Churches and Chapels in Vorarlberg

Vorarlberg is home to over 600 chapels and churches. These are places steeped in history, expressions of active faith and deep piety. During a pilgrimage or group trip in Vorarlberg, it’s certainly worthwhile stopping by some of these religious sites.

Over the years, when life offered only harsh prospects and hope was not on the horizon, or when someone was immortalised for overcoming a great challenge, a new church was built. But more generally, the desire to serve God motivated the people and the Holy Church to construct magnificent buildings worthy of this cause.

The oldest churches in Vorarlberg date from the Romanesque period. However, there are also frescoes here which have survived from at least the 14th century which can still be found in later additions. These moving historical images can be found, for example, in Bregenz’s Martinskapelle or in the churches in Reuthe and Damüls.  

One church which is both architecturally unique and a site of pilgrimage is the Basilica atop the Liebfrauenberg in Rankweil. This formidable fortification, complete with battlements and arrow slits, can be seen for miles around and is full of stories to discover.

But Vorarlberg is equally marked by baroque influences. Indeed, skilled craftsmen from the Bregenzerwald shaped the entire Lake Constance region between the 17th and 19th centuries. The baroque churches in Vorarlberg are designed in the Alemannic style and are beautifully yet modestly decorated. The parish church of St. Gallus and the Nepomuk Chapel in Bregenz are fine examples of this.

Other imposing buildings bear witness to the turn of the 20th century, such as the classicist St. Martin’s Church in Dornbirn or the neo-Gothic Herz Jesu Church in Bregenz. Meanwhile, there are also plenty of inspiring buildings based on modern concepts, including St. John the Baptist in Lingenau or St. Konrad in Hohenems.

Guided tours are possible in many churches in Vorarlberg, run by pedagogically trained experts and church specialists. A stop by a place of worship can also be easily integrated into other group trip itineraries.