Krumbach in the Bregenzerwald has surrounded its moor with hiking trails in addition to 14 special moor seats and a moor pavilion to make observation more enjoyable.

As befitting the Bregenzerwald region, facilities at the moor are naturally of highest architectural quality. The same can be said of the Salgenreute chapel on the moor’s edge, which was built a few years back. The Krumbach moor revitalisation project took place in the Nagelfluhkette nature park, which emphasises sustainable village development and the well thought-out implementation of ideas. Some years ago, when considering how best to attract more attention to the natural environment of the local moors, the first step was actually the involvement of the local community.

The municipality wanted to do more than just create hiking trails. Instead, the community trained specialised moor guides who regularly guide moor hikes. In addition, there are also four Moorwirte inns in Krumbach, who use herbs and plants from the moor to refine their dishes, e.g. with meadowsweet, cranberries, lingonberries, woodruff and ribwort plantain. As a finishing touch, comfortable moor seats were also constructed along the trails to invite hikers to relax and observe.

Architecture in the moor

Both the moor seats and the Moorraum pavilion are real eye catchers. The roofed platform is an ideal vantage point for observing the moorland meadow. Leave your shoes behind if you fancy a bit of Kneipp therapy or simply want to feel the moor between your toes. The concept for the moor area was designed by Bregenzerwald architect Bernardo Bader.

Event tip: Daybreak & breakfast at the moor

Hiking through the moor is permitted throughout the summer and partially in the winter on designated (winter) trails. The Moorraum pavilion and the Salgenreute chapel are open all year.

The Salgenreute chapel

The Moorraum pavilion isn’t the only structure Bernardo Bader was responsible for planning on the edge of the moors. He also designed the Salgenreute chapel, which can only be reached on foot. This timber building with a pointed roof and wooden furniture is slightly elevated on a stone pedestal. Visitors first enter the roofed outdoor space via a concrete step and then proceed into the interior, where a window in the apse frames beautiful views of the surrounding nature. For his design, Bader received multiple awards including the “Best Architects Award” in 2018, the “Chicago Athenaeum International Architecture Award” in 2017, the Austrian Bauherrenpreis and the Piranesi prize.

Krumbach is accessible by bus from Bregenz, Dornbirn and towns in the Bregenzerwald.