Inspiring, vibrant and open to the world: that’s the really feel of life in Vorarlberg, Austria. For these seeking to go to Vorarlberg, we’ve received the whole lot that it’s good to know.
Supremely positioned in Austria’s very west, between Lake Constance and the excessive alps at as much as 3,000 metres, Vorarlberg shares borders with Germany, Switzerland and the principality of Liechtenstein.
If in case you have ever taken a trip on a ski elevate or cable automotive, wherever on the earth, you’ll in all probability have come throughout a product made in Vorarlberg. Firstly, Vorarlberg is a pioneer of alpine snowboarding, and secondly, Doppelmayr, the world market chief in ropeway building, is headquartered right here. Although small in measurement, Vorarlberg is an financial powerhouse and residential to firms comparable to Wolford (bodywear), Rauch and Pfanner fruit-juice producers, Blum GmbH (fittings), Alpla (plastic packagings) and Zumtobel (mild design). Vorarlberg is legendary additionally for progressive structure and crafts, unique festivals, first-rate snowboarding resorts and wonderful hospitality.
“Ever so stunning“. That’s how Vorarlberg has been described by its 383,000 inhabitants and guests alike. The standard of dwelling and the leisure facilities are very good:
Vorarlberg boasts nice scenic variety inside a comparatively small space. From the fantastically landscaped shores of Lake Constance it’s simply an hour’s drive to the towering mountain peaks. Alongside the way in which, verdant meadows, forests and wonderful mountain vistas catch the attention.
Many websites across the worldwide Lake Constance in Germany and in Switzerland are merely ready to be found. From the Vorarlberg capital of Bregenz, vessels and cruise boats head for the most important locations.
Go to Vorarlberg: Six completely different vacation areas to discover
- The Bodensee-Vorarlberg area, with Bregenz, Dornbirn, Hohenems and Feldkirch as main cities.
- The Bregenzerwald with its 22 picture-pretty villages and the Bregenzerwald Cheese Route, identified for its fascinating structure and progressive crafts.
- Alpenregion Vorarlberg that includes the Brandnertal and Klostertal valleys, the Grosses Walsertal biosphere park and Alpenstadt Bludenz, which is very fashionable amongst households.
- The Kleinwalsertal, a high-alpine valley that’s lined by mountains, a perfect place to reenergize within the nice outdoor.
- The Montafon with Schruns as the principle village, a rallying level for hikers and mountain bikers in summer season, the place skiers and freeriders flock to the slopes and runs in winter.
- Lech-Zürs am Arlberg, the cradle of alpine snowboarding and one of the vital legendary ski resorts of the world. In summer season, you’ll be able to hike throughout blooming pastures and meadows and luxuriate in utter peace and tranquillity.
Festivals in Vorarlberg, Austria
Vorarlberg gives wealthy pickings for lovers of artwork and tradition. The cultural venues are throughout Vorarlberg, from the floating stage on Lake Constance to live performance halls in villages and exhibition halls in alpine settings. Vorarlberg boasts some 60 museums showcasing assorted themes from modern artwork to the secrets and techniques of nature. Some have attracted European-wide consideration.
Bregenz Competition
Every summer season in July/August – aside from 2020 owing to the coronavirus scenario – the Bregenz Competition phases open-air opera productions on the floating lakeside stage of Lake Constance. Opera performances on the Festspielhaus, concert events by the Vienna Symphony Orchestra, and different occasions complement the high-carat programme.
Schubertiade Schwarzenberg and Hohenems
Schubertiade, the world’s largest Schubert pageant, takes please every summer season in August/September – aside from 2020 – within the storybook village of Schwarzenberg in Bregenzerwald. Star-studded artists will carry out chamber music, lieder, piano recitals and maintain grasp lessons within the Angelika-Kauffmann corridor, which affords magnificent panoramic views of surrounding nature. At given dates from April to October, the village of Hohenems hosts the Schubertiade concert events.
Bregenz Spring Competition in Autumn
Bregenz Spring Competition presents trendy dance on the Bregenz Competition Home. Often this occasion takes place in Spring, this 12 months it is going to be from October to December.
Montfort Zwischentöne in Feldkirch
On three events in the course of the 12 months, the Montfort Zwischentöne options concert events, talks and performances on the modern Montforthaus in Bregenz.
Poolbar Competition in Feldkirch
For over 25 years now, the poolbar pageant has been celebrating pop music, trend, structure and design. The principle website of the pageant, which can run from July 23 to August 30 in Feldkirch, is the previous indoor pool. An structure contest is staged annually redesign the rooms and the fast environment on a short lived foundation.
