Page 266 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Austria

264  A USTRIA REGION B Y REGION

l Bregenz

The capital of Vorarlberg since 1923, Bregenz is strategically –
and attractively – situated on the eastern shore of Bodensee
(Lake Constance), at the edge of the Rhine valley and the foot
of the Austrian and Swiss Alps. It is a meeting point of four
countries: Austria, Germany, Switzerland and the Principality
of Liechtenstein. The Romans established the settlement
of Brigantium, and later it became the Alemanni town of
Brancantia. In 1451 and 1523 Bregenz came under Habsburg
rule, and during the Thirty Years’ War, it was destroyed by the
Swedes. Attractions in Bregenz include walks on the nearby
Pfänder massif, and boat trips out on the lake.

Renaissance altarpiece of 1615, in
Seekapelle St Georg
R Seekapelle St Georg
Rathausstrasse.
The small chapel of St George,
known as the Lakeside Chapel,
was built in 1445 and was once
lapped by the waters of
Bodensee. Today it is separated
from the lake by roads and a
railway line. In 1690–98 it was
moved and rebuilt in the
Baroque style by the master
bricklayer Kaspar Held. The 1615
Renaissance altarpiece has been
View of Bregenz, on the shores of Bodensee preserved. Depicted at its centre
is the Madonna at the foot of
Exploring Bregenz regional handicrafts and the Cross; the side niches show
Oberstadt (upper town) is the customs, old weaponry, coins scenes from the Passion.
oldest part of Bregenz, with a and medals, and regional
number of well-preserved historic costumes. One particularly P Martinsturm
buildings and the remains of fascinating exhibit is the collec- Martingsgasse 3b. Tel (05574) 410 1560.
13th-century fortifications. tion of portable organs. The Open May–Oct: 10am–6pm Tue–Sun.
Innenstadt (inner city) is much museum also has an art gallery The square St Martin’s Tower,
newer. It has a theatre and an which holds many beautiful the symbol of Bregenz, was
interesting regional museum. portraits by Angelika Kauffmann
The promenades along Lake (1741–1807), whose family
Constance, always shrouded came from Bregenzer Wald (see
in a gentle mist, are worth p262). Other interesting exhibits
explor ing, as are the grounds are early Christian artifacts,
of the popular Bregenz Gothic sculptures, paintings, old
summer festivals. altarpieces, and beautiful gold
and silver ornaments. The
E Vorarlberg Museum jewels of this museum are the
Kornmarktplatz 1. Tel (05574) 46 050. 9th-century stone tablet from
Open 10am–6pm Tue–Sun (Jul & Aug Lauterach and the early
until 7pm; Thu until 8pm year round). 16th-century crucifix from the
& ∑ vorarlbergmuseum.at collegiate church in Mehrerau.
The Vorarlberg Museum holds
collections of prehistoric relics, P Rathaus
artifacts dating from the Roman Rathausstrasse 4.
time of the settlement of The former granary built in
Brigantium and objects from 1686 became the town’s
the days of the Alemanni chancellery in 1720 and, in
settlers, all found in Bregenz 1810, the seat of the town’s
and its vicinity. A separate authorities. It remains the The Martinsturm, topped with a
department is devoted to town hall to this day. Baroque dome
For hotels and restaurants in this region see pp298–9 and pp323–4

264-265_EW_Austria.indd 264 12/09/17 2:46 pm
Eyewitness Travel LAYERS PRINTED:
Catalogue template “UK” LAYER
(Source v2.1)
Date 5th December 2012
Size 125mm x 217mm