Excursions

This interactive centre is the region’s most visited museum and one of the most high-tech nature museums in Europe, with underwater cinema, avalanche simulator, science centre, and more. 

It is claimed the monastery of St. Gerold dates back to the 11th century. Today, the priory, which belongs to the Benedictine monastery of Einsiedeln in Switzerland, is considered the spiritual and cultural centre of the Great Walser Valley.

The little sister of the elegant Hohentwiel steam ship has been back gracing the waters of Lake Constance since May 2019. The MS Oesterreich is a motor ship first launched during the 1920s golden age, and was considered a luxury liner at the time. 

Situated just outside the city of Dornbirn this is one of the largest gorges in central Europe. A signposted trail and spectacular wooden footpaths lead past breathtaking views sculpted by prehistorical geological process – as the Mesozoic sea retreated and formed the mountains of the Alps. 

The museum landscape based around the yearly Schubertiade Festival is a delightful mix of small and historically significant spaces. First and foremost are the Franz Schubert Museum and Schubertiade Museum where visitors can get a comprehensive overview of the stories of the great composers. 

Only 20 minutes from the centre of Dornbirn lies a unique playground in the midst of a magnificent mountain paradise. The Ebnit sports club has a variety of activities on offer, overseen by outdoor specialists. 

Werkraum is home to various forward-thinking and traditionally-rooted craftspeople from the Bregenzerwald area. The visionary building was designed by world-famous architect Peter Zumthor but built and fitted out by the collective might of the local craftsmen themselves.

There’s truly something to do on this picturesque lake all year round. From the start of April to October there are daily trips to the most beautiful destinations on Lake Constance. During the high season there are evening trips with music and dancing, as well as round trips to and from Bregenz. 

Formerly a humble stable, this building now houses one of the world’s foremost collection of cribs. The exhibition presents an astonishing variety of widely differing specimens from places as diverse as Austria, Italy, Spain, Lapland, Africa and China. 

This unique project arose out of a collaboration between the planning of seven international architecture firms on the one hand, and local construction know-how on the other. The result perfectly combines internationally designed architecture with the know-how and skills of regional craftsmen in the Bregenzerwald.

The Juppen is the traditional costume of the Bregenzerwald. At this extraordinary production site, visitors can discover five centuries of craftsmanship and how this international-renowned Wälderjuppe is made. 

The only Women’s Museum in Austria plays host to varying exhibitions on women past and present, from a regional or supra-regional perspective. Frauenmuseum Hittisau aims to make clear the cultural contributions of women throughout history and in present day, and as such has hosted over 30 exhibitions to date on various topics. 

The Bregenz Festival is a must for any culture vulture, with a varied programme of opera performances, orchestral concerts, music and poetry presentations at its outdoor stage, the Festspielhaus (festival hall) and the Lake Studio.

Michelehof is a farm that’s been run by the Büchele family from Hard for generations. Processing their own fruit has always been part of the daily routine here, and now in recent years Albert Büchele has made this his passion and has brought the distillation of fine spirits to perfection with traditional methods. 

The Fenkart family specialise in a variety of delectable hand-made chocolates and pralines. They now offer tastings and guided tours in their showroom where visitors can find out everything about the cultivation of cocoa and the production of chocolate.