Cities of Austria: Bregenz

The capital of Forarlberg, stretching along the eastern coast – the city of Bregenz – unites the relaxed aristocracy of the famous resort with the energy of a rapidly developing business and cultural center in his appearance. Despite its small population (about 25 thousand inhabitants), he is able to offer a tourist the widest range of temptations, and the famous Bregenz festival (end of July – the end of August) every year collects exactly 10 times more guests, what lives in the city itself.

The city was founded by the Romans about 15 years before. NS. under the name of Brigantum. Destroyed by German tribes in about 260 g. N. NS. and restored a few decades later, he was conquered by Aleans about 450 g. N. NS. In 610 g. N. NS. The Irish missionary Columban founded the monastery here, but the settlement itself and remained a small provincial village. Only at the beginning of the X century, the Counts of the Local Dynasty, the Udalrikhinger began to build a castle on the site of the Roman camp, but by that time the rapidly born Feldkirch had already taken the post of the capital of the region until the beginning of the 20th century, Bregenz remained provincial "town of Lake" (Interestingly, Habsburgs in the XVI-XVII centuries. Simply bought these lands in the Montor Dynasty, and in parts).

sights

The main center of attraction in Brefez, undoubtedly, the Lake Bodense (Bodensee), beyond the limits of German-speaking countries, somewhat incorrectly called Konstanz (Constance, Costanza). Green coastal plain here forms something similar to the park, for the band of which is directly the city blocks. Modern urban center, or Innenstadt (Innenstadt), build up for the most part in the XIX-XX centuries and is a focus of commercial activities and nightlife. Foliage-covered parking and well-kept flower beds, which stretch along the whole shore, form a good promenade from which beautiful views of the lake and mountains. In the western end of the park there is a Pavilion Festspiel und Kongresshaus, built in 1980 specifically for the opera and orchestral concerts of the Bregenz Festival (Bregenzer Festspiele), although all sorts of cultural performances and exhibitions are held here all year. The floating scene of Kongresshaus Seebuhne floating nearby, on which the most prestigious actions of the festival are also held, has long been one of the symbols of the city, and the stands for 6,000 people are cozy to the shore. From the eastern side of Sebuhne, besides there is a small marina, where you can rent water bikes and motorboats (11-19 euros per hour). And the west of Kongresshaus Strandweg highway stretches along the whole shore past a whole series of Cartoons, outdoor pools, marins for yachts, withdrawing to the former monastery of Cistercians Meeruu. The monastery complex now serves as a prestigious gymnasium, and his colorful church (opened daily from dawn to twilight; free entry) was carefully renovated in 1962 and contains many interior masterpieces of the XVI-XVII centuries.

Located at the entrance to the city (between Seestrasse and Kornmarkt) modernist kunsthaus complex (locals call it just kub, 1997.) Specially designed by the Swiss Master Peter Zumbater as a high-class exhibition center. Behind the Building of the Land Museum of the WWW.VLM.AT with an excellent collection on the history and culture of the region. If you go along the street Rathausstrasse from the Museum gateway to the city center, the road is prairing just through the trading area (partially pedestrian) around Deuringstrasse streets, MauraChgasse and Leutbuhel. Between Rathausstrasse and Anton-Schneider-Strasse, you can see Capelela Ze (Seekapelle) with an impressive altar of the XVII century, and a little further and to the left – more interesting Negotic Church of Herz-Yezu-Kehche (XX.) Wonderful stained glass windows of Martin Hausle.

The historic core of the city is Altsstadt (Altstadt, or Oberstadt) – lies on the hill above the coastal zone, and it is here that most of the old architectural complexes are concentrated here. Maurachgasse Street rises from the modern center to the ancient fortress gate Martinstor, who once guarded the entrance to Altstadt. Immediately around the corner, the medieval tower of the Martinstores is tested, in which the small museum of weapons is now located and a great observation deck. Medieval granaries in the neighborhood in the XIV century were rebuilt into a chapel, which preserved the frescoes of that period, and literally across the road there was a beautiful town hall of the XVII century (now a residential building). A little south of the top of the hill crosses the parish church of St. Gallus (XIV in.), which is believed to be in place of the chapel built by Irish missionaries Gallus and Columban in the VII century.

The most popular local tour leads to the top of the peak of Pfander (1062 m), lying north-east of the city. From here, excellent panoramas on the lake and the adjacent Plain of the Rhine are opened, there is a great restaurant Berghaus Pfander, and a small open-air zoo. You can climb to the top on the cable car from the southern end of Schillerstrasse (5.7 euros one way, 9.8 euros in both directions) or by car. And already from here you can go down to the Bregenz or an attractive village Floh (Fluh, 1.5 hours on foot south), go to the wooded mountain range Geebhartsberg, the medieval fortress of Hoenbrenz, Chapel of St. Gebhard (XI-XIX centuries.) and again go down to Western foreskins of Bregenz.

Reviews and studies of trips

21 day in Austria

For three weeks, Austria fascinated us, and did not want to leave. Beautiful nature, cozy cities and villages, pleasant people who are ready to come to the rescue at any time. Perhaps for the first time we decided to violate our rule and come back here again. The benefit of interesting places is not enough for one trip! Read more →

Elena | May 2007

"Joking" travel

For a long time I could not collect my thoughts to share my impressions about Bavaria and South Germany, but I thought that so little about this stories, so I said: "Need, Alla, it is necessary!" But everything began with a comic offer somewhere to go on cheap tickets of Aeroflot back in February. Well, maybe in Vienna, well, maybe it can still … read more →

Alla | April 2005

Again wanted to Europe

We have been traveling for individually designed routes. Last year we rested on Lake Garda in Northern Italy and this year we chose another European lake – Bodenskoye in Germany, French Alsace and German Schwarzvald. It turned out in our opinion a very interesting and rich journey, because traveling individually, you see and find out, just what you really want to see and learn. For 12 days of stay in Europe, we (this is my husband Valery, son Anton 6 years old and I) rolled 4000 km. Read more →