“It’s a beautiful trail,” says my wife, “especially since it boasts such wonderful views into or out of the village.” As we walk away from the centre of Lingenau, we are quite pleased to come across two handsome inns, the “Traube” and the “Adler.” “You can invite me to dinner at the end of the Umgang walk,” she says happily. “I could do that now if you like…” I say in rely. “After all, the first rust-coloured info column, which points out an architecturally remarkable property, is dedicated to the ‘Wälderhof’ inn. I happen to know that in addition to being a special building, the food here is also excellent.
Since we are not yet hungry, we head to the church instead and we are not disappointed: it turns out to be extraordinary. Although the church is traditional on the outside, one is surprised to see such a modern interior following renovations carried out just a little over ten years ago. The design of the altar and ambo with various stones from the region is particularly beautiful. “Do you know the story behind the water here?” my wife asks. “It flows from the baptismal font and symbolises the River Jordan, where Jesus was baptised by John. And John, the patron saint of the church, also appears in the stained glass windows, which were designed by the painter Konrad Honold from Schruns.”
I smile and further inform her that we will encounter this artist once again on our tour. “How do you know all this?” she asks. “Very simple, I have prepared in advance,” I confess. After visiting a beautifully renovated house, we find ourselves in front of the Käsekeller Bregenzerwald, a building which was dug into the hillside and was planned by Oskar Leo Kaufmann (also a native of the Bregenzerwald, of course). “Thirty-three thousand cheese loaves are supposed to be stored here,” says my wife, highlighting her own expertise. “Did you know that mountain cheese from Vorarlberg is not the same as Vorarlberg mountain cheese? You can buy mountain cheese from Vorarlberg anywhere, but Vorarlberg mountain cheese boasts a protected designation of origin.” I nod to my wife, signalling that I am clearly impressed.
