What it is
The Bregenz Festival began in 1946 with a performance on barges moored in the harbour. Today its lake stage is famous for huge, sculptural sets that stay in place for two summers and are designed to work with the water, the sky and the sunset; the tiered open-air auditorium rises from the shore. Performances take place from mid-July to August, and the Festspielhaus behind the stands has an indoor auditorium used in bad weather and for other productions.
Outside the festival season the set can be seen from the lakeside promenade, and guided tours of the stage are offered.
Getting there by bus
The Stadion stop (lines 102, 105 and 5F) is about 250 metres from the Festspielhaus, and Bregenz Bahnhof, the railway station and main bus hub, is about 330 metres away along the lakeshore.
On performance evenings extra buses and trains run after the show; check the festival information for the connections on the day.
