Though well-known as a winter sports activities vacation spot, Vorarlberg is a hidden gem for artwork lovers value visiting all yr spherical. With its elegant cities like Bregenz and charming Lake Constance, Vorarlberg has the attraction of a historic touristic vacation spot. Nevertheless, being famend as a up to date structure hub, and with its modern strategy in direction of sustainability, the cultural panorama full of artwork installations, and new up to date artwork initiatives like STAGE Bregenz, you’ll return to it again and again. Simply as I’m doing.
Vorarlberg’s Cultural Panorama
I began my final go to to Vorarlberg at a chic Kleiner Löwe lodge situated proper within the coronary heart of Bregenz. Throughout a breakfast with a gaggle of journalists and Verena Konrad, a director of the Vorarlberg Structure Institute, I realised the architectural historical past has been written in a second in that Austrian area. Because the Sixties, architects began working along with native craftsmen to create quite a few stunning buildings in Vorarlberg. Through the use of the vastly accessible materials within the space – wooden, they began not solely shaping the brand new cultural panorama of Vorarlberg, but in addition an beautiful native style in design and structure.
Quick ahead sixty years later, the westernmost area of Austria is residence to round 150 architectural corporations which worker round 4000 individuals. I checked the statistics: the area is residence to a bit greater than 400,000 inhabitants, which means there may be one particular person working in structure per 100 inhabitants in Vorarlberg.
This made me evaluate it with the Dutch Golden Age in artwork throughout the seventeenth century when in rich cities like Amsterdam or Haarlem, there was one painter per 1000 inhabitants. Can we confidently say Vorarlberg is experiencing its architectural Golden Age? I turned much more positive about that after I remembered a few of the up to date structure I noticed within the area throughout my earlier visits.
Watch my video beneath to see a few of them:
Bregenz
Being in Bregenz a number of occasions already, I made a decision to spend my morning as one normally does in locations that grew to your coronary heart: by wandering round a few of their favorite areas. Bregenz has a surprisingly balancing mixture of previous and new, conventional and progressive.
I strolled across the cobbled streets of its previous city which witnesses its lengthy historical past. The previous doorways of the Stadttor make you think about travellers passing by them for hundreds of years. Whereas on the chapel of the bulb-shaped Saint Martin Tower, surrounded by 14th-century wall work, you possibly can virtually hear the medieval choir singing throughout the Sunday mass.
However once more, these remnants of handed time are interrupted by the small outlets showcasing the native’s inventive spirits. I made a compulsory cease at a beautiful Xocolat store which cabinets have been full of chocolate Easter bunnies this time.
⤷ Learn extra: 10 Issues to do in Bregenz
STAGE Bregenz
Nevertheless, the principle motive for my journey to Vorarlberg was to go to the STAGE Bregenz. It comes as no shock, that the area that cherishes creativity a lot, has began a brand new occasion to function a platform for visible arts. Organised on the iconic Festspielhaus subsequent to Lake Constance in Bregenz, it’s a up to date artwork truthful which goals to be as sustainable as potential.
I used to be so impressed by the range of artwork types represented on the truthful. From conventional work and statues to mild installations and product design, the kinds of those artwork types spanned from figurative to summary. I additionally beloved how accessible the STAGE Bregenz was. Up to date artwork gala’s are likely to cater to a really slim viewers of artwork professionals and devoted collectors. Nevertheless, that wasn’t the case with this one. The exhibited paintings was displayed in a really approachable method, and each individuals working on the truthful and the gallery house owners have been nothing lower than pleasant and open to sharing their data and telling extra in regards to the displayed artwork, making everybody welcome.
That’s one thing that places the STAGE Bregenz apart! It’s a up to date artwork truthful with fastidiously chosen great-quality paintings, offering a beautiful overview of present concepts and developments in artwork. However, that’s all offered in a method that makes it attention-grabbing to everybody. It will get 10/10 from me!
⤷ Learn extra: Finest Exhibitions in European Museums in 2025
Montafon
After being mesmerised by incredible up to date artwork at STAGE Bregenz, I took a practice and left for the japanese a part of the Vorarlberg Area. It was the realm I hadn’t had an opportunity to go to throughout my earlier visits, so I used to be thrilled to discover Montafon. After round an hour-and-a-half-long practice experience, I arrived at a valley surrounded by tall snow-covered mountains.
