Dornbirn between gorges, museums and historic routes
Accommodation in Dornbirn District
You can explore Dornbirn in very different ways: along a path through the Rappenloch Gorge, following stops devoted to the town’s industrial and urban history, or on excursions to museums in Hohenems and Lustenau. When planning your stay, the differences between the alpine natural landscape, flat cycle routes and richly presented cultural attractions are particularly interesting. This allows you to combine accommodation in Dornbirn with a variety of daily itineraries without reducing the region to just one type of experience.
File:Karrenseilbahn Bergstation-Restaurant Dornbirn 1.JPG
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Natural landscape and hiking trails
The Rappenloch Gorge has a distinctly alpine character. In places, the trail is attached directly to the rock face. Visible rock folds and fossils bring the geological history of the natural landscape to life. The hike leads through the Rappenloch Gorge to Lake Staufensee, circles the lake and then returns to the starting point along the same path. This means that the return journey remains part of the same tour and should be taken into account when planning your day.
Along the circuit through the Rappenloch Gorge, the historic Ebensand run-of-river power station lies on the southern shore of Lake Staufensee. It has been in operation since 1899. Anyone wishing to start the route by public transport can take Landbus route 177 from Dornbirn railway station to the Dornbirn GĂĽtle stop. From there, the entrance to the Rappenloch Gorge can be reached on foot in approximately ten minutes. This should be understood as an approximate walking time.
Important for seasonal planning: the Rappen and Alploch gorges are closed during the winter months for safety reasons. The gorge route is therefore not an excursion destination that remains the same throughout the year. In Hohenems, the Schlossberg and Glopper areas offer a natural alternative. They are protected because of their largely natural character and their high landscape and ecological value.
Urban history on foot
Dornbirn’s history can also be explored in stages. The circular route “City Traces. Industry and Change” tells the story of Dornbirn’s industrial rise and decline, as well as continuities and breaks in the town’s history, at 15 stations. The route can also be explored in individual walkable sections, including between inatura and Sägen and between the Karren cable car and Gütle. This allows you to combine the historical perspective with different sections of the route instead of planning to complete the entire circular route in one go.
The Dornbirn City Museum is housed in a 200-year-old patrician house directly on the market square. On three floors, selected objects and works of art present important chapters of the town’s history, as well as everyday life in Dornbirn as a key economic centre in the Rhine Valley. The inatura – Erlebnis Naturschau Dornbirn offers a different approach to the region’s natural environment. Interactive experiments, exhibits, films and images present the typical habitats of Vorarlberg—mountains, forests and water—as well as the human body.
On the mountain, the Karren Kante is one of the distinctive viewpoints: the glass walkway is 12 metres long, offers panoramic views and is located at the mountain station of the Karren cable car. The “City Traces. Industry and Change” route also includes the walkable section between the Karren cable car and Gütle.
Museums in Dornbirn and Hohenems
The FLATZ Museum – Centre for Photography presents changing exhibitions focusing on photographic art, curated by international guest curators. The programme also includes readings, lecture series, discussions and performances. The offering is therefore aimed not only at visitors who want to view an exhibition, but also at those interested in talks and events related to photography.
In Hohenems, the Jewish Museum Hohenems commemorates the Jewish community of Hohenems. The museum presents both a permanent exhibition and a changing exhibition on Jewish life today. Hohenems is also home to the Schubertiade Museum. It is housed in a building dating from 1659 and shows how later generations have preserved Schubert’s work.
The Austrian-Swiss Rhein-Schauen Museum presents the history of the Rhine, including its high waters and floods. In Dornbirn, the Mohrenbräu Beer Experience World is dedicated to the history of brewing across more than 700 square metres and four floors. The interactive and multimedia experience is shaped by a fully preserved historic brewing facility from the 19th century belonging to the Schäfle inn brewery in Satteins. This facility remained in operation until 1917.
Flat cycle routes and regional history
For days spent cycling, the route from GaiĂźau along the Old Rhine via Lustenau to Dornbirn offers a different topographical experience from the gorge trails. It is predominantly flat and technically easy. The route is suitable for trekking bikes, gravel bikes, practical everyday bicycles and e-bikes. This classification makes it easier to choose your own bike, but says nothing about current conditions or individual openings along the route.
In Lustenau, the Historic Cycle Route connects 13 stations dealing with various aspects of Lustenau’s history. In addition, 17 information panels trace the area’s development from the beginnings of settlement to the 20th century. They draw attention to preserved historic buildings and changes in the structures of the municipality. Those looking for a clear historical focus while cycling can use this route to combine the landscape with local history.
For further orientation within the area, you can open the destinations Dornbirn, Lustenau and Hohenems individually.
For the overview of the wider region: Vorarlberg.
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