General information
Summer in Vorarlberg
Vorarlberg – a source of inspiration: Creativity abounds in Austria’s westernmost region
Keen to experience new soundscapes, go on architecture trails, enjoy time out in nature or savour culinary delights? In the very west of Austria, in Vorarlberg, there is a lot explore and things to do. And what’s more, a well-developed public transport system will take you everywhere you want to go.
Well-connected
No need for a car when visiting Vorarlberg, as destinations in the region are easily accessible by train or bus. All schedules have been smartly coordinated and you can take your bike with you on most trains. With their regional Inclusive Card, holidaymakers can even travel for free. Using public transport also comes with lots of extra benefits. A number of event tickets as well as museum tickets purchased online include the trip to and from the venue on public transport within Vorarlberg. The same applies if you book a round trip, special cruise or event cruise on one of the Vorarlberg Lines ships or the historic motor ship OESTERREICH or steam ship Hohentwiel. Trains and buses make getting to numerous other events and destinations easy as pie. Hop-on-hop-off is the motto for exploring all of Vorarlberg.
Get moving
Vorarlberg’s great variety of mountains and valleys offers prime destinations for hiking and biking afficionados. In many places, cableways and similar means of transport will take you up or down a mountain in a jiffy. Choose from a plethora of themed hiking paths that tell stories or feature interesting artwork. Marvel at landslide-inspired sculptures along the Georunde Rindberg trail in Bregenzerwald or the installations set up along the Gauertal AlpKulTour trail in Montafon. One of the most popular cycle paths is the Lake Constance Cycle Path, which celebrates its 40th anniversary this year. Escape stories from the years 1938 to 1945 are told on the 100-kilometre-long audio cycle path “Crossing the Border”. In the Bregenzerwald, “culinary cycling” combines enjoyment and architectural explorations. Whether you prefer mountain bikes or e-bikes, you will find one for hire nearly everywhere, along with an extensive offer of guided tours. Downhillers will find exciting trails to practice their sport, for instance in Bikepark Brandnertal or in the new Trailpark Hochjoch in Montafon. In Kleinwalsertal, the Great Nature Explorer Adventure “Insects” expands the interactive offer for nature enthusiasts. In the interest of nature conservation and animal welfare, be mindful and follow the guidance of the “Respektiere deine Grenzen” campaign.
New perspectives
Vorarlberg’s towns and villages are a testament to the region’s outstanding architecture, design and craftsmanship: contemporary, bold, clean-lined and sustainable are attributes that spring to mind. Timber is the building material of choice here. If you plan to go on Architecture Trails, you can choose from seven different routes, all of which can be easily undertaken by public transport, too. On these tours, you will encounter remarkable buildings as well as innovative Vorarlberg craftsmanship and design. Another way to gain insights into Vorarlberg’s architecture and culture are the twelve themed “Umgang Bregenzerwald“ trails or the “Walser Kulturwege“ trails. Creative craftsmanship is on display at the Werkraum Haus in Andelsbuch in the Bregenzerwald, which is celebrating its 10th anniversary this summer. The anniversary exhibition is dedicated to Peter Zumthor, the architect of the house, and shows architectural models from his studio. Art also amazes in public spaces, from sculptures on the Lake Constance promenade in Bregenz to the “Skyspace Lech” created by the US artist James Turrell.
Culinary delights
Be it in traditional taverns, mountain inns, alpine huts or one of the many award-winning restaurants renowned for their creative cuisine, you will always find excellent food on your plate anywhere in Vorarlberg. Chefs rely on regionally sourced produce wherever possible. Alpine farmsteads and dairies produce the cheese that makes “Kässpätzle”, a traditional local dish, such a pleasure for the taste buds. Fresh fish comes directly from Lake Constance or from sustainably managed fish farms. Fruit and vegetables are grown on the fertile land around Lake Constance. Hand-crafted delicacies, from chocolates to fine spirits, abound. Farm shops and weekly markets in towns and villages offer all kinds of special treats.
Cultural pursuits
Opera on Lake Constance, pop music in Feldkirch, jazz in Montafon: In summer 2023, Vorarlberg has a lot on offer for culture vultures. The Bregenz Festival with its open-air opera performances on the spectacular lake-side stage is the highlight of the season. From 19 July to 20 August, Giacomo Puccini’s “Madame Butterfly” is on the programme as the opera on the lake stage. In the Festspielhaus, Giuseppe Verdi’s opera “Ernani” opens the festival. The poolbar pop culture festival, which is staged partly out in the open, partly in Feldkirch’s indoor pool turned festival venue, is a hotspot for cultural discourse, design and live music. The poolbar festival celebrates its 30th anniversary from 6 July to 14 August.
Classical music and song are the focus of the Schubertiade concerts held in Hohenems (April, July and October) and Schwarzenberg in Bregenzerwald (July and August/September). The Montafoner Resonanzen present a diverse selection of concerts ranging from folk music to jazz from 3 August to 10 September. Lech Zürs am Arlberg has jazz and classical music on its cultural menu. Literaricum Lech takes attendants on a journey through the world of literature from 13 to 16 July. FAQ Bregenzerwald from 7 to 10 September is a forum cum festival, with culinary outings to boost. Many other events, small and large, round off Vorarlberg’s summer festival season.
Thought-provoking exhibitions
Vorarlberg’s museums and exhibition spaces give visitors access to a range of different experiences. Changing exhibitions have lovers of contemporary art flocking to Kunsthaus Bregenz. In summer, the exhibitions include “Monira Al Qadiri” (22 April to 2 July) and “Michael Armitage” (15 July to 29 October). Also in Bregenz, the vorarlberg museum shows several permanent exhibitions as well as changing special exhibitions. Families and those with a penchant for experiments are drawn to inatura, the interactive nature show in Dornbirn. The special exhibition “Lake Constance” can be experienced until 15 October 2023. From 7 May 2023 to 10 March 2024, the Jewish Museum Hohenems is showing “A Place of Our Own. Four Young Palestinian Women in Tel Aviv”. From July 2023, “Cleaning. An Exhibition about an Extra-Clean World” can be seen in the Women’s Museum Hittisau, the only one of its kind in Austria. Just a few miles down the road, the Museum of Baroque Master Builders in Au presents the inspiring history of the local master builders who in the 17th and 18th centuries ventured out to erect some 800 baroque buildings in Southern Germany, Switzerland and Alsace.
Heartfelt hospitality
Vorarlberg is known for its well-appointed hotels, most of which are family-run, and for its hosts who dedicate themselves to their work with great commitment. Many hotels and holiday accommodations also stand out architecturally. Most of the renovations and new buildings are in the style of contemporary Vorarlberg (wooden) architecture. Wooden furniture, woollen fabrics, felt and other natural materials, designed by innovative craftsmen, create a stylish and extremely pleasant atmosphere. Whether renovating or building a new house, the focus is on sustainability and energy efficiency.
