'''Bregenz''' is the capital of Vorarlberg in Austria.

Understand

Bregenz has about 28,000 inhabitants and has roots back to Roman times. The city was originally founded by the Romans in 15 BC, when it was known as ''Brigantium''.

Bregenz is located at the northern edge of the Alps, between Lake Constance (the ''Bodensee'') and the Pfander (1064m). To the west lies the Rhine delta, a huge valley dividing Switzerland and Austria. To the south lie the mountains of Switzerland and southern Vorarlberg. To the north, overlooking Lake Constance, are the hills of the Allgau of Baden-Wurttemberg and Bayern in Germany.

Bregenz is the capital of Austria's most modern province. The shore of Lake Constance, one of the biggest lakes in Europe, meets with Downtown! It is highly advisable to go down to the lake in the evening and check out the beautiful sunset. Austria is the only country to have free access to the lake, a privilege that the inhabitants of Vorarlberg are very proud of and that shapes their way of life. Inhabitants of Vorarlberg are said to be much more friendly and open than the rest of Austria.

Visitor Information Centre

Bregenz Tourismus & Stadtmarketing, Bahnhofstrase 14, +43 5574 49590, Fax: +43 5574 495959, [mailto:tourismus@bregenz.at tourismus@bregenz.at]. M-F 8.30AM-6PM, Sa 9AM-12PM.

Get in

By plane

Zurich-Kloten: quite big airport, about 1 hour with train/car (100km). Friedrichshafen: smaller, but closer, about 40km from Bregenz. Approached by some bigger companies like Condor and Ryanair (to/from Stansted London). Munich: Biggest airport around. About 2 1/2h to Bregenz. Altenrhein: Switzerland, about 20km to Bregenz; few connections to Vienna, etc.

By train

The Hauptbahnhof, F.-Mayer-Platz 1, ''+43 5574'' 93000, [http://www.oebb.at], is located in the north of the city, close to the lake and the city center. From Lyon/Genf, Strassbourg/Basel, Milano/Luzern via Zurich. From Stuttgart/Ulm and Munich through Lindau. From Vienna, Salzburg, Venice/Italy: via Innsbruck direct or with change in Feldkirch (about 35km). On this line trains leave about every 2 hours. Prices: Vienna to Bregenz ca. 60? (full price)

By car

From direction Vienna: On the A1 via Salzburg via Germany. In Rosenheim/Ger you have to decide if you drive via Munich (almost only motorway, but sometimes heavy traffic) or via Innsbruck (have to pass the Arlberg tunnel - 13?). From Chur/Zurich: about 10km to the swiss motorway. From Ulm/Stuttgart and Munich via Lindau, motorway tangents Bregenz City.

By bus

Check out f.e. Eurolines from Vienna, Berlin, etc.

Get around

There are a number of buslines in the city.

In summer, bicycles are perhaps the best way to get around, as Bregenz is quite small. Bicycles can be rented from the main railway station.

It is possible to travel along the lakeshore by railway to both Switzerland and Germany.

If you want to visit the nearby Bregenzerwald, a mountainous area south-east of Bregenz, take a bus from the railway station, or take the train to Dornbirn and transfer there.

See

  • '''Kunsthaus Bregenz''', Karl Tizian Platz, ''+43 5574'' 48594-0, [http://www.kunsthaus-bregenz.at]. Daily, 10AM-8PM. Adults ?10, students ?1.50, other discounts for certain groups. Contemporary art exhibitions.
  • '''Martinsturm''' (Martin's Tower), ''+43 5574'' 46632. Open from Easter to October 15th. July 18-August 19: Daily, 9AM-6:30PM, otherwise closed Mondays. Adults ?1, children under six ?0.50. Bregenz's most famous landmark, the tower features the largest "onion cupola" in Europe.
  • Do

    In summer, Bregenz offers many possibilities. Bregenz is splendid for swimming in the lake (the lake's temperature reaches 79 degrees Fahrenheit in the summer), hiking, cycling, and several other sports.

    The '''Bregenz Festival''' (Bregenzer Festspiele), [http://www.bregenzerfestspiele.com] is a famous festival running from mid-July to mid-August and attracting 200,000 visitors each year. The centerpiece of the festival is its main stage built on Lake Constance, the largest floating stage in the world. In 2007 and 2008, the floating stage will host Puccini's opera ''Tosca''. The setting - 7,000 seats looking out over the lake, the larger-than-life stage, night falling during the performance, and the cool breeze coming off the lake - is truly spectacular. ?46-?125. In addition to ''Tosca'' on the main stage, Benjamin Britten's opera ''Death in Venice'' and a series of orchestral concerts will be performed at the Festival Opera House.

    Don't miss the 360__ view from the top of the '''Pfander''' mountain [http://www.pfaender.at]: you can either walk (ca. 2-3h) or take the cablecar (6 min). Signage throughout town will direct you to the cablecar station. The cablecar operates daily from 8AM-7PM, with departures on the hour and half-hour. April 1-October 31, 2007: ?10.20 round trip (adults), less for children and seniors. At the top, there's a restaurant (Berghaus Pfander, ''+43 5574'' 42184) that is open daily, 9:30AM-6:30PM from May 9 to September 23, 2007. There's also an alpine wildlife park (free admission) and a Birds of Prey show (May 1 to October 3, 2007: daily 11AM and 2:30PM, adults ?4.60, children 15 and under ?2.30). You can also bike the Pfander. A guide with suggested routes is available from the bottom cablecar station. The cablecar transports bikes daily from 8AM-10AM and 6PM-7PM for free, else it's ?2.90.

