“Vorarlberg is ‘the most urban village in Austria'”, says Hans-Peter Metzler, his warm smile betraying the pride in his voice. “The combination of a living, rural tradition and the promotion of innovation, architecture, art and culture at a high level is unique in Austria. Here, in the Bregenzerwald, I believe we have taken the right steps in time. The young people are coming back, and they bring lots of fresh ideas with them”, he smiles contentedly. On a beautiful June day, we travel with him and our host, Richard Zünd, from the Sternen Hotel Wolfurt awarded with the Austrian eco-label, enjoying many a philosophical & practical discussion about life in the “Ländle”.
Vorarlberg, situated in the western part of Austria, has always fascinated me. The largest lake stage in the world. The country’s only “Office for Future Questions” (that’s right!). And answers? We find many, here in the “Ländle” …
… the nickname the area beyond the Arlberg mountain lovingly takes. Answers to questions such as how a region steeped in tradition has managed to create a balance between modernity and tradition, between change and stability.? Today, I would like to introduce you to a few of these examples (and all of them reasons for your next trip to Vorarlberg!).
We start our trip discovering Dornbirn …
… where the natural science “inatura” museum has turned an abandoned manufacturing hall into a modern art space …
… and you can find a state-of-the-art museum about life in Vorarlberg …
… there’s lots more nature to see in the adjoining Rappottenschlucht gorge, too …
… or hiking (or taking the cable car!) up the “Karren” mountain, with perfect views over the Rhine valley in Vorarlberg, as well as the cities of Dornbirn and Bregenz.
The best starting point for your trip to the Rhine Valley: The Sternen Hotel Wolfurt. Just like a star, you can “beam out” in all directions from here …
… and also get to know the really warm-hearted host Richard Zünd and his team, who will help you in all matters. The “Sternenhotel Wolfurt” offers yet another example of the incomparable charm of Vorarlberg between tradition and modernity: the facade of the entire hotel is covered in traditional wooden shingles, yet nevertheless boasts a solar system for energy supply on the roof. Check this out.
Arrive and feel good in the modern hotel rooms of the Sternen Hotel Wolfurt some 10 minutes’ drive from Bregenz, or 20 minutes drive from Dornbirn and the Bregenzerwald: A quiet, sustainable travel option for you to check out the surrounding forest & urban areas.
Interestingly enough, they have also come up with this “Star Card”, awarding the excellence of their employees …
… and receiving us to the fresh mountain source waters, including a touch of mint, on our room …
… love how we get to “feel” the history by reaching out to the impeccable wooden shingle construction covering the hotel …
… yet admiring the modern-day possibilities of energy management on the rooftop of the Sternen Hotel Wolfurt.
Thank you so much for this interesting visit, dear Richard Zünd & team!
And what’s a day trip to Bregenzerwald? Well. You get to travel along the “Cheese Route”, and have dinner at the Romantikhotel “Das Schiff” in Hittisau, leaving you with just one desire …
… and that is to return soon. In my heart (as well as in my savings account 😉 ), I have already set aside a (time) budget to spend at least a whole week here one day. On my own. Or, even better, together with the family & friends, as many of them would also feel just as inspired by the beautiful Bregenzerwald. Wine from home, mountain cheese from Vorarlberg because: “After all, everyone can have a wine cellar”, smiles our host Hans-Peter Metzler once more. “But to have a real cheese cellar in the hotel for our family and our guests, now that’s something.”
Off we go diving right into the Bregenzerwald forest district …
… a journey “plastered by cheese”: 30.000 loaves are stored at the main building of the cheese factory alone …
… a journey full of refreshing creativity, too, as seen in this exposition hall designed uniquely by young students …
… last but not least, Hans-Peter Metzler welcomes us to his cheese cellar he is particularly proud of …
… spoiling us to dinner at his Romantikhotel “Das Schiff” …
… and not just any restaurant : Every dish here is handcrafted, the chef and his team in direct contact with the guests they cook for all along : It feels more like a family home than a restaurant, really …
… love the taste of what we are offered here …
… as well as the nice nose (and taste) of this deep, velvety red wine complimenting our cheese tasting …
… thank you so much for looking after us here!
The Festspielhaus Bregenz, finally, is particularly known for sustainable travel in Vorarlberg. As is the view from the local “Pfänder” mountain, meaning you will want to come back time after time ..!
The lake stage of Bregenz, the largest of its kind in the world, is hosting “Carmen” this year …
… and has made a point of sustainability in terms of its “Green Meetings” culture.
I love that they even give out solar-powered, portable power banks to us …
… check out “Wirtshaus am See” right by the Bodensee lake in Bregenz …
… for their selection of grilled local Bodensee fish …
… finally, take the cable car up the mountain overlooking Bodensee lake …
… as well as Bregenzerwald on the other side.
Thank you so much, dear Monique, dear André, for our shared moments of happiness visiting “green Vorarlberg”!
Check out more of these sunny photographs of our trip to the Vorarlberger “Ländle” as well as into the Bregenzerwald:
My fellow travel writer friends have also published the following accounts about their journey:
- Monique Hasselbach von Teilzeitreisender: “Das wahre Ländle: Seele baumeln lassen und genießen in Vorarlberg“
- André Dietenberger von Reiseblögle: “Nachhaltiges Vorarlberg“
See you soon in our lovely Vorarlberg!
Disclaimer: We have been invited on this trip to Vorarlberg by the Sternen Hotel Wolfurt supported by the Austrian Eco Label. All opinions are my own.