Side Events

How can gin be so subtle? How can kummel liqueur be so sophisticated? And what inspires these combinations of flavours? Participants on a guided tour at MAAN – makers of fine spirits in Alberschwende – will discover the love, patience and quality that goes into every bottle. 

The Bregenzerwald wouldn’t be what it is today without the famous Wälderbähnle. The original steam engine still services a stretch of the line – a cosy journey through time, whatever your age.

Wild and romantic gorges, paradises for waterfowl, steep waterfalls and deep diving basins – up to and including the serious whitewater, rafting in the loveliest mountain rivers in Europe has everything that nerves of steel and sharp eyes could possibly want. Appreciation for the beauty of Mother Nature and respect for her emerge as a matter of course.

The Sennerei Hinteregg was established in 1938 and has always been an insider tip where delicious cheese specialities are concerned. Florian Lang is the alpine dairyman who’s today responsible for transforming pasture milk sourced from 11 farms into Vorarlberg alpine cheese. Guided tours of the dairy reveal to visitors how fresh pasture milk is turned into cheese.

Those who practice yoga give their bodies a break and a conscious start to the day. And where would this fit better than before an intense day of conferences and meetings?

While the head is spinning in meeting rooms in the mornings, the cobwebs can be blown away by the fresh mountain air on the Karren in the afternoons. Dornbirn's local mountain is right at the heart of it all and the cable car takes visitors up to 976 metres in no time at all. 

The name is intentional – the long-established Mohren brewery in Dornbirn has over time developed into an experience world with museum, guided tours, a creative brewery, tastings and attractive workshop rooms right at its heart. Interested visitors may enjoy making their own beer in a single day that takes in all the processes from malt crushing to mashing, purifying and cooking.

Feel that grass beneath your feet, and breathe in the freshest mountain air. Countless edible wild herbs grow in our meadows, from dandelions to yarrow. But how to distinguish the beneficial herbs from the weeds? Luckily, there are various hiking excursions available where you can learn exactly that.

A very special natural monument takes you right down to the depths of the Cave Schneckenloch in Bizau. The biggest cave in Vorarlberg requires a certain degree of stamina and sure-footedness, yet once the visitors get back to terra firma they are usually lost for words, overcome by images of subterranean halls, stalactites and natural tunnels, some of which you have to crawl through.

The art of archery is underestimated – this sport is a far cry from our childhood games of cowboy and Indians. It demands a high degree of precision and concentration, discipline and inner tranquillity. All these are things which would be useful in daily life, if only we had gotten round to practising them.

The region’s architects have been picking up international prizes and awards for some time now, and it is well worth taking a walk to visit interesting buildings in practically all of the towns and villages in the region. The re-interpretations of the traditional wooden buildings to be found in many a region are simple, natural and sustainable, and have already characterised a certain style.

Now and then we all wish for a bit of variety, whether at work or at mealtimes. If this sounds all too familiar, look no further than a baking or cooking course as a team-building activity.

Canyoning involves walking from the top to bottom of Vorarlberg’s most beautiful gorges using a wide variety of different types of movement: from simple walking and easy climbing to abseiling, sliding and jumping, everything is included. Admittedly, it sounds a bit intimidating at first, but the tours are accompanied by guides and the level of difficulty and the choice of gorge is always tailored to the group. 

Recreation from exciting workshops is best achieved in the great outdoors – simple and good are the two words that characterise this accompanying programme. Herbert Edlinger’s pleasure walks focus on regional agriculture, nature and its products as well as local cheese and the production of specialities. 

Work events don’t always need to happen indoors – there is a new appreciation of the power of fresh air to promote new ideas, good conversations and an enriching atmosphere.