Bregenz between the Rhine Delta, culture and Pfänder trails

A trip to Bregenz can focus on different themes: nature in the Rhine Delta, culture in museums and at the Bregenz Festival, as well as activities on cycle tours and trails on Pfänder. The range extends from the expansive Rhine Delta and museums covering regional topics to guided tours behind the scenes at the Seebühne and trails around Pfänder. If you are looking for a holiday apartment, you can therefore first decide whether your focus should be on landscapes, cultural history, a cycle tour or a variety of excursions.

Nature in the Rhine Delta and protected landscapes

The Rhine Delta nature reserve is the largest wetland on Lake Constance. It covers more than 2,000 hectares, two thirds of which are water. The area extends across Fußach, Gaißau, Hard and Höchst. Designated as a Ramsar site and a Natura 2000 site, it forms a particularly distinctive landscape area for a trip around Bregenz.

Other protected areas offer different points of interest. The Mehrerauer Seeufer–Bregenzerachmündung nature reserve is located in Bregenz and Hard and covers 154.29 hectares. The Kojen-Moos nature reserve is located in Riefensberg and has been protected since 1978.

Museums, architecture and vibrant culture

The Kunsthaus Bregenz was designed by Swiss architect Peter Zumthor, built between 1994 and 1997, and opened in 1997. A behind-the-scenes tour of the Bregenz Festival theatre operations offers a different perspective on the city, allowing visitors to get to know the Seebühne. Both options cater to different cultural interests without requiring you to commit to just one type of excursion.

The museums in the surrounding area also tell stories of regional history and working life. The Egg Museum was founded as a local history museum in 1904 and reopened in 1988, after the collections had been stored elsewhere for several years, in the former school and community building from 1899. At the Mittelweiherburg Textile Printing Museum in Hard, visitors can learn about block cutting, textile hand printing and the social history of industrialisation up to the 1930s of the 20th century. Mittelweiherburg was built around 1570 and became a cradle of the textile industry from 1794.

At the Coseum–Alberschwende Local History Museum, furnished exhibition rooms with kitchens, living rooms and bedrooms show the rural domestic culture of the region in the 18th and 19th centuries. The Werkraum Bregenzerwald in Andelsbuch presents products made by its member businesses. Its 700 m² hall can also be used as exhibition space and as a venue for concerts and lectures. At the Juppenwerkstatt Riefensberg, a museum and demonstration workshop are combined; it is the only place where the exclusive fabric for the traditional women's dress of the Bregenzerwald is produced.

The Frauenmuseum Hittisau focuses on women-specific topics in cultural, social, art and architectural history, with regional and international connections. Additional special tours, lectures, workshops, concerts, readings, seminars and film screenings are offered. The “Hittisau Gemeindehaus” bus stop is served by routes 820, 860 and 891; from there, the museum is a two-minute walk away.

Cycle tours, hiking trails and special routes

For active days, the easy “Rhine delta tour” offers a clearly described way to experience different landscapes. It starts at the lakeside promenade in Bregenz, leads via Hard and Fußach into the Rhine Delta, and there follows a signposted cycle path through the Rhine Delta nature reserve. There is also a dense network of hiking and cycling trails around Pfänder.

A cultural-historical alternative is the “Egg zu Felders Zeiten” route, offered in cooperation with the Egg Museum. A backpack containing helpful materials and audio resources supports the experience. The Rindberg Geo Round in Sibratsgfäll makes the power of nature visible, tangible and experiential at eight stations. When planning your trip together, you can alternate between activities, regional history and nature-related discoveries.

Choosing the right base for your trip

When looking for a holiday apartment in Bregenz, it is worth prioritising your preferred daily destinations in advance. Nature enthusiasts can include the Rhine Delta, the Mehrerauer Seeufer–Bregenzerachmündung and Kojen-Moos in their considerations. Those who prefer culture will find several different themes at the Kunsthaus Bregenz, the Bregenz Festival, the Frauenmuseum Hittisau and the regional museums. For cycling days or hikes, the “Rhine delta tour” and the network of trails around Pfänder provide concrete starting points. This keeps your choice of accommodation aligned with your personal mix of excursions, landscapes and culture.

For further trip planning, you can also visit the pages on Kennelbach, Langen Bei Bregenz, Fußach, Sulzberg, Bizau, Schröcken, Riezlern, Reuthe, Doren, Hörbranz, Schwarzach, Hirschegg, Hohenweiler, Egg, Hittisau, Krumbach, Mittelberg, Bezau, Lochau, Riefensberg, Mellau, Schoppernau, Bregenz, Lingenau, Warth, Sibratsgfäll, Schwarzenberg, Schnepfau, Hard, Wolfurt, Alberschwende, Großdorf, Buch, Rehmen, Möggers, Eichenberg, Au, Andelsbuch, Bildstein, Höchst, Lauterach and Langenegg.

For the higher-level travel overview: Vorarlberg.