Bregenz

The capital of Vorarlberg, Bregenz (398 m; 27,000 inhabitants), lies sprawled between the shores of Lake Constance and the Pfänder, a mountain that rises high above the lake. In Roman times, the city already existed under the name Brigantium. Due to its location, partly in the plain and partly on the mountainside, there is talk of an Unterstadt and an Oberstadt. Life buzzes in the spacious Unterstadt, while the small Oberstadt preserves the tranquil medieval core.

In the Unterstadt, the following sights can be found:

**Theater am Kornmarkt**
Built in 1838 as a grain warehouse but used as a theater during the early years of the Bregenz Festival.

**Vorarlberger Landesmuseum**
This museum highlights the cultural history of the region, from the Stone Age to the present: archaeological finds, blacksmithing and arms, traditional costumes, Flemish tapestries and embroideries, woodcarving, furniture, and paintings (including works by Wolf Huber, but also by the famous Vorarlberg painter Angelica Kauffmann, who was friends with Herder and Goethe).

**Rathaus**
Originally a grain warehouse, built in 1685, but soon taken into use by the city officials. In 1898, the facade with the turret in Renaissance style was completed.

**Seekapelle**
With its octagonal tower and remarkable Renaissance altar from the late 17th century. The Seekapelle is built above the graves of Swiss warriors who, during the Appenzeller War in 1408, sought to capture Bregenz but did not leave the city alive.

**Stadspoort**
With a copy of the Celtic-Roman Epona stone featuring the goddess of horses on the outside (the original is in the Landesmuseum). Inside the gate, the coats of arms of the counts of Bregenz and the counts of Montfort can be seen.

**Martinsturm**
At Martinsplatz stands the sturdy Romanesque castle with the early Baroque Martin's tower and its chapel, the Martinskapelle. In later times, the tower was fitted with a baroque cap (the largest onion dome in Austria). The chapel's interior contains a cycle of 14th-century Romanesque frescoes. The Vorarlberger Military Museum is located in the tower.

**Altes Rathaus**
At Eponastrasse. A splendid half-timbered building from 1662.

**Ehre-Guta Platz**
On this atmospheric square, the famous minstrel Hugo of Montfort is immortalized above a fountain. The fountain is visited by carnival revelers on Ash Wednesday, who traditionally wash their empty purses there and present an ironic reflection on the past year in rhymes.

**Deuringschlösschen**
Is a small castle (1680), once inhabited by the Freiherrn von Deuring, who governed the city.

**St. Galluskerk**
On another hill, near the Martin tower (the steep Meissnerstiege leads down from Ehre-Guta Platz), stands the parish church of St. Gallus, which was already mentioned in 1097. The church has been repeatedly destroyed by fire but was restored each time. The church tower, originally Romanesque, was rebuilt in Gothic style (exterior) and received its baroque upper structure with the distinctive gable roof later. The interior showcases rococo decorations. The square in front of the church offers a good view of the city. In the old city wall bordering the square is the 16th-century Beckenturm, where bakers were shamed for shortchanging their customers by providing small loaves.

**De Pfanderbahn**
In the northeastern part of Bregenz, the lower station of the Pfänder cable car is located. The top of the Pfänder is also accessible by car from the village of Lochau, located to the north of Bregenz, or on foot in an hour and a half. The panorama from the top includes a large part of Lake Constance, the Allgäu Alps, the Bregenzerwald, the alpine peaks of Vorarlberg, the Swiss Graubünden, and the Rhine Valley, with the Santis area (also Swiss) in the background. Around March 21 and September 21, the sun sets in line with the lake. This attracts many visitors to the Pfänder and the Santis. At the top, a starting point for several hikes, there is a wildlife park (with a bird of prey show, 'Waldlehrpfad,' and playground) and several hotels with restaurants; among them, Pfander restaurant and the Gaststätte Schwedenschanze. The name of the latter recalls the Schanze (fortification) built in 1639 against the advancing Swedes. The 1200 troops could not prevent the fortification from being taken by the Swedes in 1647, and the city was plundered. Associations with the plundering Swedes are also linked to Gebhardsberg, located to the south above the city. This rock once housed the castle of the counts of Bregenz. It was completely destroyed by the Swedes in 1647, except for the old, originally Romanesque chapel. Legend has it that St. Gebhard, the patron saint of Vorarlberg, was born here as the son of the count of Bregenz. According to tradition, the chapel was spared from destruction by the plundering Swedes due to his intercession with God the Father. It is no surprise that the chapel became a popular pilgrimage site. On high days (for example, on August 27, when the name bearers of Gebhard converge), the chapel can no longer accommodate the number of pilgrims, and the mass must be celebrated on the lawn. And because pilgrims also need to be fed and watered, the ruins of a large restaurant now surround the chapel. From the terrace, the view is nearly as beautiful as from the Pfänder. And just like on the Pfänder, there is a nature walking route laid out.

janssem