GEBHARDSBERG CASTLE RESTAURANT – BREGENZ
Lake Constance Views and Medieval Atmosphere
It’s a beautiful spot for a romantic meal, a celebration or a destination wedding, surrounded by medieval ambiance. Dining in a 900 year old castle on a hillside overlooking Lake Constance with a glass of wine from the cellar, makes a charming end to a day of exploring the charms of the Voralberg. A short drive (or a longish hike) up a winding forest road from the harbor of Bregenz takes you back to centuries past. Now a restaurant and bar, very popular for events in its several banquet rooms, the Gebhardsberg Castle Restaurant gets its name from St Gebhard who was born in the castle in the early 14th Century. The castle itself is more officially the Hohenbregenz Castle, divided into two parts, the lower castle which houses the restaurant and the upper with the pilgrimage church of St Gebhard and St George.
History
The castle began as a medieval fortress under the Counts of Bregenz after a sacking by the Abbot of St Gallen (see St Gallen Abbey Library) about 1097. In the 12th Century the castle came into the possession of Hugo von Tübingen the Count of Palatine. The Tower of the castle belonged to the Counts of Pfannenberg in the middle ages, and in the 14th Century, the upper and lower castle building where divided in ownership , and sold to the Habsburgs. After the Appenzeller War of the 15th Century when the turrets were reinforced, the lower castle fell into ruin, and became a hermitage for traveling pilgrims.
The chapel was burned in 1791, and rebuilt in the present mix of Renaissance and Baroque style. In 1821 a relic arm of St Gebhard was given to the castle chapel from the monastery at Peterhausen. The Empress Maria Theresa decreed that the city of Bregenz would preserve the castle ruins because the niece of the last Count of Bregenz, the great-grandmother of King Rudolf von Habsburg was born there. During a renovation a cannon ball from the Thirty Years War was found and is on display.
Dining at Gebhardsberg Castle Restaurant
The menu for visitors is a 3-course meal with wine from the cellars, with beautiful views and chance to explore the chapel or enjoy the terrace views of the lake while waiting for a table. In summer, BBQ is served in the castle courtyard, and in November the Wild menu is offered. The restaurant offers a number of themed banquet rooms for groups, the Montfort Hall, named for the first palatine count, the Habsburg Parlor and the Tower Room. The terrace offers views of the city and the lake.
Sunday Brunch & Candlelight Dinner and Wine
Every Wednesday from April to the beginning of September. a Candlelight Dinner is offered starting at 6:30 with a aperitif, then with a 5-Course menu with matching wines. Sunday Lunch is offered starting at 11: 30, with an appetizer and salad buffet, with meats and fish to dessert, rounded out with a selection of cheeses and specialties from the Bregenzerwald from the House Furore. The wine cellar is located in the oldest part of the castle, The Water Tower, with over a hundred wines stored around the ancient cistern well where the castle began, where the thick stone walls keep the ideal temperature. Wine tasting is offered in the Wine Shop.
The Gebhardsberg Castle Restaurant is open daily from 10 am from May to September, from 11 am Tuesday to Sunday from October to December and closed on Tuesdays from January to April. The restaurant is sometimes closed for events, so reservations are a good idea. © Bargain Travel Europe
Find best hotel and travel deals in Bregenz on TripAdvisor
Web Info
Gebhardsberg
These articles are copyrighted and the sole property of Bargain Travel Europe and WLPV, LLC. and may not be copied or reprinted without permission.
SEE ALSO:
NATIVITY SCENE KRIPPENMUSEUM - DORNBIRN
SMALLEST BAROQUE CHURCH - BREGENZ