To color a picture of Montafon in your thoughts, simply shut your eyes and picture essentially the most stunning Alpine panorama. Wherever I turned, it appeared as if somebody had scattered typical wood homes on the inexperienced hills beneath the white mountain peaks. Constructed of a mix of wooden and stone between the Fifteenth and twentieth centuries, these typical edifices are often known as Montafonerhaus.
The area is a snowboarding paradise and after I exited a practice at Schruns, I acquired myself surrounded by skiers slowly waddling from one foot to a different, ski cubicles on their toes and skies of their fingers. It felt as if I arrived on the great winter countryside.
⤷ Learn extra: What to see within the Vorarlberg Area
Schruns
My base for the following couple of days was the village of Schruns. Its historic centre was a pleasant place to slowly stroll round and benefit from the slow-paced life. An aspiring author inside me was thrilled to study Schruns was frequented by Ernest Hemingway and his household. That is the place he spent his holidays in 1925 and 1926. He talked about that Austrian village in his ebook, A Moveable Feast. A bronze statue on the city centre commemorates his reference to Schruns.
I actually explored it within the footsteps of Ernest Hemingway, by staying on the identical lodge as he did, at Posthotel Taube. And by having dinner on the oldest restaurant in Montafon, a spot the well-known author would additionally go to after his day by day looking journeys, the Gasthof Löwen.
“On Christmas Day in Schruns, the snow was so white that it damage your eyes to look out of the wine bar and see individuals coming residence from church.”
E. Hemingway
For culturally curious travellers, an awesome place to go to in Schruns is Montafoner Heimatmuseum which is one in all 4 Montafon Museums. The museum is situated in a 500-year-old home within the city centre. It’s devoted to the native historical past, traditions and a way of life. The reconstructed typical home interiors, with one of many oldest preserving Montafon tables from the yr 1712, are amongst its highlights.
The museum organises particular exhibitions value visiting. I beloved the one devoted to the mission of reviving the historic fabric manufacturing within the area, by encouraging younger artists to create fashionable trend designs taking part in with the material produced of the native sheep wool.
One other cultural spot in Schruns is the Münster Schruns, the parish church inbuilt 1865 and elevated to the cathedral in 2020. The church’s inside is very fascinating, one thing I found to be the case with many church buildings across the Montafon area. My greatest recommendation is to enter the church buildings you’ll come across throughout your journey to Vorarlberg as a result of their interiors are surprisingly richly adorned. The Church in Schruns was adorned by the members of the native household, Bertle. Franz, Jakob and Hans Bertle made the wall and ceiling work, whereas Anton and Ignaz Bertle designed the pulpit. Its organ, inbuilt 1988 by the builder known as Pflüger can also be fairly spectacular.
Tschagguns
Crossing the bridge excessive over the river acquired me from Schruns to the village of Tschagguns. The neighbouring communities are so shut to one another, that you simply don’t have a sense you’re in a special place in any respect.
My first cease there was the Pilgrimage Church in Tschagguns. Constructed within the mid-Fifteenth century, and reconstructed a number of occasions later, the church has components of Gothic, Baroque and neo-Renaissance kinds. Its Gothic arched ceiling is beautiful. Nevertheless, one of many church’s highlights is the 1816 historic organ constructed by the builder Bergöntzle.
Situated slightly below it’s one other unmissable place, the Gasthof Löwen. The oldest restaurant in Montafon was constructed as a guesthouse 5 centuries in the past. After a hearty dinner there, I struck up a dialog with its proprietor, Gertrud Tschohl. It was so attention-grabbing to study this place’s fascinating historical past and a few of its very well-known company (like Hemingway).
The restaurant and lodge is owned by the identical household for generations. However, not solely that, they’ve had the identical chef for 50 years, with a few of the kitchen workers working there for round 40 years, and even their grandchildren persevering with their work. It tells you a large number in regards to the custom, loyalty and values of the place.
Talking of household custom, it was fairly tangible in one other place I visited in Tschagguns, Sandrellhaus. Owned by the Sandrell household for generations, it’s a typical historic home from the realm changed into a beautiful guesthouse. The flowery wall work on its outer partitions present its significance up to now. Nevertheless, its actual function continues to be unsure. With its conventional inside and a incredible mountain view, this can be a great place to remain and go to for historical past buffs. You’ll get a fair higher style of the native custom by savouring a typical Montafoner Sauerkäse (bitter cheese) made by the household.
St. Gallenkirch
A brief bus experience by the mesmerising Alpine surroundings away, I visited one other small village in Montafon, St. Gallenkirch. It was flocked by skiers on a Saturday of my go to, due to the snowboarding competitors. After lunch and a brief peak into the Parish Church which was constructed firstly of the 14th century and rebuilt later, being one of the crucial essential Rococo church buildings in Vorarlberg in the present day, I visited an area farm.
