Feldkirch: Schattenburg castle & old town

Feldkirch was founded around 1200 by the Counts of Montfort and first recorded as a town in 1218; despite several fires the medieval layout survives – the Marktgasse with its arcades, the 40 m Katzenturm tower holding Vorarlberg's heaviest bell (about 8.5 tonnes), the Churer Tor gate, the powder tower and the late Gothic cathedral of St Nikolaus (1478). Above it all sits the Schattenburg, built around 1260 as the Montfort family seat and one of the best-preserved castles in Central Europe. Since 1916 it has housed the local history museum with 18 rooms on three floors – a Gothic chamber, the castle chapel, an arms collection in the 21 m keep – and in the courtyard the Gastwirtschaft Schattenburg serves its famously large schnitzel.

A good day: castle and museum in the morning (April to October daily 10 am–5 pm), Marktgasse at lunchtime, then the wildlife park on the Ardetzenberg or the Montforthaus in the afternoon. Tuesday and Saturday are market days (8 am–noon); July and August bring the poolbar festival. From our house it is about 43 km / 41 minutes via the A14, or take the S-Bahn from Bludenz (every half hour); Feldkirch is also a Railjet stop towards Zurich. The old town is compact and easy on foot; park in the underground car parks in the centre, signposted by the parking guidance system.

Last updated: 13 Sep 2026