hotels in bregenz

CULTURE
IN BREGENZ
DISCOVER
BREGENZ
Photo: © Karl Forster
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BREGENZER FESTSPIELE
BREGENZ FESTIVAL
Set in the middle of a captivating
landscape in Austria's westernmost
province of Vorarlberg, the Bregenz
Festival on Lake Constance showcases top-class opera under the
open sky every summer. Moreover,
with over 80 performances ranging
from unforgettable operas and
concert treasures at the Festspielhaus, contemporary performances
at the Werkstattbühne, and an opera studio and opera atelier in July
and August, the Bregenz Festival
draws some 200,000 visitors to the
tri-country region between the Alps
and Lake Constance.
bregenzerfestspiele.com
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Photo: © Luca Fasching
Photo: © Hanspeter Schiess
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Photo: © Christian Hinz
experience
the city
KUNSTHAUS BREGENZ KUB
The KUB is an architectural gem on
Lake Constance and a highlight of
cultural life in Bregenz. Exhibitions
by important contemporary artists
– often designed specifically for
the KUB – are held at this roughly
1,900 square metre masterpiece
designed by the Swiss star architect Peter Zumthor. Damien Hirst's
Shark caused a sensation here,
and works by Ai Weiwei and Jeff
Wall left art enthusiasts amazed.
The KUB offers an extensive art
programme, including tours,
lectures, and special children's
programmes.
kunsthaus-bregenz.at
VORARLBERGER LANDESTHEATER
The theatre in Bregenz makes a
major contribution to cultural life
in the capital of Vorarlberg. The
repertoire ranges from classics to
premieres of new works. As a place
of fantasy, stories, and emotions,
the theatre intentionally focuses on
both traditional and contemporary
theatrical arts, winning widespread recognition in the cultural
landscape of the region around
Lake Constance.
landestheater.org
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GALLERIES
The courage to take risks, a
passion for the unusual, and an
overriding commitment to quality:
The galleries in Bregenz bring an
innovative flash of colour to the
Austrian and international arts
scene with spectacular art events,
extensive retrospectives, and
exhibitions by groups of artists on
specific themes.
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Photo: © courtesy K12 GALERIE 2014
KONGRESSKULTUR BREGENZ –
THE ART OF HOSTING
Kongresskultur Bregenz is an
international convention and
event centre located directly on
Lake Constance. It welcomes
some 400,000 visitors to its event
building, Festspielhaus Bregenz,
each year. It has established itself
in the region and far beyond as
an attractive venue for all types of
events. The Kongresskultur team
uses conferences, conventions, and
cultural and social occasions to
transform valuable encounters into
unforgettable experiences.
kongresskultur.com
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Photo: © Anja Köhler
Photo: © Gerhard Kresser
VORARLBERG MUSEUM
The new vorarlberg museum, an
architectural masterpiece situated
between the lake and the town
centre, in close proximity to the
Kunsthaus and the Landestheater,
marks the end of the cultural mile.
Along with more than 150,000
artefacts from art, history, ethnology, and archaeology, highlights
at the museum include exhibitions
such as “vorarlberg. a making-of”
or “Romans or something”, which
explore the past and present of
Austria’s westernmost province
from different perspectives.
vorarlbergmuseum.at
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VORARLBERGER
LANDESBIBLIOTHEK
The provincial library of Vorarlberg
is located in a former monastery,
St. Gallus Abbey, at the foot of
Gebhardsberg. The former Baroque
church has been lovingly remodelled, and the impressive reading
room in particular sweeps visitors
away to a magical world of literature.
vlb.vorarlberg.at
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• Galerie Arthouse
• Galerie Lisi Hämmerle
• Galerie angewandt
• Cuenstler
• Galerie K12
• Bregenzer Kunst– und
Kartenboutique
• RiBgalerie
KÜNSTLERHAUS PALAIS
THURN UND TAXIS
Artistic events at Palais Thurn und
Taxis include monthly exhibits by
the Berufsvereinigung der bildenden
Künstlerinnen und Künstler Vorarlbergs (the Vorarlberg professional
society of visual artists) and summer exhibits by the City of Bregenz.
