Austria Guide
Vorarlberg
Despite falling under Habsburg control as early as the thirteenth century, Austria's westernmost province, Vorarlberg ( 
www.vol.at/tourismus ), has always led a life slightly separate from the rest of the country. This was largely a matter of geography: bounded by the Arlberg mountain range to the east and the Rätikon massif to the south, communication with the rest of Austria was for centuries less than easy. Only with the construction of the Arlbergstrasse highway by Emperor Josef II in the late eighteenth century was the region properly integrated with its eastern neighbours.
Culturally and economically, Vorarlberg has repeatedly looked towards Switzerland and southern Germany. Like the inhabitants of northern Switzerland, Vorarlbergers are descended from the Alemantribes who swept through the region during the great migrations of the sixth century AD, and to this day they speak a dialect very close to Swiss German. Indeed, in November 1918 the Vorarlbergers went so far as to declare independence from Austria, seeking union with Switzerland – a request turned down by an international community who feared that any break-up of the infant Austrian state would leave the region prone to future German expansionism. Vorarlberger separatism no longer occupies a prime place on the political agenda, but locals are still likely to view Vienna, more than 600km to the east, as a distant irrelevance. Nearer cities like Munich and Zurich exert a greater cultural influence.
Highlights
1 Bregenzer Festspiele (Bregenz Festival) Vorarlberg's biggest cultural event, held every year from late July to August, showcasing everything from opera to musicals on a floating stage right on the Bodensee.
2 Bregenzerwald Sample mildly tangy local Bergkäse or mountain cheeses in a traditional wooden Gasthof.
3 Damüls Deep in the heart of the lush Bregenzerwald region, Damüls is one of the most laid back and intimate ski resorts in winter, whilst in summer it offers stunning walks through the peaceful rolling countryside.
4 Feldkirch Wander through Feldkirch's medieval centre, one of Vorarlberg's prettiest towns, taking time to browse the shops or stop for a coffee at one of the cafés.
5 Silvretta Hochalpenstrasse Austria's spectacular alpine drive to the mountain summit where you can gaze towards the snow-capped Swiss Alps or stop off for a walk around the pristine Silvretta Reservoir on your way over the Tyrolean border.