FAQ Bregenzerwald
FAQ Bregenzerwald, the most recent collection of occasions in Bregenzerwald, shall be hosted for the fifth time from 1 to six September 2020. Designed as a mind and foodie pageant, the discussion board will function talks, discussions, concert events and walks. FAQ Bregenzerwald sheds mild on socially related points from completely different views. All venues within the villages and on the mountains, between Andelsbuch and Bezau, have been rigorously chosen. Participating in it’s to encourage native residents and guests to replicate on and have a say in issues, however at first, to have enjoyable. FAQ Bregenzerwald desires to unearth “potentials for having a very good time”. FAQ Bregenzerwald is accessible all 12 months spherical as an internet platform, for questions and solutions, inspiration and meals for thought.
Museums in Vorarlberg, Austria
Kunsthaus Bregenz
Designed by the famend Swiss architect Peter Zumthor, Kunsthaus Bregenz (KUB) is one in every of Europe’s main museums of latest artwork. The programme options various exhibitions, and the museum incessantly accommodates solo exhibitions devoted to at least one single artist who designs works particularly for KUB.
Vorarlberg museum in Bregenz
Integrating listed components, the vorarlberg museum constructing was designed by the multi-award successful Vorarlberg architects Cukrowicz Nachbaur. Other than the eye-catching facade that includes 16,656 concrete flowers – truly nothing greater than the imprints of economic PET bottles – guests will stand transfixed within the jaw-dropping 4th flooring “viewing room” designed by Austrian artist Florian Pumh.sl.
From the room which is panelled in darkish colors, they’ll marvel on the ever altering surroundings of Lake Constance beneath them via floor-to-ceiling panoramic home windows. In modern-design exhibitions, the museum depicts the historical past and current of Vorarlberg and the Lake Constance area.
Jewish Quarter and Museum in Hohenems
Jewish Quarter and Jewish Museum Hohenems For hundreds of years, Hohenems was once residence to a small Jewish group. The Jewish quarter has undergone a cautious facelift lately. Guided visits are organised on the primary Sunday of the month. The stations visited embody the previous synagogue, at present the live performance corridor named after Salomon Sulzer, the mikwe (ritual tub) and the cemetery. In its everlasting exhibition, the Jewish Museum Hohenems is pays tribute to the city’s Jewish group and the assorted methods it contributed to the event of Vorarlberg and the Alpine area. Particular exhibitions showcase modern Jewish life in Europe, coexistence and migration.
Werkraum Constructing in Andelsbuch
Designed by the Swiss architect Peter Zumthor, the Werkraum Constructing in Andelsbuch in Bregenzerwald hosts altering exhibitions on varied elements of workmanship. Through the altering exhibition, a spacious entre the place snacks are provided and which options cosy furnishings and objects created by the Werkraum companion companies invitations guests to sit down, interact in dialog, use the furnishings, and linger.
Girls’s Museum im Hittisau
The Girls’s Museum in Hittisau is Austria’s solely girls’s museum and makes the inventive work and life of ladies seen in altering exhibitions. The museum is accommodated in a contemporary timber constructing within the village centre.
Angelika Kauffmann Museum Schwarzenberg
Winner of the Austrian Museum High quality Seal, the Angelika Kauffmann Museum in Schwarzenberg is accommodated in a historic, sixteenth century constructing with modern showrooms. It derives its identify from the well-known classicist paintress Angelika Kauffman, who had shut household ties in Schwarzenberg.
James Turell Skyspace in Lech
As of late 2018, a murals has grow to be accessible in Oberlech. Designed by US artist James Turell, who’s well-known for his light-space installations, the Skyspace is a walk-through piece of conceptual artwork. Accessible via a 15m tunnel, an exhibition room with particular mild options has been constructed right into a hillside. Up above, a big movable skylight affords a view of the skin world, opening up new methods, with each go to, to understand the sky and the way in which the sunshine penetrates into the room. When it’s darkish exterior, a light-weight set up makes the room seem completely completely different.
Go to Vorarlberg for the good outdoor
Go to Vorarlberg to recharge your batteries strolling, biking, swimming or snowboarding.
Let the magic of nature work its wonders. There are a number of trails resulting in websites of outstanding magnificence, full with details about the area and the individuals who stay right here.
Mountain really feel
Up on the mountains, views are by no means the identical. Uniformly posted trails and guided excursions take you to softly rolling hillsides or towering mountain peaks, alongside brooks and rivers, to mountain lakes and alpine farmsteads, the place cows and dairymen spend the summer season. These preferring issues extra easy-going, or desirous to shorten their means up, can all the time go for a trip up the mountain by cable automotive.