The setting is a historic Gründerzeit
villa in the city's most beautiful
park, which is also home to native
and exotic trees.
kuenstlerhaus-bregenz.at
Photo: © Kulturamt der Landeshaupstadt Bregenz
MAGAZIN4 – BREGENZER
KUNSTVEREIN
Before Charles Atlas had his work
exhibited in the Tate Modern in
London, he was on show at Magazin4 in Bregenz – a talent forge for
gifted young artists in the heart
of Bregenz. The gallery focuses on
contemporary international art.
magazin4.at
KOSMOS THEATRE IN SHED8 /
SCHOELLER 2WELTEN
High-quality interpretations of
modern, contemporary plays and a
wealth of surrounding events.
theaterkosmos.at
METRO CINEMA
The Metro cinema in Bregenz
opened its doors in 1952 with 500
seats and since then has given
film lovers and genuine cineastes
no end of cinematic enjoyment.
By 1958, the cinema had become
the largest in western Austria and
could seat 853 people. Despite
innovative film technologies, the
Metro cinema has retained the
distinctive charm of a traditional
cinema.
metrokinobregenz.at
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Photo: © Gerhard Kresser
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Photo: © Marxx
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Photo: © Curt Huber
Photo: © Matthias König
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CITY TOURS
IN BREGENZ
HOTELS IN
BREGENZ
8 4-Länder Hotel Deutschmann ***
Rheinstraße 83a
+43 (0)5574 67740
deutschmann-bregenz.at
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9 Hotel Ibis Bregenz ***
St.-Anna-Straße 11
+43 (0)5574 52450
For anyone who wants to find
out more about the gem between
the mountain and lake. Because
Bregenz holds many surprises.
The little city in the three-country
region, right on the shores of Lake
Constance, has more to offer than
just beautiful landscapes. It has
impressive contemporary architecture, a broad spectrum of cultural
events and dining, an enchanting
old town, and – of course – the
world famous Bregenz Festival.
Participants can look forward to
plenty of background information,
anecdotes, and interesting stories.
More information:
bregenz.travel
Tickets: v-ticket.at
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Photo: © Udo Mittelberger
10 Hotel-Gasthof Lamm ***
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+43 (0)5574 423000
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hotel-bodensee.at
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12 Hotel-Garni Central Bregenz ***
Kaiserstraße 26
+43 (0)5574 42947
Platz der Wiener Symphoniker 2
+43 (0)5574 461000
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central-bregenz.at
mercure-bregenz.com
4 Hotel Messmer ****
Kornmarktstraße 16
+43 (0)5574 42356
13 Hotel Falken
5 Schwärzler Hotel Bregenz ****
Landstraße 9
+43 (0)5574 4990
14 Stadthotel-Helvetia
6 Kaiser Hotel Bregenz ****
Kaiserstraße 2
+43 (0)5574 52980
Reservation centre
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Kornmarktstraße 22
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11 Hotel-Garni Bodensee ***
hotel-germania.at
3 Hotel Mercure Bregenz City ****
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gasthof-hotel-lamm.at
hotelweisseskreuz.at
2 Hotel Germania ****
Am Steinenbach 9
+43 (0)5574 427660
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Mehrerauerstraße 51
+43 (0)5574 71701
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Römerstraße 5
+43 (0)5574 4988
2
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ibishotel.com
1 Best Western Premier Hotel
Weisses Kreuz ****superior
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Quellenstraße 49
+43 (0)5574 53757
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hotelfalken.at
hotel-messmer.at
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experience
the city
Information
Bregenz Tourismus & Stadtmarketing GmbH
Rathausstraße 35a, A-6900 Bregenz
+43 (0)5574 49590
tourismus@bregenz.at
bregenz.travel
facebook.com/bregenz.stadtmarketing
stadthotel-helvetia-bregenz.com
hotelschwaerzler.com
seehotel-kaiserstrand.com
Postfach 9, 6901 Bregenz
8
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bodensee-vorarlberg.com
7 Seehotel Am Kaiserstrand ****
+43 (0)5574 58111
Bodensee-Vorarlberg Tourismus
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+43 (0)5574 43 443-0
office@bodensee-vorarlberg.com
kaiser-hotel.at
Am Kaiserstrand 1, 6911 Lochau
11
Montfortstraße 13
+43 (0)5574 43060
The complete list of
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accommodations is available at:
bregenz.travel
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© aries werbegrafik gmbh
LEISURE AND
FAMILY ACTIVITIES
Photo: © Othmar Heidergger
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THE PFÄNDER, LOCAL MOUNTAIN
ON LAKE CONSTANCE
From Bregenz’s city centre, it takes
about 90 minutes to reach the
summit of the Pfänder by foot, and
it takes 6 minutes to get to the top
of Bregenz’s landmark mountain
by cable car. Your efforts will be rewarded with a fantastic panoramic
view of Lake Constance and the
Alpine peaks of Austria, Switzerland, and Liechtenstein as well as
the Alpine foothills of Germany.
