Dornbirn Travel Guide, Austria

Dornbirn Travel Guide – Geographical Landmarks

Dornbirn is the largest city in the state of Vorarlberg in Austria and although it only has 45.000 inhabitants it is a popular touristic destination due to its perfectly preserved rustic atmosphere. Its location between the borders with Switzerland, Lichtenstein and Germany gives it an eclectic cultural character and impressive natural surroundings. Also, the nearby lake Constance is simply astonishing and its area coincides with that of the slightly larger Friedrichshafen. Dornbirn has a surface of just 120 sq kilometers and a very big difference of altitude between the highest and lowest point in the city: 405 / 2062 meters above sea level. The mountains in the area are mainly sandstone and limestone, while the Rhine valley covers 38.5 sq kilometers and forms a very interesting and diverse scenery in the immediate city area. The temperatures are relatively low, reaching an average of 0.6 in January and 16 in July.

Dornbirn Travel Guide – Architecture and Business

The city’s architecture reflects an intense preoccupation for the modernist scenery, as the well renowned “Vorarlberg School of Architecture” has commited itself to enrich the cityscape with innovative ideas. The Messestadion is an impressive indoor sporting arena and the place where the local hockey team play all their matches. The private and public support of architectural development made Dornbirn a very lively business centre and a truly relevant example for the functionality of modern buildings. The combination of materials used is sure to impress you the whole repertory of modern architecture is a very good reason to visit the small but action packed Dornbirn. It was a very important centre for the textile industry until the 1980s, but it started declining and left room for other companies to start profitable businesses in the city.

Dornbirn Travel Guide – Sports and Leisure

The mountain area and fresh air in Dornbirn make it a perfect destination for the practice of all kinds of outdoor activities. The city has been awarded the title of “cyclist friendly town” and its bicycle routes form an excellent network both inside and outside the city. There are more than 120 km that you can choose from, starting with easier to more challenging routes. Mountainbiking and climbing are at home in Dornbirn due to its excellent location in the mountain area, but there is also an indoor climbing wall in the city centre. You can also have a go at other sporting facilities the city has to offer, like indoor and outdoor tennis courts, swimming pools, riding stables and arenas, walking paths and hiking routes. If you want to go on a day trip the best deal is to visit Salzburg, the closest large city found in Austria.

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