Calm Austrian town on Lake Constance, home to a renowned summer music festival with a floating stage. Nearby ski resorts make it a year-round destination.
Bregenz, the capital of Austria's westernmost state Vorarlberg, sits on the eastern shore of Lake Constance. This city of 30,000 residents is known for its annual summer music festival featuring a massive floating stage on the lake. In Bregenz, you can watch an opera performance on the lake, walk through medieval streets in the old town, ride a cable car up Pfänder Mountain, and see contemporary art at the Kunsthaus Bregenz.
Bregenz Festival and the Floating Stage
The Bregenz Festival, held annually in July and August, is the city's most famous event. The festival's centerpiece is the world's largest floating stage on Lake Constance, which hosts grand opera productions. With seating for 7,000 spectators, the stage changes its set design every two years. Past productions have included elaborate sets for operas like "Turandot" and "Carmen". The festival attracts over 200,000 visitors each year and has even appeared in the James Bond film "Quantum of Solace".
Exploring Bregenz's Old Town
The Oberstadt, or Upper Town, is Bregenz's historic center. Here, you can walk along narrow streets lined with well-preserved buildings from different eras. The area's main landmark is St. Martin's Tower, a former granary turned into a watchtower in the early 17th century. You can climb to the top for views of the city and lake. Nearby, you'll find the Gothic St. Gallus Church and remnants of the old city walls, examples of Bregenz's medieval architecture.
Kunsthaus Bregenz: A Modern Art Museum
Kunsthaus Bregenz, designed by Swiss architect Peter Zumthor, is a striking example of contemporary architecture. This cube-shaped building, covered in etched glass panels, hosts rotating exhibitions of international contemporary art. The museum's design allows natural light to filter through its walls, creating an ever-changing atmosphere inside. The building itself is worth seeing for its innovative architecture, even if you're not particularly interested in art.
Pfänder Mountain: Bregenz's Natural Lookout
For extensive views of Bregenz and Lake Constance, take the Pfänderbahn cable car to the summit of Pfänder Mountain. The journey takes about six minutes. At the top, you can visit the Alpine Wildlife Park, home to native animals like ibexes and wild boars. There are also several hiking trails for those who want to explore the mountain further.
Vorarlberg Museum: Regional History and Culture
The Vorarlberg Museum, located in the city center, presents the history and culture of the region. The museum's modern building, with its distinctive facade decorated with thousands of concrete flowers, houses exhibits on archaeology, art, and cultural history. Interactive displays and multimedia presentations make the museum engaging for visitors of all ages.
Culinary Experiences in Bregenz
Bregenz's cuisine incorporates Austrian, German, and Swiss culinary traditions. Try local specialties like Käsespätzle (cheese noodles) or Bodenseefelchen (whitefish from Lake Constance). For a memorable meal, visit the Pfänderdohle restaurant at the top of Pfänder Mountain, where you can eat traditional dishes while looking out over the lake and surrounding mountains.
Getting to Bregenz
Bregenz is well-connected by rail and road. The city's train station has regular connections to major cities in Austria, Germany, and Switzerland. If you're flying, the nearest airports are in Friedrichshafen, Germany (about 40 minutes by car) and Zurich, Switzerland (about 1.5 hours). Once in Bregenz, most attractions are within walking distance, but there's also an efficient bus system for longer trips.