The mountain surroundings can ideally be explored on a mountain bike or e-bike. All areas provide guided excursions and an in depth community of trails.
Biking pleasures
In an all-Austrian comparability, the residents of Vorarlberg cowl extra kilometres by bicycle than any of their compatriots. This can be attributable to the well-developed community of biking trails. On simple trails, you’ll be able to bike on the shores of Lake Constance or alongside the plains of the Rhine river. Bregenzerwald, Alpenregion Vorarlberg and Montafon even have leisurely biking trails with out steep ascents.
Get refreshed
Go to Vorarlberg for not solely the pure lakes and pure bathing services with most water high quality, but additionally the gorgeous bathing lakes. Because it is freed from chemical substances, the pure water is ideal for a refreshing dip. Lake Constance is the right spot for surfers and stand-up paddle boarders.
The fun of journey
Paragliding, climbing or gorge discovery? If you’re in for journey, Vorarlberg’s out of doors operators are an ideal selection. As well as, the climbing and forest rope parks with zip strains in a number of areas provide thrilling terrain for a style of journey.
On slopes and runs
In winter, individuals flock to the slopes for snowboarding and snow- boarding in many various ski areas. Free using and ski touring is a superb technique to discover deep-powder terrain, ideally within the firm of knowledgeable information. The ski colleges provide programs for newbies and superior skiers.
Laid-back winter pleasures
The magic of winter can be explored on a winter hike, snow shoe ramble, on a toboggan or snowboarding cross nation. All of Vorarlberg’s areas provide guided actions.
- Mountaineering in Vorarlberg
- Dawn or Sundown Walks
- Themed hikes particular person tradition hikes
- Bike, e-bike or mountain bike: Uncover the area in fashion on two wheels
- Out of doors: From canyoning and canoeing to tandem flying
- Lakeside holidays in Vorarlberg
- Snowboarding in Vorarlberg
- Exploring Winter Wonderland
Learn extra about winter in Austria and verify the “Expertise & Uncover” part on the web site of the tourism board for extra particulars.
‘Should do’ issues to do in Vorarlberg
There are lots of issues ready to be explored whenever you go to Vorarlberg and across the worldwide Lake Constance.
There may be a lot to see whenever you take a stroll via small, historic cities, picturesque villages, scenic mountains and plenty of a gem.
Vibrant cities
Go to Vorarlberg’s cosy small cities to discover the cafes and outlets, go to museums and take in the energetic ambiance. Bregenz, the capital metropolis of Vorarlberg, enjoys a privileged location between Lake Constance and the native Pfänder mountain, well-known for its pretty views you’ll be able to get pleasure from taking over the cable automotive. The second largest metropolis, Dornbirn, is a well-liked procuring vacation spot. Twice every week, the bustling and vibrant fruit and flower market is held on market sq..
The city of Hohenems is famed for its majestic previous and a Jewish group. In Feldkirch, you’ll be able to stroll via slim lanes with arcaded courtyards, passing medieval metropolis towers. Above the town, there may be the towering Schattenburg fortress with a museum and a look-out within the hold. Bludenz captures guests with its medieval aptitude. In summer season, it doubles as venue for the chocolate pageant.
Story-book villages
Vorarlberg’s villages have retained their unique character. Within the centre, one can find the church as a landmark, framed by residential buildings, inns, outlets, inns, workshops and farms. The combination of conventional and trendy structure catches the attention. Regionally sourced timber is utilized in previous and new buildings.
Mountaineering trails and ski runs are actually at your doorsteps or inside simple attain on climbing and ski buses.
Awe-inspiring nature
The pure surroundings between Lake Constance and the excessive alps is surprisingly various. The character reserve within the Rhine estuary on Lake Constance is characterised by sandy shores and reed, and residential to many fowl species. Ravines comparable to Rappenloch gorge close to Dornbirn and Breitachklamm gorge in Kleinwalsertal make you perceive the facility of water hands-on. Cable-cars whisk guests to lofty summits from the place they’ll soak up magnificent views.
Nostalgia trains and boat journeys
On two historic trains, you’ll be able to journey like within the olden days: The Rheindamm nostalgia practice runs to the place the Rhine flows into Lake Constance. And the Bregenzerwald railway operates between Bezau and Andelsbuch-Bersbuch, often with steam engines.
