The Mystery Shopper tour continues… This time reporter Andy Mossack tells us about his experience in the Vorarlberg region
Austria’s Vorarlberg province takes jaw-dropping beauty to another level and offers a crowd-free summer vacation sensation
Barbara definitely knows a thing or two about Bregenz.
Within a minute of walking through the doors of Hotel Germania, she pointed out all her favourite places in town, and even shared the address of her secret café with me (CaféSito, a little bit of bagel heaven hidden away just off Kirchstrasse). It was the perfect example of a great welcome, one of the most important parts of a hotel experience.
A warm and friendly greeting sets the tone of your stay and gives you a positive feeling about your temporary home, and Barbara made sure I was well and truly greeted. The Germania is a boutique hotel very close to the town centre. It is modern, light and airy with a good restaurant.
Bregenz, Vorarlberg’s capital, is a delightful baroque city built on two levels; the historic medieval upper town, with its 13th century architecture and cobbled streets lying peacefully serene, towering over the busier but still quaint lower town, flanked by the stunning Lake Constance on one side and a backdrop of dramatic alpine peaks on the other.
With its restaurants, cafés, museums, galleries, baroque architecture, and of course the water borne pleasures of the Lake, It’s the perfect place to base yourself before exploring Vorarlberg’s other hidden alpine treasures.
Bregenz is a city steeped in culture. After all, it’s the venue for the world famous Bregenzerfestspiele, the annual summer performing arts festival with events taking place all over the city, but undoubtedly, the centrepiece has to be the floating stage on the shore of Lake Constance. It’s an extraordinary open air structure with seating for 7,000 people and has hosted everything from productions of West Side Story and Tosca to an Elton John concert. A production of Aida is currently being prepared.
The vast freshwater lake itself is a triumph. Touching Germany, Lichtenstein and Switzerland, it conjures up images of a romantic cruise or two, which of course there are many to choose from, such as the ones going to the island village of Lindau or the flower island of Mainau. Taking a lazy walk along the promenade, a faster tour by hiring a bike or a Segway scooter, or spending an hour just gazing out watching the birdlife on the lake are also tempting activities.
Bregenz is a very walkable city, and the architectural delights of St. Martin’s Tower, the gothic parish church of St. Gall or the more modern Kunsthaus Bregenz art gallery are all within easy reach.
Talking of easy reaches, I adored taking the cable car from the centre of town up 1024 metres to the top of Bregenz’s local mountain The Pfaender. In just 6 minutes, you can gaze across the 240 peaks of the Alps and see the whole Lake in all its glory.
While you’re up there, there’s an eagle sanctuary, and a free alpine wildlife park to visit, together with some excellent walking trails. You could try and walk up of course, and after the hour and a half climb, you can fall into the welcoming arms of the Bergaus Pfaender restaurant to ease those tired legs.
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