Between mountain and valley, families in the Bregenzerwald have the choice…
This article was created as part of a press trip with the Bregenzerwald Tourism.
When we leave the big streets from Bregenz to make our way into “the forest”, we are already greeted with a lot of spring green in March. We are located here in the Bregenzerwald, an idyllic area in the Austrian federal state of Vorarlberg, which is both the westernmost and one of the smallest federal states in the country. Shortly before Easter and thus also shortly before the end of the winter season, the meadows in the valley are covered by white snowdrops everywhere and indicate the imminent blossoming of nature. But before the time comes, we want to enjoy the snow-covered mountain landscape again during the spring holidays, with its magic of silence, vastness and the “very far away” from the speed of the city. We are ready for a few unforgettable days of family vacation in the Bregenzerwald.
Family holiday Bregenzerwald starts in the charming unpacked shop in Lingenau
We start our family time in the Bregenzerwald, the border region between Germany and Austria, with a refreshment in Lingenau. In the Badhus on the village square there is not the village’s swimming pool, but a café and unpacked shop. In the former bathhouse – traditionally built in the Bregenzerwäld Schindelhandwerk – it becomes clear right at our first stop what is important to people here: the real thing. Be it in the selection of ingredients, the preparation of food, in the way to make yourself comfortable or to make yourself and others happy with homemade things.
At T-Shirt Wetter we look for a table in front of the door and while we wait for our food with delicious coffee and homemade lemonade – we have opted for crisp organic salads, topped souls and a cheese board – our eyes slowly immerse themselves in the beauty of the environment. The blossoming of nature and what it does to the people here, we can wonderfully observe in this little place of the earth and let ourselves be infected.
The spring sun not only warms our skin, but above all our hearts. Here on a family holiday in the Bregenzerwald seems to be the ideal place to satisfy the longing for the essentials.
Visit to the workshop house in Andelsbuch with “mountainmade” craft to touch!
We continue into “the forest” as the inhabitants affectionately call their home. As if there were no alternative for them to yours, unique. Past Egg, the largest community in the Bregenzerwald, our next destination is the Werkraum Haus in Andelsbuch. Due to its location directly on the thoroughfare, but also due to its special architecture – very transparent through a lot of glass – it cannot be overlooked. The invitation to the big flags at the building “please touch” makes us curious. An exhibition with the invitation to touch is made for families!
Because the craft, which is of particular importance in this region of Vorarlberg, is above all about understanding, the regional art and masterpieces can be admired here not only with the eyes, but also with the hands: tables that can be hung on the wall as panels, alpine meadows made of cushions for the children’s room or a very special sandbox that can be carried like a suitcase and can be set up and dismantled everywhere.
A little surprise is waiting for all the kids who have found the answers to the questions in the “discoverers’ booklet” via the exhibition. And if you want to take a piece of “mountainmade” craftsmanship for home, you will find a great selection for big and small in the museum shop.
At home with mountain friends in the Bregenzerwald with children
With the exciting first impressions and warm encounters in the luggage, the call of the mountains is getting louder and louder. We follow the path up to Warth through places and landscapes, as if from the picture book. From Au, where the road divides in the direction of the Damüls or Warth-Schröcken ski areas, we first decide for the mountain village of Warth, which is located at 1,500 meters and is only 150 inhabitants.
Here we are already expected by Belinda and Mathias, the hosts of the Alpin – Studios & Suites. The one-year-old daughter Nina welcomes us there. She sits in the entrance with a curious look and a broad grin and immediately made new friends with us. As if you were invited directly into the living room, we immediately know that this will be a real place of well-being for the next three nights.
#Beiechtenbergfreundenzuhause is more than just a hashtag, namely lived warmth, for the Fritz family, who lives not only with the guests, but also with 3 generations in the Alps under one roof. From the family studios and suites, whose furnishings and equipment have succeeded in creating a perfect combination of tradition and modernity, to the beautiful spa area with steam bath, sauna and pool, to the regional and varied breakfast that meets the wishes of all family members, everything here has a lot of heart, personality and quality.
From our home “away from home” everything can be reached on foot: The ski rental, a small supermarket, restaurants – we have tested the Bieberkopf and the Alte Sennerei – and the entry into the Ski area as well as to the toboggan run by gondola. Warth-Schröcken is known for spring skiing, because the best conditions still prevail here at the end of the season – thanks to the many northern slopes.
Photo: © Alpin – Studios & Suites Fotografin: Nina Bröll
Winter sports paradise on a family holiday in the Bregenzerwald
Nevertheless, the sun around this time of year is already strong enough to reflect the entire mountain world up here in the most beautiful white. Our winter sports hearts beat faster and everyone gets their money’s worth: jumping and funslope on the Steffisalp, challenging hump and family-friendly blue slopes, powders on the ski routes or a playful start in Paulis Kids Cross.
No stop with children without Kaiserschmarren and dumplings – for this the very cozy Auenfelder Hütte below the Körbersee, which was officially voted the most beautiful place in Austria in 2017, is our recommendation.
Even after the lift closes, the mountain sickness does not let us go, so we meet at nightfall, with mountain guide Toni Maroni at the village square for a lantern hike. After almost an hour of ascent, which is good for everyone to act and flies by with Toni’s stories and anecdotes about the Walser, we are amazed speechless and deeply touched by the beauty of the mountains in the full moon, about the miracle of this unique nature.
Sonjoy valuable family time in the Bregenzerwald
How quickly the days go by when you fill them with the really important thing, namely consciously spent family time. Fortunately, it does not yet go directly home from Warth, but via Au over to the other side, to Damüls. Here, too, we are convinced by the originality that the village has preserved. Our destination for the next few nights is the high-altitude Sonnenalm (1,700m), with the Berggasthof Sonnenheim.
With wild snow drift, we are glad that we have made it up the steep ascent and can then leave the car, because from here you only need skis or sleds to move through the white paradise. As soon as the bags are in the room, we grab the sled and stroll through the fresh snow along the winter hiking trail past the panoramic swing and old stone chapel, to the Jägerstüble, a station of culinary winter hiking.
While we wait for our Bregenzerwälder Käsknöpfle and warm ourselves at the tiled stove, game time remains: Here you can find the “Stöpselspiel” at almost every mountain hut.
What was a challenging ascent on the way there is now an enjoyable sleigh ride back to the Sonnenheim, where we look forward to our cozy family room with the most beautiful view of the mountains. Oh, if only the joy, peace and freedom of this family time could roll up here into the valley and thus out into the world… We will definitely take a lot of it home with us.
Wrote this article about the family vacation in the Bregenzerwald Kirstin. She currently lives with her family in Hamburg, likes to travel for her life, teaches yoga and also works as a PR consultant. You can find out more about Kirstin on her website www.y-why.de.