From the fashionable harbour in Bregenz, the Lake Constance vessels set off for varied excursions. The preferred locations on the German shores of Lake Constance are Friedrichshafen, with the Zeppelin museum, and the flower island of Mainau close to Constance on the decrease finish of the lake.
Structure in Vorarlberg, Austria
Within the footsteps of constructing tradition, Vorarlberg is a real hotspot of recent structure in Austria.
Have a look round! Vorarlberg is taken into account a pioneering area of recent structure and cutting-edge craftsmanship in Europe. Structure lovers will discover wealthy pickings!
Trad & Mod
If you wish to discover what necessary function modern (timber) structure and progressive craftsmanship can play within the Alpine area, go to Vorarlberg. Nowhere else in Austria will you come throughout such a wealth of latest design. On the identical time, the brand new buildings slot in seamlessly with the standard houses.
Timber & Crafts
Timber has all the time been used as constructing materials, each previously and in current. The brand new buildings, eye-catchers amid the pure surroundings, stand out for uncluttered strains and mix harmoniously with the environment. Inside, they impress by their good performance. Vitality-efficient building is a matter in fact, as is becoming rooms with ecologically sound furnishings and supplies.
And that is the place the craftspeople are available in once more. They design tables and chairs, beds and sofas, cabinets and cupboards, based mostly on age-old methods, with progressive spirit, to mix in seamlessly with modern structure. The result’s areas which are pleasing to take a look at and nice to stay in.
Exploring constructing tradition
- Particularly within the cities, you’ll come throughout eye-catching trendy buildings. It’s undoubtedly worthwhile strolling via the streets and lanes with an open eye.
- Distinctive structure is a function provided additionally by inns, vacation houses and residences. Most had been both newly constructed not too long ago or stand out for a harmonious mix of previous and new. The web site (vorarlberg.journey/holidays-and-architecture/) informs about 30 hosts who present a hands-on expertise of latest structure and progressive craftsmanship.
- Ten rigorously chosen themed architectural excursions by the identify of Architectours invite you to individually discover constructing tradition all throughout Vorarlberg. Relying on the itinerary or the chosen theme, the excursions final half a day or a full day.
- “Umgang Bregenzerwald“ are themed village walks which take guests to architectural highlights in Bregenzerwald. A folder accompanying the excursions is offered on the native vacationer places of work.
- Locations to take a breather in Vorarlberg: In Vorarlberg, imaginative design ideas present up within the least anticipated locations. Every constructing is in dialogue with the encircling nature and each reveals aspects of Vorarlberg’s modern constructing tradition.
- Unique: Architects from everywhere in the world had been commissioned by the village of Krumbach to design seven bus stops below the motto Bus: Cease Krumbach.
- The Werkraum Constructing in Andelsbuch in Bregenzerwald showcases progressive craftsmanship, internet hosting altering exhibitions and works by the Bregenzerwald Werkraum craftspeople.
- Some inns and residences have been redesigned lately, combining conventional and trendy parts. Each time rooms or vacation residences are upgraded or renovated, that is largely executed in cooperation with craftspeople from the area.
Meals in Vorarlberg: Treats and Delights
Regional delicacies: from cheese to nice brandies!
Whether or not you go for a country inn or an award-winning restaurant: Vorarlberg has nice surprises in retailer for foodies, providing impeccable high quality and wonderful value-for-money.
The recipe for fulfillment subscribed to by Vorarlberg’s cooks is a longstanding shut collaboration with native producers. As a lot as doable, they depend on seasonal and regional delicacies to serve up hearty conventional fare or mild dishes with a inventive twist.
Cheese
Vorarlberg’s hottest speciality is cheese, notably the spicy Alp and Bergkäse, a tough mountain cheese. It’s manufactured on many small dairy-making farms, partly on high-alpine homesteads in the course of the summer season. Different delicacies embody Emmental, and tender cream cheese product of cow’s, goat’s and sheep’s milk. Creamy camemberts spherical off the product line. Sura Kees, a mildly fragrant low-fat cheese, is typical of the Montafon area.