The Montafons is a family-owned farm (you possibly can see the sample within the area, proper?) whose house owners try to develop every thing sustainably. The star of the farm is the native endangered breed of Montafon sheep. The color of their hair might range, from utterly white to brown, creating a vibrant number of produced wool. The Montafons are utilizing it to create varied merchandise, from socks, slippers and carpets, to very properly designed backpacks.
⤷ Learn extra: 25 Stunning UNESCO World Heritage Websites in Europe
Silberpfad
Though the rain was forecasted for the following day, I used to be woken up by a gorgeous clear blue sky and sunny climate. And I couldn’t ask for higher climate on a day I made a decision to spend within the mountains.
My first cease was the Silberpfad (Silver Path). That academic mountain path is devoted to the Montafon’s medieval mining historical past. The two.7 kilometres (1.6 miles) lengthy path additionally gives some great mountain vistas. One among its highlights is the miner’s chapel of St. Agatha.
⤷ TIP: After exploring the path, take a break on the Panoramagasthof Kristberg, a beautiful restaurant and a lodge providing a beautiful view of the encircling mountains.
Alpenregion Bludenz
My journey took me then to a different great space inside Vorarlberg, the Alpenregion Bludenz, the place I explored the beautiful mixture of artwork and nature at Muttersberg. I completed my journey within the historic city of Bludenz.
Muttersberg
The final city I visited throughout my cultural tour across the japanese a part of the Vorarlberg Area was Bludenz. Earlier than exploring the city, I took one other cable automotive which took me to Muttersberg. Proper subsequent to the cable automotive’s higher cease is a comfortable restaurant, the place I had a hearty lunch. Throughout it, my eyes have been set on the mountain peaks I had a incredible view of from the restaurant.
The day was excellent for a winter hike, so I acquired my climbing boots on and adopted the Alpine Artwork Muttersberg – Artwork Path. It’s round 4 kilometre (2.5 miles) lengthy path full of incredible artwork installations, situated in a gorgeous Alpine setup. That mixture of lovely nature and cutting-edge artwork was one in all my favorite issues within the Vorarlberg Area.
Bludenz
After that inspiring artwork hike, I took a cable automotive right down to the final cease of my journey to Vorarlberg, Bludenz. As soon as I reached its historic centre, it was clear to me I used to be in an previous city. Its cobbled streets are surrounded by vibrant homes, typically with the household’s coats of arms on them. You may nonetheless really feel the historic form of the city whereas strolling by it, with elements of its previous partitions and metropolis gates nonetheless standing.
One among Bludenz’s highlights is its former Parish Church of St. Laurentius, constructed round 1500. Subsequent to it’s the Gayenhofen Fortress, constructed round 1750 in a Baroque fashion. The city’s hidden gem is the gardens situated slightly below the fort, providing a incredible view of each the historic Bludenz structure and surrounding mountain peaks.
A fantastic spot in Bludenz for artwork lovers is Verein allerArt, a gallery organising common up to date artwork exhibitions. Throughout my go to, they displayed the artworks acquired by the Vorarlberg Area in 2024.
⤷ TIP: Bludenz would possibly sound acquainted in case you have a candy tooth. It’s the place the Milka headquarters and the manufacturing facility is. You may let your nostril lead you to it by following the scent of cocoa. They’ve a small store throughout the manufacturing facility, so when you love Milka candies, this can be a place that shouldn’t be missed.
The place to remain & eat in Vorarlberg Area (Bodensee-Vorarlberg, Montafon & Alpenregion Bludenz)
Bregenz: Kleiner Löwe Resort, Wirtshaus am See
Schruns & Tschagguns: Posthotel Taube (the above photographs are from it), Montafoner Hof, St. Josefsheim, Gasthof Löwen, Sandrellhaus
Bludenz: Das Tschofen Resort & Restaurant, Der Löwen Restaurant
Its stunning nature and cultural panorama make Vorarlberg an awesome place to go to all yr spherical. With its deal with up to date artwork and structure, there’s something new to find in lots of the small cities and villages scattered all through it.
I visited the Vorarlberg area in Austria on a press journey organised by Vorarlberg Tourismus and their companions: Montafon, Bodensee-Vorarlberg and Bludenz Die Alpenstadt. Many because of all of them for organising such a beautiful journey for me. As at all times, all opinions are my very own.
