the Laternsertal valley. The valley is framed by green slopes and scattered farms. Near Feldkirch the river enters a wider plain. At Rankweil it splits into two branches before reaching the Rhine. The river’s length and its two arms at Rankweil give the valley its shape. Sulz, Rankweil and Koblach lie along its banks. The smaller branch is called the Ehbach and carries part of the flow away from the main channel. Both branches join the Rhine separately at Koblach. The water’s steady course has shaped the land for centuries. Visitors walk beside the Frutz through quiet stretches of Laternsertal. The riverbanks are lined with willows and alders, and paths run close to the water. At Rankweil the two arms diverge, offering views of the valley floor. Sulz and Koblach provide spots to pause beside the wider river before it reaches the Rhine. The scene is calm, with the sound of water and the scent of wet grass.