pfaenderbahn.at
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Photo: © Curt Huber
Photo: © Stadtwerke Bregenz
Particularly in the winter months,
the Bregenzer Hallenbad indoor
pool and its diverse wellness
area, the Vitalium, offer visitors
the chance to relax in a pleasant
atmosphere. Finnish saunas,
sanariums, and steam baths help
create a perfect day of wellness
and provide a complete pampering
programme.
stadtwerke-bregenz.at/baeder
GEBHARDSBERG – INFORMATIVE
NATURE TRAIL ON GEBHARDSBERG
The medieval castle ruins on Gebhardsberg, a charming restaurant
featuring an impressive dining
area, and a lovely Baroque chapel
can all be reached by foot in less
than an hour from the city centre
via romantic forest trails, and in
10 minutes by car. A breathtaking
view of the Rhine Valley and Lake
Constance make a visit to the top
of Gebhardsberg worth the effort.
greber.cc/gebhardsberg
FOREST ADVENTURE TRAIL
The 1.5-kilometre forest adventure
trail (“Walderlebnispfad”) was primarily built for children and stands
out thanks to its many exercises
that are especially focused on
playful learning and understanding. The trail starts at the Bregenz
provincial library (Vorarlberger
Landesbibliothek) and ends on
Gebhardsberg.
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PIPELINE AND MILI
A gravel beach with an attached
promenade (made of exposed concrete) stretches out alongside the
Pipeline from the Port of Bregenz
to the Strandbad Lochau bathing
area. The Pipeline is the perfect
setting for romantic walks throughout the year. Especially during the
summer, you can enjoy beautiful
sunsets above Lake Constance and
extra-long days of swimming.
Photo: © Curt Huber
The Mili is a gem that rests atop
wooden foundation piles, located
directly on the Pipeline in Bregenz.
With a wonderful location in the
bend of Bregenz’s bay, the old
pile foundation structure offers a
unique atmosphere where visitors
can relax and unwind.
stadtwerke-bregenz.at/baeder
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VORARLBERG LINES
Vorarlberg Lines offers numerous
excursions, Lake Constance cruises,
and special themed cruises on the
lake. There are countless gourmet
and evening events on the ships of
the Vorarlberg Lines fleet throughout the year.
vorarlberg-lines.at
Photo: © Curt Huber
MARTINSTURM
The landmark of Bregenz is home
to a permanent exhibition on the
city's history. The interiors of the
Martinsturm and Martinskapelle
(chapel of St. Martin) are painted
with frescoes dating from the 14th
and 15th century.
martinsturmbregenz.at
MINIGOLF
One of the nicest minigolf courses
in Vorarlberg is located at Bregenz’s Seeanlagen promenade.
During the game, players can take
in lovely views of Lake Constance
and enjoy the picturesque landscape.
BIKE TOURS (WITH BIKE RENTALS)
One of the best ways to explore the
shores of Lake Constance is with
a bike tour around the lake. The
excellently maintained bike paths,
which feature a total length of 268
kilometres, most of which is flat,
promise picturesque views and
breathtaking landscapes along
the beaches. The many hotels and
accommodations located along
the paths make it easy to plan
overnight stays during your bike
tour, guaranteeing an enjoyable,
multi-day biking experience at
Lake Constance. But shorter tours
starting from Bregenz also provide
plenty of fun around Lake Constance.
fahrradverleih-bregenz.at
bodensee-radweg.com
DEURING SCHLÖSSLE
The Deuring Schlössle has served
as a subject for many painters and
drawers – including the famous
Viennese Expressionist Egon
Schiele in 1912. The picturesque
corner tower, which features a
Baroque-style roof, was built by
Michael and Johann Georg Kuen.
Photo: © Philipp Breuss
Please be advised that it is not permitted to enter nature reserves and
that the usage of glass products
is prohibited throughout the shore
area. Furthermore, we kindly ask
that you use dry firewood and to
ensure that campfires are extinguished completely before leaving
the site.
