#Wahrzeichen
(Symbolic Landmarks)
Our blog on unique Austrian landmarks, updated monthly.
Above: Vienna with View of Iconic Vienna Ferris Wheel © Österreich Werbung
Bregenzer Festspiele
For this #WahrzeichenWednesday we're returning to #Vorarlberg for the Bregenzer Festspiele. Taking place in Bregenz, the capital of the Austrian province of Vorarlberg, the stages for the festival are built directly on Lake Constance #Bodensee, a lake shared by Austria, Germany, and Switzerland. The performing arts festival is particularly famous for its colossal, floating stages and extravagant and creative sets.
Martinsturm
The Martinsturm, built first as a small tower in the 13th century during the construction of the city wall, was originally used as a fortified house for nobles, and was converted into a chapel in 1362 and renovated in 1601 in the baroque style by master builder Benedetto Prato, who gave the tower its characteristic onion-shaped dome. It was the first baroque building on the Bodensee lake and the largest onion dome tower at the time in all of Central Europe. Since 2015, the interior of the Martinsturm has served as a city museum, but has been a local #Wahrzeichen since long before that.