Side Events

Start your day on the top of a mountain, watch the sun rise and remind yourself of the scale of things – this brings you back down to earth for the tasks to be faced. However, night owls can take a sigh of relief: observing the sunset from the stop of a mountain has the same, salutary effect.

Seeing what goes on behind the scenes at a schnapps tasting or chatting on a stroll through an orchard. A guided tour at the local producer Dietrichs Vorarlberg Kostbarkeiten creates a casual and entertaining setting for meetings, workshops and conferences. 

For those who simply can’t get enough of it, head to the Alpenkäse Bregenzerwald Sennerei on a journey of discovery. There you can learn how cheese is still produced in the time-honoured way.

The Barock­baumeister Museum is dedicated to the impressive history of the Au guild, which established itself in Au and Schoppernau as early as the 17th century. 

Hochjoch Totale – that is the name of the sunrise special on the Alpila ridge with a ski run covering 1,700 metres. At this time of day, the piste is as virginal as the day itself, watching the sun rise above the ridge is breathtakingly beautiful, and breakfast awaits you in the chapel restaurant at the end of the run. 

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.

Two architectural worlds combine at Museum Bezau – a typical Bregenzerwald farmhouse from the 18th century, a listed building, and a modern addition built mostly using local handworkers. 

Five hours of exploring boundaries: that’s an impressive mountain experience with team-building aspects. There is a challenge for everyone and more can be achieved together than by yourself. 

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.

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. 

Have you ever made your own barbecue, complete with cutlery and equipment? That's the kind of thing teams can expect at Steelsoul in Röthis.

Die Destillerie möchte die Destillerie erklären. Obwohl so gut wie jeder hin und wieder ein Schnäpschen trinkt, gibt’s viele Unklarheiten über die Herstellung. Bei einer Verkostung erklären die Spezialistinnen und Spezialisten, woran man gerade nippt und wie es entsteht. 

Making clocks, pepper mills and lamps from wood – all of that and much more is possible at the workshops that the Bizau-based Bär company organises in the Bregenzerwald. The idea is right on trend because the more digital the world becomes, the greater the desire is to make something from scratch with your own hands. 

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.

As in life, everything about SUP (Stand-Up Paddeling) comes down to balance. Certified SUP instructors accompany the group with tips and knowledge about this special experience.