Bregenz Forest

The Bregenzerwald (German: Bregenzerwald, pronounced [ˈbʁeːɡɛnt͡sɐˌvalt] ^ⓘ) is one of the main regions in the state of Vorarlberg (Austria). It overlaps, but is not coterminous with, the Bregenz Forest Mountains, which belong to a range of the Northern Limestone Alps, specifically the northern flysch zone. It is the drainage basin of the Bregenzer Ach river and has a population of 31.386 (as of Sep 2024).

Bregenz Forest borders the Lake Constance region in the Rhine Valley to the west, Germany and Bavaria (Lindau and Oberallgäu districts) to the north, the Kleinwalsertal valley to the northeast, the Hochtannberg region at Tannberg to the east and the Großes Walsertal valley to the south. It borders the Leiblachtal valley to the northwest and the Laternsertal valley to the southwest, which can be reached via the Furkajoch.

Regional inhabitants often divide Bregenz Forest into two main areas, the Vorderwald ('Lower Bregenz Forest') and Hinterwald ('Upper Bregenz Forest'). The Vorderwald, with its hills and low mountains, is closest to the Rhine valley. The taller mountains are in Hinterwald, with altitudes of up to 2,000 metres. The two regions have distinctive dialect variations.

For historical reasons, the market town of Bezau is considered the main town in Bregenz Forest, although the market town of Egg and the municipalities of Alberschwende and Andelsbuch are larger in terms of population.

Although the municipalities of Langen and Buch are located in the Lake Constance-Vorarlberg region (Rhine Valley), they are still part of the Bregenz Forest Käsestrasse (Cheese Route), for example.

The municipalities of Egg, Andelsbuch and Schwarzenberg are also often referred to as Mittelbregenzerwald (Mid Bregenz Forest).

The court district of Bezau does not completely coincide with the Bregenz Forest region: Alberschwende, Doren, Riefensberg and Sulzberg are subject to the court district of Bregenz, but the small Walsertal valley belongs to the Bezau court. Warth is already part of the Hochtannberg region, but is also partly included in Bregen Forest.

Lower Bregenz Forest (Vorderer Bregenzerwald) (red)