It is founded in the 14th century, it was built in the literal shadow of Rat
Mountain to protect itself from marauders. However, the geography
surrounding the town, like an estimated 60 other communities nested in
the Tyrol region of the Alps, means that Rattenberg receives little to
no sunlight during the winter. It is one of the few places at a
significant distance from the Arctic Circle that has a time of permanent
darkness.
In November 2005, the town announced they were building 30
specialized rotating mirrors called heliostats to reflect sunlight into
parts of the town during the winter months. The $2.4 million operation
was suggested by Bartenbach Lichtlabor GmbH, a lighting design company.
The EU planned to foot half the bill as of November 2005. However, the
project was never implemented.
Rattenberg is known for its glass making. It has an abundance of crystal glass shops