For a number of typical recipes – from Kässpätzle to Riebel – check out vorarlberg.journey/en/recipes-from-vorarlberg/
Meals and Drink in Vorarlberg: Chosen Ideas
- Purchase immediately from farmers:
Are you after meals and treats that style simply nice and are made with love and a focus by household farmers? Then you definately’ve come to the best place. We’ve put collectively an inventory of advisable outlets the place you should buy produce immediately from the farm. - Recent regional produce – weekly markets in Vorarlberg:
The markets of Vorarlberg provide a feast for all of the senses virtually day by day of the week. - Culinary suggestions for summer season:
Celebrating meals is an element and parcel of the Vorarlberg lifestyle. At eating places or inns, mountain lodges, Lake Constance cruises or out of doors eating: the substances are sourced regionally wherever doable and used within the preparation of tasteful specialities. - Meal with a view – Suggestions for enjoyment with panoramic views:
Admire Vorarlberg’s mountain world from means up excessive, expertise moments of maritime bliss lakeside, or get pleasure from hours of leisure in a fairytale surroundings. At these Vorarlberg institutions, the prospects for scrumptious meals and good views are assured.
Vorarlberg journey suggestions
Arrival by automotive, rail, coach and airplane
Vorarlberg is inside simple attain on all routes. The native public transport community is very developed. Like in a serious metropolis, all rail and bus companies in addition to tariffs are dovetailed throughout the Vorarlberg transport community. In some areas, climbing buses function along with scheduled companies. Guests within the Kleinwalsertal could use the Walserbus freed from cost. The closest airports are Zurich (CH) and Munich (D). vorarlberg.journey/en/how-to-reach-vorarlberg/
Regional Inclusive Playing cards
All of Vorarlberg’s six vacation locations provide their very own Inclusive Card. Relying on the area, the playing cards are legitimate on public transport, cable-cars and lifts, museums, leisure services and enrolment in several programmes.
In Kleinwalsertal, Brandnertal, Klostertal and in Alpenstadt Bludenz, the cardboard is included within the worth of lodging for guests staying one night time or longer at companion companies, in Bregenzerwald (together with Fontanella, Faschina and Sonntag within the Grosses Walsertal biosphere reserve), it’s included for guests staying 3 nights or longer. As of summer season 2019, the visitor playing cards in Brandnertal, Klostertal and in Alpenstadt Bludenz are readily accessible through the “Clara” app in your good telephone.
Within the Lake Constance-Vorarlberg area (Bodensee-Vorarlberg leisure card), in Montafon (Montafon Brandnertal Card) and in Lech (My Lech Card), the playing cards are on sale at a cut price all-in fee.
Lodging in Vorarlberg
There’s a wide selection of lodging out there within the area. A few of our favourites embody:
Curious and Fascinating Information about Vorarlberg
From alpine snowboarding to cutting-edge innovation Vorarlberg grabs individuals’s consideration in many various methods. Small in measurement, the area surprises with many curiosities and merchandise that are identified everywhere in the world.
Do you know that …
- The first ever ski course for company within the historical past of snowboarding was held in 1906 in Zürs am Arlberg?
- In 1881, Emperor Francis Joseph inaugurated the primary phone within the Austro-Hungarian empire? This phone has been preserved for guests to marvel at at Gasthaus Gütle.
- The solar safety issue was developed in Vorarlberg? We owe this invention to Franz and Marga Greiter, founders of the “Piz Buin“ solar lotion manufacturing firm, which derives its identify from Vorarlberg’s highest peak, the three,312 m excessive Piz Buin.
- The best Baroque church buildings and monasteries within the Lake Constance space had been constructed by builders and craftspeople from native Bregenzerwald? A builders‘ guild shaped within the seventeenth century in Au in Bregenzerwald whose artistry and expertise had been in broad demand.
- The European watershed between the Rhine and the Danube runs via Vorarlberg?
- The export share of Vorarlberg’s firms stands at 60% and is thus the very best of all Austrian states?
- Ropeways everywhere in the world are designed and partly manufactured in Vorarlberg? Doppelmayr, the world market chief in ropeway know-how, is headquartered in Vorarlberg.
- Heated chair-lift seats are an innovation from Vorarlberg? They had been developed by the Doppelmayr firm.
- The overwhelming share of all Purple Bull cans offered worldwide are crammed in Vorarlberg? It is a job executed by Rauch, an organization manufacturing fruit juices, which can also be based mostly in Vorarlberg.
- Plastic packaging from Vorarlberg is used everywhere in the world for drinks, meals, beauty and sanitary merchandise and much more? They’re produced by Alpla, the know-how chief on the subject of packaging options.
- Furnishings and kitchen designers all all over the world depend on fittings from Vorarlberg? An organization with world-wide operations, Blum has its seat in Vorarlberg.
- Wolford, producer of premium tights, bodywear and ladies’s trend is predicated in Bregenz? In addition they run a manufacturing unit outlet there.
- The first design resort to open in Austria is positioned in Dornbirn? Designed by architects Baumschlager Eberle, Lodge Martinspark opened in 1996.
