We love...Vorarlberg

“All of nature is a melody in which is concealed a profound harmony.” With these words penned by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, Vorarlberg invites visitors to experience the poetry of nature and the carefully designed cultural landscape. When the setting sun gleams golden on Lake Constance, in the view from the top of a mountain, in the stunning shapes and forms of contemporary architecture, when enjoying a gourmet meal in a charming ambience, it all becomes clear: with a sense of quality and sustainability, the people of Vorarlberg have created a world that creates space for discovery and delights the soul.

The legend lives on

The Arlberg is one of the region’s most legendary places. If you look for the mountain on the map, you won‘t find it, because the namesakes of the mountain massif between the Lechtal and the Verwall Alps are actually the “Arlen” – also known as “Latschen” or mountain pines. The area around the Arlberg is the cradle of alpine skiing. Nowadays, Zürs and Lech are highly sought-after destinations for visitors young and old.

But the Arlberg is not the only place where legends have sprung up from the ground. At an altitude of 1,250 metres, at the gateway to the Brandner Valley, lies the Tschengla plateau. Among the larches, meadows and mountains of the Rätikon, four stone circles and a network of 2,000 megaliths – solitary standing stones – conjure up a unique landscape. Nobody can say for certain why the stones are there. Perhaps they served as a celestial observatory in the Stone Age, or maybe they had a ceremonial use. Their astrological alignment lends itself to comparisons with other known stone circle sites in Europe and suggests a gigantic calendar from the Neolithic period.

Living customs – UNESCO intangible cultural heritage

On the first Sunday after Ash Wednesday, an old tradition is observed: “Funkensonntag”, or “Bonfire Sunday”. On this day, artfully stacked wooden towers with a witch sitting atop them are set alight. The highlight of the ritual is the explosion of the “Funkenhexe” or “bonfire witch”, who is filled with powder. In Montafon, Bonfire Sunday is also the day for the traditional event of “Scheibenschlagen”, or disc flinging. Discs of alder and birch wood are placed on hazel sticks, heated until they glow, and shot off of the sticks with the help of a small wooden ramp built like a tilted bench. The glowing discs fly off into the darkness, leaving gleaming arcs in their wake. This fiery spectacle is accompanied by music and culinary delicacies, in particular “Funkaküachli”, a traditional leavened cake.

“Heile und uf Wiederluaga” – a dialect that’s not for the faint-hearted

It’s not just the customs that are remarkable here – the dialect is too. A native of eastern Austria would probably understand the Vorarlberg dialect very poorly, if at all. And the dialect of the Bregenzerwald poses a challenge even for the rest of Vorarlberg. After all, almost every place has its own dialect. This one bears some similarities to Swiss German and Swabian, having its roots in the Alemannic group of dialects. So in Vorarlberg they say “min” instead of “mein” (meaning “my”), “nü” instead of “neu” (meaning “new”), and “Hus” instead of “Haus” (meaning “house”). But of course, the inhabitants of Austria’s smallest state naturally also speak a congenial approximation of standard German and other foreign languages.

Lakeside culture – the state capital Bregenz

Vorarlberg’s international character is reflected in the diversity of the state’s culture, art and architecture. The third-largest lake in Central Europe spreads out directly in front of Bregenz. This open border of Lake Constance has historically served well for Bregenz: trade has been conducted here for two millennia, and fashions and ideas from all corners of the globe have been brought in with the boats for just as long. The Bregenzer Festspiele brings together medieval flair in the old town, futuristic architecture, art houses and modern museums, along with the world’s largest floating stage on Lake Constance. For decades, the festival has been an unmissable event for opera enthusiasts. This is thanks of course to top-class artists, directors, but also the international orchestra of the Vienna Symphony Orchestra.

Sliding into happiness

Left and right, left and right, straight ahead for a bit, tight curves, wide radius. Making your own tracks, swishing through the snow at your own rhythm and pace has a very special appeal. The land- scape here is breathtakingly imposing, but not as rugged as the conditions found at even higher altitudes. There’s plenty of room for a good mix of gentle and challenging ski slopes. It’s an impressive backdrop that attracts a large crowd of mountaineers and hikers to the country in summer.

Culinary delights – local, fresh and refined

 A culture-packed day in the mountains needs the perfect finish. Vorarlberg holds plenty of surprises for visiting gourmands, with a consistently high level of quality. From rustic alpine huts to high- end restaurants, there’s no trickery here – just high-quality ingredients and fresh ideas from the chefs. That’s the secret to Vorarlberg’s unparalleled gastronomy. Whether you’re dining in a restaurant or guesthouse, in an alpine hut or on a cruise ship on the lake, you’ll find a common thread running through: wherever possible, local and seasonal delicacies are used to create everything from elegant tasting plates to humble, hearty fare. Alpine cheese, cream cheese, sour cheese... a mainstay of Vorarlberg cui- sine is cheese in all forms, from mild to piquant. The region’s culinary calling cards include cheese dumplings, cheese soup, cheese salad, or “Alpine cheese” for a quick mountainside snack. And those with a sweet tooth can try “Riebel”, a sweet cornmeal and wheat dish that’s a true indulgence after an active day in the fresh mountain air.

TIPPS DER REDAKTION

• Kunsthaus Bregenz, Karl-Tizian-Platz, 6900 Bregenz
• Bregenzer Festspiele, The largest opera event with a lakeside view from20 July to 21 August 2022
• Rappenlochschlucht Dornbirn, Gütle, 6850 Dornbirn
• Restaurant „Alpensteakhaus“ Muhledorfle 75, 6708 Brand bei Bludenz
• GAMS zu zweit **** Superiorhotel Platz 44, A-6870 Bezau
• More information about Vorarlberg: www.vorarlberg.travel