Photo: © Achim Mende
PFARRKIRCHE MARIAHILF
The Pfarrkirche Mariahilf, or
Mariahilf Parish Church, in the
Rieden-Vorkloster district was built
from 1925 to 1937 according to
plans by Clemens Holzmeister. One
unique aspect of the church is the
combination of functional buildings
(the rectory and parish hall) and the
sacred areas into a single complex.
The church also features a striking,
pagoda-shaped steeple.
pfarremariahilf.at
Photo: © Curt Huber
CURIOSITIES AND OTHER
INTERESTING PLACES
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FISCHERSTEG
The Fischersteg, or fishermen’s
dock, is a unique location with a
storied past. It used to be forbidden
to fish from the quay wall. A clever
workaround was devised with the
construction of the Fischersteg
in 1902. In 1923, it became the
base of operations for the airliner
Bodenseeflug Konstanz, but unfortunately the company did not last
very long.
Photo: © Udo Mittelberger
MILCHPILZ
The Milchpilz has graced the
provincial capital at its location in
front of the Port of Bregenz since
1953. This charming and eccentric
eatery has long become a mainstay of the city, offering numerous
dairy products and canapés.
vmilch.at/de/milchpilz
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Photo: © Udo Mittelberger
POST OFFICE
This distinctive building from Austria's imperial and royal past is one
of the few examples of Ringstraße
architecture outside of Vienna. A
twin building is located in the imperial spa town of Bad Ischl. Today,
the post office is home to the KUB
Sammlungsschaufenster.
kunsthaus-bregenz.at
OLD TOWN HALL
This impressive timber frame building was erected in 1662 and served
as Bregenz’s town hall from the
17th to the 19th century. Today, it
is used as a residential building.
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Photo: © Matthias König
VILLA RACZYNSKI
The Villa Raczynski was built in
1875 as a loving gift from a Polish
count to his wife. Today, it houses
a convent and a girls’ school.
seminarhaus-marienberg.at
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EVENING
PROGRAM
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HERZ-JESU-KIRCHE
The Herz-Jesu-Kirche, or Church
of the Sacred Heart of Jesus,
was built in the neo-Gothic style
between 1905 and 1908 and was
renovated in 1958 and again
from 1992 to 1995. The architect
Joseph Cades drew up the plans
for the building. The church is a
three-nave basilica with two spires
ascending to a height of 62 metres.
One unique feature of the church
is the clerestory, which is almost
twice as high as the side aisles.
herzjesubregenz.at
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Photo: © Curt Huber
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Photo: © Villa Raczynski
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THE NARROWEST FACADE
IN EUROPE
One of the many curious attractions in Bregenz is the narrowest facade in Europe. Only 57
centimetres wide, it is located at
Kirchstraße 29 and is easy to reach
from Leutbühel.
Photo: © Curt Huber
STADTPFARRKIRCHE ST. GALLUS
The impressive parish church dedicated to St. Gall was built during
the 17th and 18th centuries and
towers over the city. It was built on
a pre-Christian place of worship
and was renovated multiple times
by the famous Baroque builders of
the Bregenzerwald region.
kath-kirche-vorarlberg.at
Photo: © Curt Huber
Photo: © BTSMG
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Photo: © Udo Mittelberger
GRILLING AT THE LAKE
Grilling at sunset at Lake Constance is an unforgettable experience and is permitted in public at
the following locations in Bregenz:
7 places at Wocherhafen
sunbathing area
4 places at the sunbathing area at
Seecamping (campsite)
1 place at the dry berth area at the
city’s sport and motorboat marina
10 places near the Mili
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KLOSTER MEHRERAU
The Kloster Mehrerau, or Mehrerau Monastery, is one of the most
important Cistercian abbeys in
the Lake Constance region. Its
history goes back to the 11th
century. Its lovely location on Lake
Constance, the impressive library,
and the beautiful inner courtyard
invite visitors to stay and enjoy the
tranquil atmosphere. In addition,
the restaurant in the cellar of the
monastery serves up specialities
produced in the monastery’s own
agricultural operations, providing
plenty of enjoyment for guests.
