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Dear readers,<br />
On the following pages, we would like to pres<strong>en</strong>t you with<br />
some useful information about the history and culture of our<br />
community. Lech and Zürs were settled by the Walser from<br />
German-speaking Wallis in the 13th and 14th c<strong>en</strong>turies. At the<br />
time of settlem<strong>en</strong>t, the prevailing climate was much warmer.<br />
But things changed and conditions got a lot colder. As the<br />
abandonm<strong>en</strong>t of Bürstegg illustrates, snow and ice brought hard<br />
times for the resid<strong>en</strong>ts of this region. Bourgeoning winter<br />
tourism in the early 19th c<strong>en</strong>tury halted the population decline,<br />
creating new opportunities and improving the quality of life<br />
for people living here. Parts of the Walser culture have be<strong>en</strong><br />
maintained to this day – from the language, industriousness<br />
and hospitality to their own brand of humour and love of nature.<br />
If you are interested in contemporary docum<strong>en</strong>ts well worth<br />
seeing, visit the Lech museum of local history in the old<br />
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