For a varied supporting programme, Vorarlberg’s different regions offer everything your heart desires within short travel distances. Explore the natural treasures of the alpine region and the Kleinwalsertal valley while hiking or biking, immerse yourself in art, dance, and music at the shores of Lake Constance, enjoy speedy ski runs on the Arlberg, indulge in culinary delights in the Bregenzerwald region, or relax amidst the idyllic alpine villages in the Montafon region.
Sights and culture
Amid Vorarlberg’s mountains, there is plenty of cultural heritage to discover.
Bregenz, the provincial capital, fascinates visitors with its contrasts: The medieval flair of the well-preserved historic centre coalesces with ultra-modern pieces of aesthetic architecture. It comes as no surprise that the region has become a focal point of the international architecture scene.
One of the most famous buildings is the Kunsthaus Bregenz (KUB), the city’s modern art museum with its translucent glass façade, which has long since become one of Bregenz’s landmarks. Inside the KUB, visitors are inspired by ever-changing exhibitions featuring contemporary international artists.
Not too far away, another masterpiece is waiting to be admired: The vorarlberg museum houses artefacts from art, folklore, and archaeology, offering the opportunity to rediscover the province’s history.
The undisputed highlight of the city’s architectural works of art, however, is the Seebühne — the world’s largest floating stage. Serving as the setting for the Bregenzer Festspiele, also known as the Bregenz Festival, the Seebühne and its spectacular stage sets play an important role in shaping the cityscape.
Outside the provincial capital, more cultural experiences await. At the inatura museum in Dornbirn, visitors can experience nature, humanity, and technology in an interactive way. Equally impressive is a visit to the Skyspace Lech, a Lightroom that makes it possible to experience the way sky and earth meet with fresh eyes. Music lovers should not miss the concerts of the Schubertiade — the world’s most renowned Schubert festival, which takes place in the Bregenzerwald region every year.
Memorable experiences
In Vorarlberg, a wealth of experiences and adventures awaits.
Whether it be hiking, mountain biking, and rock climbing during the summer months or skiing, snowboarding, and cross-country skiing in winter — amidst Vorarlberg’s breathtaking alpine world, mountain sports are highly popular all year round.
Several excellent ski regions, rich in natural snow, as well as numerous snow and fun parks make the province a winter sports destination with a global reputation. The Arlberg in particular has made a name for itself: the outstanding ski region is not only the largest ski area in Austria but also one of the five largest ski resorts in the world.
Outside the winter sports season, the Vorarlberg mountains offer a wide range of adventure activities and water sports: enjoy sailing, surfing, SUP, wakeboarding, or rafting — in Vorarlberg, the sky is the limit.
Taking a refreshing dip in one of the region’s natural bathing facilities, such as the Old Military Lido in Bregenz, or in the crystal-clear mountain lakes is the perfect way to end a long day of conferences, seminars, and meetings. Should the weather throw a spanner in the works, the best thing to do is to recharge your batteries in one of Vorarlberg’s wellness oases.
Culinary delights
Fresh, regional, and refined — that is the taste of Vorarlberg. Traditional dishes and modern delicacies are created from high-quality ingredients sourced from local farms and manufacturers.
The province’s cuisine is bound to make the hearts of cheese lovers beat faster, as you can’t get past cheese of all kinds in Vorarlberg. The Bregenzerwald Cheese Road provides a fascinating insight into the production process and invites visitors to taste their way through the delicious variety, consisting of more than 80 different regional cheeses. Cheese also plays a major role in many authentic dishes such as Käsknöpfle — that is, cheesy pasta dumplings — and the popular Almjause, the hearty snack platters traditionally served at alpine huts.
Other highlights of Vorarlberg’s cuisine include Riebel — a sweet dish made from corn semolina — traditional yeast buns and pastries, as well as fresh fish specialities from Lake Constance.
These and many other delicacies are served in a variety of eateries, ranging from rustic alpine huts to top-class gourmet restaurants. When it comes to choosing where to eat, guests are spoilt for choice: the Arlberg region alone boasts over 20 award-winning gourmet restaurants.
