Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Take a peek inside the huge cellars of the ultramodern
Käsekeller Lingenau
(
Click here
) to see how
cheese is matured, and taste flavoursome
Bergkäse
with a glass of local wine. Hit the pretty village of
Egg
and, 2.5km west,
Käse-Molke Metzler
(
Click here
)
, an avant-garde dairy and farmhouse duo. Here you can
sample creamy
Wälderkäsle
, made from cow's and goat's milk, or call ahead to join a cheese-making workshop.
Veer southwest to the village of
Schwarzenberg
, where old farmhouses tiled with wood shingles and
studded with scarlet geraniums crowd the narrow streets. Contemplate art in the
Angelika Kauffmann Mu-
seum
(
Click here
) before lunching on cheese-rich
Kässpätzle
(egg noodles) in the wood-panelled parlour or
garden at
Gasthof Hirschen
.The narrow country lane now wends its way gently to
Bezau
, 7km south-
east, where the Bregenzerach river flows past forest-cloaked slopes rising to jagged limestone crags. In the vil-
lage you can buy cheese, honey, herbs and schnapps. Continue southeast towards the Arlberg and mountainous
Mellau
, where the tourist office organises cheese walks in summer.
Driving southeast brings you to peaceful
Au
, affording deep views into a U-shaped valley, particularly
beautiful on a golden autumn day. Round out your tour with total cheese immersion at the
Bergkäserei
Schoppernau
(
Click here
), where you can try the famous
Bergkäse
.
Activities
The hills buzz with hikers, climbers and cyclists in summer. Local tourist offices also ar-
range
themed walks
, including some geared towards families. Paragliders can launch them-
selves off mountains in Andelsbuch, Bezau and Au-Schoppernau; tandem flights cost
around €100.
Downhill Skiing
(3-valley 3-/6-day pass adult €113/192, child €57/96)
Though lesser known than other Austrian ski re-
gions, the Bregenzerwald has fine downhill skiing on 273km of slopes, well suited to be-
ginners, intermediates and ski tourers. Lift queues are virtually nonexistent and free ski
buses shuttle between resorts. Nonskiers can shuffle through snowy forests on cross-
country or snowshoe trails, go winter hiking or bump downhill on toboggan runs in Au
and Damüls.
SKIING
