Bregenz: The Floating Stage, Festival and Kunsthaus
Opera on the water and architecture on Lake Constance
TopicVorarlberg- Duration
- 1.5 hours
- Languages
- German, English
The Bregenz Festival is famous for its floating stage, the largest lake stage in the world, where opera is performed against the backdrop of Lake Constance. This private walk combines festival history with Peter Zumthor's Kunsthaus Bregenz and the vorarlberg museum.
The festival began in 1946 with a performance on gravel barges in the harbor. Today a new monumental stage set is built every two years, drawing thousands of spectators. The stage also gained fame through a scene in the James Bond film Quantum of Solace.
On the shore stands the Kunsthaus Bregenz by Swiss architect Peter Zumthor, a glowing cube of glass and concrete. Next door, the vorarlberg museum has a facade covered in thousands of concrete flowers.
Your guide explains how the sets are built, how wind and weather challenge the productions and how Vorarlberg became a center of contemporary architecture. On request a backstage tour of the festival can be added.
Highlights
- Floating stage of the Bregenz Festival
- Kunsthaus Bregenz by Peter Zumthor
- vorarlberg museum and its concrete flowers
- Festival hall on the lakeshore
- Lake Constance promenade
The route
-
1Kornmarkt square
Introduction to the culture town
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2Kunsthaus Bregenz
Zumthor's glass cube
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3Promenade
Views across the lake
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4Floating stage
Set and festival hall
Who this tour is for
Perfect for opera and architecture fans and anyone attending a festival performance.
Frequently asked questions
Are entrance fees included?
No. Entrance fees and tickets for cable cars, trains, boats or tastings are not included and are paid on site. Your guide is happy to tell you in advance what to expect.
Is the price per person or per group?
This is a private tour with a licensed Austrian tour guide. The price is per group, not per person, so it is just you and your own party.
Can we see the floating stage outside the festival?
The set usually stays for two summers and can be seen from the promenade. Backstage tours run at certain times; admission is not included.
