FIS Skimuseum Damüls

The FIS Skimuseum Damüls stands in the village of Damüls in Vorarlberg, Austria. It occupies the old parsonage, the Kulisse Pfarrhof, just below the church of St Nikolaus. The building had been empty for years before Christian Lingenhöle led its conversion into a museum. Two linked structures, the house and the stable, were adapted with only minor changes. The museum opened in 2013 and was completely redesigned in 2017. The museum holds Vorarlberg’s only FIS ski certificate and tells two intertwined stories. One covers seven centuries of Damüls history, from its Walser roots in the 14th century. The other spans 120 years of skiing in the village, drawing on the private collection of Christian Lingenhöle. Among the exhibits are historic skis, modern racing models, and equipment from ski legend Toni Sailer. Clothing, photographs, documents and curiosities show how skiing developed in the Alps. A library and archive are being added to deepen research. Visitors find a compact but rich display in the former parsonage. Original racing skis from 1957 sit beside everyday winter gear and early experiments with ski design. Special exhibitions have highlighted local pioneers, regular visitors and the influence of pastor Reinhold Simma. The setting below the church gives a quiet focus to the stories of sport and settlement. The museum links past and present without leaving the village centre.