    The '''Lake Promenade''' is a very popular place for residents to stroll and spend the evening. There are shaded paths and outdoor restaurants. The sunsets in Bregenz are beautiful from any place at the lake.

    Other things to do:

  • '''Swimming''': the bathing complex by the lake has a large outdoor pool and an indoor pool. Early May ? early September, daily 9AM?8PM. Approx. ?4 for adults.
  • '''Boat cruises''': From April to October, Vorarlberg Lines, ''43 5574'' 42868, [mailto:info@vorarlberg-lines.at info@vorarlberg-lines.at], [http://www.bodenseeschifffahrt.at/ausflugsfahrten/inselmainau/index.html], offers a variety of cruises on Lake Constance, including a scenic 'three-country' cruise (daily 2:30PM); cruises to Friedrichshafen, home of the Zepplinmuseum (daily, various times); the "Flower Island" of Mainau (daily, various times); the city of Konstanz, home of the Sea Life Center/Aquarium (daily, various times); and a number of sunset and dinner cruises.
  • '''Casino Bregenz''', Symphonikerplatz 3, ''+43 5574'' 45127, [http://www.bregenz.casinos.at]. Daily 3PM-3AM, F and Sa to 4AM. Men must wear a shirt and jacket, though the casino will provide jackets for the unprepared.
  • Buy

    In general, stores are open Monday to Friday from 9AM to noon and from 2PM to 6PM, Saturdays from 9AM to 4PM.

    '''Wolford''', 1-2 Wolfordstrasse, ''+43 5574'' 690-1458, Fax: ''+43 5574'' 690-1651, [mailto:wbo94864@wolford.com wbo94864@wolford.com], [http://www.wolford.com]. M-Th 9AM-7:30PM, F 9AM-9PM, Sa 9AM-5PM. The maker of stylish hosiery and lingerie is headquartered in Bregenz. This location includes a boutique, factory outlet and restaurant.

    Eat

    Drink

    Sleep

    Bregenz becomes very busy during the Festival season that runs from mid-July to mid-August. During this time it's advisable to book accommodations ahead of time. Prices posted below are for the high-season summer months.

  • '''Bregenz Youth Hostel''', Mehrerauerstrase 3-5, ''+43 5574'' 42867, Fax: ''+43 5574'' 42867-88, [mailto:jgh.bregenz@jgh.at jgh.bregenz@jgh.at], [http://www.hihostels.com/dba/hostel004015.en.htm]. Close to the lake and train station. Laundry facilities, meals available, Internet. From ?19.20.
  • '''Ibis Bregenz''', Sankt Anna Strasse 11, ''+43 5574'' 524500, Fax: ''+43 5574'' 52450555, [http://www.ibishotel.com/ibis/fichehotel/gb/ibi/5210/fiche_hotel.shtml]. Located across from the train station. 24-hour bar. Internet. Pets accepted. ?49-?76.
  • '''Mercure Bregenz City''', Platz Der Wiener Symphoniker 2, ''+43 5574'' 461000, Fax: ''+43 5574'' 47412, [mailto:H0799@accor.com H0799@accor.com], [http://www.mercure.com/mercure/fichehotel/gb/mer/0799/fiche_hotel.shtml]. Close to the lake. Two restaurants. Pets accepted. ?70-?137, some discounts available.
  • Splurge

  • <sleep name = "Hotel Post Bezau" address = "Brugg 35, A-6870 Bezau im Bregenzerwald" phone = "+43 (0)55 14 22 07-0" email= "office@hotelpostbezau.com" fax = "+43 (0)5514 2207 22" url = "http://www.hotelpostbezau.com.

    Get out

  • The '''Rolls-Royce Museum''', Gutle 11a, +43 5572 52652, Fax: +43 5572 526526, [mailto:contact@rolls-royce-museum.at contact@rolls-royce-museum.at], [http://www.rolls-royce-museum.at/] is located in Dornbirn, a 20-minute drive south of Bregenz.
  • '''Lindau''', [http://www.lindau.de], is a nearby island in Germany with a picturesque harbor and lots of little shopping streets.
  • '''Mainau Island''' in Germany, "The Flower Island", ''+49'' 7531 303 0, [http://www.mainau.de], is known for its warm climate and beautiful botanical gardens. During the season (roughly June 1 - Sep 30), the island is open daily from 7AM-8PM. It isn't possible to spend the night on the island. Vorarlberg Lines, ''43 5574'' 42868, [mailto:info@vorarlberg-lines.at info@vorarlberg-lines.at], [http://www.bodenseeschifffahrt.at/ausflugsfahrten/inselmainau/index.html], offers daily boat cruises to Mainau. The trip is about 3.5 hours. Adults ?24.80, children ?4.00.
  • '''Liechtenstein''', [http://www.tourismus.li], is the fourth smallest country in Europe. Bus and train service [http://www.oebb.at] is available daily from Bregenz to the capital city of Vaduz. The trip is about 1.5 hours.
  • Contact