mehrerau.at
klosterkeller-mehrerau.at
Photo: © Udo Mittelberger
Photo: © Markus Moosbrugger
Photo: © Curt Huber
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Photo: © Udo Mittelberger
Photo: © Roman Horner
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Photo: © Curt Huber
Photo: © Achim Mende
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HISTORY
IN BREGENZ
BOAT RENTAL
At the Gondelhafen marina, which
is located between the Fischersteg
and the Festspielhaus, you can
rent electric boats, paddle boats,
and rowboats at the Feurstein boat
rental shop. As your own captain,
you can explore Lake Constance or
just let the waves take you where
they will.
seetaxi.at
THE PORT OF BREGENZ
The gateway to the provincial capital
has shined with a whole new radiance since 2010. The heart of the
newly renovated port is the new
port building designed by the architects Nägele, Waibel, Spagolla,
Ritsch, and Steinmann.
hafen-bregenz.at
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LAKE-SIDE POOL, INDOOR POOL
AND VITALIUM
The Bregenzer Strandbad bathing
beach attracts visitors with its
amazing location directly on Lake
Constance. Numerous docks lead
from the spacious sunbathing
areas, sport areas, and quiet zones
into the lake and help to expand
upon the bathing opportunities
offered by the three sport and
children’s pools. Whether as an
oasis of relaxation or an athlete’s
paradise, the Bregenz bathing
beach leaves nothing to be desired
when it comes to fun in the sun.
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Photo: © Curt Huber
SEEKAPELLE
The Seekapelle, or Lake Chapel, was
built in 1445 to commemorate the
victory over Appenzell and was renovated in the Baroque style by Kaspar
Held in 1698/99 based on the design
by Christian Thumb. The Seekapelle,
which is adjacent to the town hall,
is dedicated to St. George and the
Virgin Mary. One unique feature is
the Renaissance high altar (1615)
designed by Esaias Gruber, which
was originally located at the former
castle chapel at Hofen/Lochau.
NEPOMUKKAPELLE
This chapel dedicated to St. John
of Nepomuk was built in 1757 by
Johann Michael Beer. The restored
Baroque central-plan chapel features a domed roof and contains a
richly decorated high altar. A sandstone statue of the eponymous St.
John of Nepomuk is located above
the round arch portal. The chapel’s
interior is decorated with Rococo-style paintings.
Photo: © Curt Huber
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KAPUZINERKLOSTER
Several years ago, the Capuchin
Order had to leave its monastery
after more than 350 years due to
a lack of prospective monks. The
monastery appeared destined to
fall into disrepair until a private
initiative launched by citizens
of Bregenz took up the cause to
restore it. Today, the monastery
shines with a whole new brilliance
and provides a new home to the
Sisters of St. Clare. The Lourdes
grotto is also located here.
klaraschwestern.at
EVANGELISCHE KREUZKIRCHE
PROTESTANT CHURCH
The Kreuzkirche, or Church of
the Holy Cross, on the Ölrain is a
Protestant church that is located
on the site of a former Roman
settlement. The church was built
in the neo-Gothic style from 1862
to 1864 based on the plans of the
architect Carl Lein from Stuttgart.
In 1904, it became the first church
in the Austro-Hungarian Empire to
have electric light and heat.
evang-kirche-bregenz.at
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CASINO BREGENZ
Casino Bregenz offers international
games such as roulette, blackjack,
and the MEGA Austria Jackpot
along with fine dining in a unique
atmosphere. The casino is open
from 3:00 pm to 3:00 am (Fridays
and Saturdays until 4:00 am),
and the Jackpot Casino is open
from 12:00 pm. Tip: At the Casino
Restaurant Falstaff, you will be
pampered with the very finest in
gourmet cuisine.
bregenz.casinos.at
Photo: © Marcel A. Mayer
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HYPO BEACHBAR BREGENZ
Chilled out beach bar by day –
hot spot and party location in the
evening: Fine sand, palm trees,
cocktails, 300 lounge chairs, and
an irresistible Mediterranean
flair invite you to relax or dance
the night away at the legendary
parties at the Musikpavillon at Bregenz’s Seeanlagen promenade.
beachbar-bregenz.com
Photo: © Hypo BeachBar
SONNENKÖNIGIN
The MS Sonnenkönigin offers a
one-of-a-kind venue for high-profile
events on Lake Constance. The
ship’s technical equipment meets
the highest quality standards and
guarantees that every event will be
smooth sailing.
sonnenkoenigin.cc
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Photo: © Vorarlberg Lines