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    Bregenz

    Vorarlberg’s capital is beautifully located at Lake Constance, Central Europe’s third largest lake. It offers a dense cultural program coupled with a wide range of outdoor activities.

    Bregenz, also known as The City by the Lake, is the capital of Vorarlberg, Austria's westernmost region. Located on the eastern shores of Lake Constance, it is home to Austria's most important harbour, the world-famous Bregenz Festival, and looks back on two millennia of history.

    Must-Sees in Bregenz

    The centrepiece of the 2000 year old city is the bulbous, Baroque St. Martin's Tower. In recent years, exceptional architects like Hans Hollein, Jean Nouvel, and Peter Zumthor as well as the "Vorarlberger Baukünstler" group have played an important role in shaping the city’s appearance. The Kunsthaus Bregenz is an architectural gem located opposite the marina from where boat trips leave to the island village of Lindau and the flower island of Mainau.

    About Bregenz

    The first settlements in the area of present-day Bregenz were established around 1500 BC. In the Celtic period (from around 500 BC), Bregenz was one of the most strongly fortified places in the region. After the Romans conquered the area, they built the city of Brigantium, a civilian city with a forum, temple district, market halls, a basilica and more. Extensive archaeological remains from this period have been preserved, e.g. mosaics. In the Upper City, Bregenz's old town, the city walls from the Middle Ages are still largely preserved today.

    • Panoramic view of Bregenz / Bregenz
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    • Anton Schneider street in Bregenz / Bregenz
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    • Anton Schneider street in Bregenz / Bregenz
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    • Entrance to the port of Bregenz with a ship
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    • Gondola Port Bregenz
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    • harbour in Bregenz
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    • Bregenz harbour
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    • Fischersteg in Bregenz
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    • festival hall Bregenz / Festspielhaus, Bregenz
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    • Festspielhaus Bregenz / Bregenz
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    • lake stage Bregenz / Festspielhaus, Bregenz
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    • Bregenz Festival / Festspielhaus, Bregenz
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    • Christmas market in Bregenz / Bregenz
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    • Christmas market in Bregenz / Bregenz
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    Top Highlights in Bregenz

    • Bregenz Upper Town with St. Martin's Tower
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      St. Martin's Tower (Martinsturm)

      It is the landmark of the city. From the former warehouse, which has been elevated into a tower, enjoy a picturesque, beautiful panorama view of the city and the Old Town.
      Learn more about the towers' history
    • Kunsthaus (Art House) and Post Office in Bregenz / Kunsthaus Bregenz
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      Kunsthaus Bregenz

      The Kunsthaus Bregenz, constructed by the award-winning architect Peter Zumthor, is built from glass plates, steel and concrete. It's one of the most important museum buildings of contemporary architecture.
      Learn more about the Kunsthaus
    • Sunset at the Pfaenderbahn, Bregenz
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      Pfänderbahn

      Glide towards the 1.064-metre-high local mountain in a panorama gondola, and enjoy the incomparable view of the Switzerland-Germany-Austrian border triangle during the ride.
      Escape into the mountains
    • / Bregenz
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      Bregenz Upper Town

      If the walls and buildings in the Old Town of Bregenz could talk, they would have a few stories to tell about a shark from Lake Constance, a watchman from St. Martin, a gallows bell or a prison.
      Learn more about the Old Town's history
    • aerial picture Bodensee / Bodensee, Vorarlberg
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      Lake Constance

      Lake Constance offers endless possibilities for everyone: Go on a boat trip, visit one of the lakeside beaches, cycle along the lake shore, enjoy a barbecue, or simply gaze at the water during a sunset.
      Learn more about the third-largest inland lake in Central Europe
    • vorarlberg museum in Bregenz
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      Vorarlberg Museum

      Discover more than 150.000 artefacts from art, history, folklore and archaeology of Austria's westernmost state at this architectural masterpiece.
      Explore the history and present of Vorarlberg

    Explore Bregenz's Lifestyle

    Bregenz Festival

    Since 1946, the Bregenz Festival has been an integral part of the city. Each summer, the finest opera al fresco is being presented on the world-largest lakeside stage on the shores of Lake Constance. Bregenz lake stage holds about 7.000 seats and is equipped with the latest state-of-the-art stage technology. Every two years, a different performance is played, and the stage structures change with the performance. Sometimes they become a serious competition to the official city landmark, the St. Martin's Tower.

    In addition to the lake stage, also the Bregenz Festival House hosts a large number of performances indoors in the rooms of Kongresskultur Bregenz, providing space for up to 4.500 guests, depending on requirements.

    In total, more than 80 performances are held during the festival, attracting approximately 200.000 visitors every year.

    A special cultural experience at Lake Constance
    Driftszene, Festival in Bregenz
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