Side Events

There are plenty of toboggan runs, with many of them being scary, and you need to be an experienced sledge driver before you race down from the Pfänderdohle to Bregenz, for instance. The perfectly prepared toboggan runs in the entire state can also be covered on foot, or even by train if you prefer a bit of comfort.

For some, dashing through the woods at a speed of 130km an hour is just a speed kick at an altitude of 160 metres. For others, it is the craving for their own wings that you get for the duration of the flight at least. 

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.

One mission, one hour, one team. Many clues have been hidden but your team only has 60 minutes to solve the conundrum – your time starts now! A trend that is taking such major cities as New York and London – and now even Dornbirn – by storm. 

Give your tired feet some fresh air and experience the joy of walking barefoot through meadows and forests. This is not only therapy for your otherwise confined feet, it’s also medicine for the soul and your entire physical body.

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.

How does a steam locomotive actually operate? And how far can it go? You can find out all this and much, much more at Rhein-Schauen.

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 newly constructed cooperative cheese cellar in Lingenau is home to 32,000 cheeses. A visit to the cheese – which matures for between four and 18 months – constitutes an impressive walk through the storeroom at 10.5°C.

The Kunsthaus Bregenz is one of the most important museum buildings in the world when it comes to contemporary architecture. It has been attracting art enthusiasts as well as fans of architecture ever since its inauguration in 1997. An hour-long guided tour on the theme of architecture affords attendees a look behind the scenes of the multi-award-winning building by architect Peter Zumthor.

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.

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. 

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.

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. 

For all those who value self-expression in their team, the Tonhalle has opened a veritable creative paradise. In workshops which are quite literally hands-on, budding ceramic artists can design their own plates, cups, bowls, and figures. Ideas are given free reign, and participants get their hands dirty while crafting their own unique pottery creations. All in all, a wonderful atmosphere for the group to exchange ideas and get to know each other’s creative side.