In Bregenz and Hard lies the Mehrerauer Seeufer–Bregenzerachmündung nature reserve. It covers 154.29 hectares. The Rhine Delta is on a different scale: at more than 2,000 hectares, it is the largest wetland on Lake Constance, with two thirds of its area covered by water. It stretches across Fußach, Gaißau, Hard and Höchst and is both a Ramsar site and a designated Natura 2000 site. In Riefensberg, the Kojen-Moos nature reserve has been protected since 1978. The different areas, locations and protection designations make nature a defining theme around Bregenz.
Discover nature: protected areas and trails
For cyclists, the “Rhine delta tour” has a clearly specified starting point and takes riders through the protected area. The route starts at the lakeside promenade in Bregenz, passes through Hard and Fußach into the Rhine Delta, and follows a marked cycle path through the nature reserve. There is also a dense network of hiking and cycling trails around the Pfänder. This offers different ways to find your way around: the Rhine Delta tour specifies its starting point and route, while the description of the Pfänder highlights a network of trails for hiking and cycling.
Culture can also be explored through specific experiences. The Bregenz Festival offers behind-the-scenes tours of its theater operations, where visitors can get to know the lakeside stage. The tour program is seasonal, so check the dates if you are planning a tour. This offers a different way to experience the festival than looking at a single building or exhibition.
Architecture, exhibitions and history
The Kunsthaus Bregenz was designed by Swiss architect Peter Zumthor, built between 1994 and 1997, and opened in 1997. These three dates tell a concise story of its construction: from the design through to its completion and opening. Architecture enthusiasts will find a clearly defined starting point here, while museums in the surrounding towns explore other subjects and periods.
The Women’s Museum Hittisau presents exhibitions on women-specific themes in cultural, social, art and architectural history, with regional and international perspectives. Its complementary program includes special guided tours, lectures, workshops, concerts, readings, seminars and film screenings. The “Hittisau Gemeindehaus” stop is served by bus routes 820, 860 and 891; from there, it is a two-minute walk to the museum. As timetables can change, it is worth checking the current connection before setting out.
In Egg, the Egg Museum tells the story of its own history: it was founded as a local history museum in 1904 and reopened in 1988 after its collections had been in storage for several years. It is housed in the former school and municipal building dating from 1899. The furnished exhibition alcoves, with kitchens, living rooms and bedrooms, show the region’s rural domestic culture in the 18th and 19th centuries. The Coseum – Alberschwende Local History Museum also focuses on domestic life: its furnished alcoves illustrate rural living in these two centuries.
In Hard, the Mittelweiherburg Textile Printing Museum brings together craftsmanship and industrial history. Its exhibition topics include block carving, textile hand printing and the social history of industrialization up to the 1930s. The Mittelweiherburg was built around 1570 and became one of the birthplaces of the textile industry in 1794. In Andelsbuch, the Werkraum Bregenzerwald showcases products from its member businesses. Its 700-square-meter hall can be used as an exhibition space and for concerts and lectures. In Riefensberg, the Juppenwerkstatt combines a demonstration workshop and a museum. The exclusive fabric for Bregenzerwald women’s traditional dress is made only there. Together, these places offer different perspectives on domestic life, textile crafts, industry and contemporary products.
Discover more destinations
Discover more destinations: Fußach, Hohenweiler, Sulzberg, Bizau, Egg, Hittisau, Krumbach, Schröcken, Riezlern, Reuthe, Bildstein, Au, Riefensberg, Mellau, Schoppernau, Bregenz, Lingenau, Andelsbuch, Mittelberg, Warth, Höchst, Bezau, Lochau, Hirschegg, Doren, Sibratsgfäll, Schwarzenberg, Hörbranz, Schnepfau, Hard, Wolfurt, Langenegg, Alberschwende, Rehmen, Möggers, Eichenberg, Großdorf, Buch, Lauterach, Schwarzach, Kennelbach, Langen near Bregenz.
For the broader travel overview: Vorarlberg.
