Vorarlberg is the far western edge where the Alps meet the shores of Lake Constance. This is a place of modern spirit and steep mountain beauty where the houses are built with clean lines and local silver fir. You find yourself in the Bregenzerwald where the architecture is as famous as the cheese. The roads are narrow and climb through lush green gaps and high alpine meadows that are full of life.
The drive through the Arlberg Pass is a classic route that connects the west to the rest of the nation. You can explore the high fells of Lech or visit the floating stage in Bregenz for a look at the massive lake. The local craft culture is visible in every village with shops selling handmade wooden tools and high quality felt. It is a region that values the old ways but looks clearly toward the future with its bold design.
Vorarlberg provides a sense of total clarity and fresh energy. You can park in the high valleys of the Montafon for a night under the stars or a morning hike to a mountain lake. The food is simple and strong with a focus on high mountain dairy and fresh bread. It is a small regoin that feels massive because of its vertical peaks and wide lake views. It is the perfect end or start to a journey across the mountainous roof of Europe.
Vorarlberg highlights
- Bregenz Lake Stage See the world's largest floating opera stage which changes its massive artistic set every two years. It sits right on Lake Constance and is a masterpiece of modern engineering and art.
- Silvretta High Alpine Road Drive thirty hairpins up to the Vermunt reservoir and the Silvretta lake at the base of the glaciers. The high mountain views and the technical curves make it a favorite for road trip fans.
- Bregenzerwald Cheese Road Follow the route through the valley to visit local dairies and taste world class mountain cheeses. The region is famous for its combination of traditional farming and modern timber architecture.
- Dornbirn Karren Lookout Take the cable car or hike up for a view that covers three countries and the entire Lake Constance. The glass platform hanging over the edge is the perfect spot for a sunset photo.
- Lech am Arlberg Visit an upscale mountain village that feels like a quiet sanctuary with high end design and green fells. It is a world class hiking hub with trails that link to hidden mountain lakes.
- Lünersee Lake Drive to the end of the Brandnertal valley to find a stunning turquoise lake sitting in a high alpine crater. It is known as the pearl of the Alps and offers a perfect circuit walk under jagged peaks.
- Schattenburg Castle Visit a perfectly preserved medieval fortress in Feldkirch that now houses a massive local history museum. The castle kitchen and the grand halls offer a look at the old border life.
- Piz Buin Views Head to the Bielerhöhe to see the highest peak in the province reflecting in the clear mountain water. It is a rugged and powerful landscape that marks the border with the south.
- Frauenmuseum Hittisau Discover the only museum in the country dedicated to the history and art of women in a modern timber building. It is a cultural hidden gem located in a beautiful forest village.
- Rappenloch Gorge Walk through a narrow gap where the walls are so close they almost touch and water crashes over massive rocks. The trail features a huge rockfall and a quiet lake hidden deep in the woods.
The local Four
History of Vorarlberg
Vorarlberg is the far-western edge of the nation, a land that has always looked toward the sunset and the waters of Lake Constance. The history here is shaped by the Alemannic people, whose unique dialect and culture set them apart from the rest of the country. For centuries, the people of the Bregenzerwald and the Montafon lived in high-altitude isolation, developing a sophisticated system of mountain farming and a world-class tradition of timber craftsmanship that is still visible in the architecture today.
The region’s story is one of incredible mobility. In the 18th and 19th centuries, Vorarlberg was famous for its "Baroque Masters," builders and artists who traveled across Europe to design the most beautiful churches and palaces. This global outlook transformed the quiet valleys into a hub of textile production and industrial design. The people learned to blend the traditional use of wood with modern engineering, creating a landscape where a centuries-old farmhouse might sit right next to a cutting-edge glass and timber gallery.
The shores of Lake Constance added a maritime flair to this mountain realm. The city of Bregenz was once a Roman port and later a medieval stronghold, eventually becoming a center for modern art with its world-famous floating stage. Your road trip takes you from the high glacier roads of the Silvretta down to the apple orchards of the lake. It is a history of people who mastered the mountains and the water.