State of Vorarlberg

Introduction

Vorarlberg is Austria's westernmost federal state, sharing borders with Switzerland, Germany, and Liechtenstein. The name literally means 'before the Arl mountain,' and it is affectionately known as 'Ländle' (small land).

Geography and Landscape

The region features diverse waterways including the Rhine, the Ill, the Bregenzer Ache, and the Dornbirner Ach. Notable mountain ranges include the Silvretta, Rätikon, Verwall, and Arlberg. The highest peak is Piz Buin at 3,312 meters. Lake Constance forms a significant natural border shared with Germany and Switzerland.

Cultural Heritage

Alpine Farming Tradition

The region is known for its three-level Alpine transhumance, a traditional farming method that involves seasonal movement of livestock between valleys and high mountain pastures. This practice has been recognized by UNESCO as intangible cultural heritage and significantly influences the region's cheese production.

Culinary Excellence

Vorarlberg's cuisine is distinguished by its unique dairy products and regional specialties:

• Käsespätzle: A local variation made with distinctive Bergkäse (mountain cheese)
• Vorarlberger Bergkäse: A special variety of mountain cheese unique to the region
• Heumilch (hay milk) products: Special dairy items produced from cattle fed on natural meadow grass

Tourism and Culture

The Bregenzerwald Cheese Route, established in 1998, connects farmers, traders, and craftsmen, offering visitors opportunities to experience the region's cheese-making heritage and participate in culinary tastings.

Attractions

Feldkirch

Nestled in Austria's westernmost region of Vorarlberg, Feldkirch is a captivating medieval town where history and culture harmoniously blend. The town's crowning glory is the imposing Schattenburg Castle, a 13th-century fortress housing a fascinating museum and a restaurant famous for its Wiener schnitzel. Literary enthusiasts might be intrigued to learn that James Joyce, Arthur Conan Doyle, and Thomas Mann sought refuge here during the World Wars. The perfectly preserved old town enchants visitors with its cobblestone streets, frescoed gates and numerous towers, whilst the surrounding Alpine landscape offers splendid hiking opportunities, including the Stadtschrofen trail with its panoramic valley views. The town maintains its cultural vitality through the annual Montforter Zwischentöne festival, which uniquely combines music, literature, philosophy and culinary arts. Situated at the crossroads of Austria, Switzerland and Liechtenstein, Feldkirch has historically been an important economic and political hub, attracting artists and scientists throughout its 800-year history.

Other attractions

Bregenz
Lech
Schattenburg Castle

Bregenz Forest

The Bregenzerwald boasts a fascinating blend of cultural heritage and natural splendour. Originally completely forested until around 1000 CE, this area is now renowned for its distinctive wooden farmsteads with shingle roofs and its traditional three-step alpine transhumance farming system. The region is a paradise for cheese connoisseurs, with 35,000 cows outnumbering the 32,000 human inhabitants, producing exceptional dairy products that can be explored along the KäseStrasse (Cheese Route). Nature enthusiasts will appreciate the diverse forest landscapes, from bog to gorge to alpine forests, home to rare flora such as lady's slippers and edelweiss, as well as magnificent wildlife including golden eagles and black grouse. The area seamlessly combines traditional craftsmanship with contemporary design, evident in its innovative architecture where modern hotels and B&Bs cleverly incorporate local wood, whilst the 12 special 'Umgang Bregenzerwald' trails guide visitors through noteworthy buildings marked by rust-coloured poles.