Lake Constance in Vorarlberg

Tucked away in a four-country corner of Austria, Germany, Switzerland and the Principality of Liechtenstein, the Lake Constance (Bodensee) region in Vorarlberg has a proud identity and a daring imagination. The old adage that ‘opposites attract’ might as well have originated here, as an extraordinary blend of old and new come together in this westernmost part of Austria. The cities of the region – Bregenz, Dornbirn, Hohenems and Feldkirch – combine rural idyll with urban flair, and although uniquely influenced by the Vorarlberg’s geographic crossroads, they remain defiantly distinct in identity, even within Austria itself.

Architecture and Design: A Dichotomy of Old and New

Dornbirn, the region’s largest city, has firmly established itself as a leader in innovative architecture. Structures of glass, steel, and concrete astonishingly find their place among more traditional wooden buildings, and even enhance older existing buildings with contemporary additions. Visitors taking just a simple stroll in the natural landscape will be pleasantly surprised at the subtlety of these testaments of modern design, as it all just fits in and strangely makes sense. The area is furthermore a trailblazer in renewable energy sources and passive energy building.

Dornbirn is also home to the Rolls-Royce Museum, uniquely housing the world’s most impressive collection of Rolls-Royces in an old spinning mill built in 1862. One of Vorarlberg’s architectural highlights – The Kunsthaus Bregenz (KUB) – is not only the province’s most important art and exhibition centre, but also a portal to the world of international art. Designed by Pritzker-winning architect, Peter Zumthor, its glass façade, in the shape of a lamp, mirrors the elements and channels the light of Lake Constance. Last year the Kunsthaus Bregenz joined with British artist and sculptor Antony Gormley in presenting ‘Horizon Field’, a unique landscape installation (on display Aug 2010 - Apr 2012) consisting of 100-life sized figures of the human body standing at exactly 2,039m above sea level across 150m² of Vorarlberg’s mountain landscape.

Cultural Hotspot

When it comes to culture, Bregenz, the region’s capital, certainly hits the cultural nail on the head. The Bregenz Festival brings together the Vienna Symphony Orchestra, performers, and directors to produce the finest in modern entertainment. A hi-tech floating stage on Lake Constance has become a platform for some of the world’s most distinguished operas. This year, Umberto Giordano’s ‘André Chénier’ (July/Aug 2012) takes floating centre stage packed with high voltage drama. As well as the festival’s staggering feats of set design, Lake Constance provides an inspiring backdrop for each show. Scenic sunsets, ominous clouds or misty evenings only add to spectacle for the audience seated on the lake’s shoreline.

The Bregenz Festival might be its most well-known, but the Bodensee-Vorarlberg region is ripe with festivals throughout spring and summer. The annual Feldkirch Festival, headed by Phillipe Arlaud, takes place 6th - 17th June, playing early and modern music, and focusing on a different country each year. In 2012, the spotlight is on Finland and Norway. Feldkirch is also the venue for one of Europe’s hottest music and cultural festivals. At the Poolbar Festival, held over seven weeks in July and August, some 20,000 visitors, DJs and musicians from around the world will descend upon Feldkirch to revel in a real party atmosphere where music, art, fashion and architecture coolly intermix within an old indoor swimming pool complex.

In contrast to this super-modern event, nearby Hohenems, since 1976, has hosted a festival dedicated entirely to the composer Franz Schubert. Drawing thousands of visitors to its approximately 90 concerts split over May and October, the Schubertiade Festival is considered the most important and distinguished Schubert festival in the world. A cultural expression not to be overlooked, dance takes its place every year at the Bregenz Spring Festival (March to May) with modern ballet, contemporary dance and theatre.

Cuisine Du Jour

As with most facets of Vorarlberg, contradiction can even be found at mealtime. Whilst most cuisine in restaurants is traditional, you will discover that it is complemented with startlingly modern and classic fare. The region is packed with high-quality restaurants, many of which are very fresh in style and 19 which bear the prestigious Gault-Millau distinction. Known for its fine schnapps, be sure to visit award-winning distillers like Freihof Destillerie in beautiful Lustenau, Albert Büchele’s Michelehof Distillery, or go to the village of Fraxern to taste the unique and delicious ‘Fraxner Kriase’ cherry schnapps. The cultural and culinary scene on the Austrian side of Lake Constance draws attention way beyond its borders. The fresh, modern imagination of the Lake Constance region in Vorarlberg and its inhabitants make it an inspiring place to explore.