Bludenz (German pronunciation:[ˈbluːdɛnt͡s]ⓘ; Alemannic: Bludaz) is a town in the westernmost Austrian state of Vorarlberg with around 15.000 inhabitants. It is the administrative seat of the Bludenz District, which encompasses about half of Vorarlberg's territory.
Geography
The town is located on the Ill River, a direct tributary of the Rhine. It is surrounded by the ranges of the Bregenz Forest Mountains in the north, and by the Rätikon and Silvretta ranges in the south. Bludenz lies at the meeting point of five valleys: Walgau and Montafon (Ill), Brandnertal, Klostertal up to Arlberg Pass, and Großes Walsertal.
Bludenz is a popular starting point for hiking and mountain-biking in spring, summer, and autumn. It is located not far from many skiing resorts (e.g., Brand[2] and Lech[3]).
The Alpinale Short Film Festival was founded in 1985 in Bludenz. In August, around 40 international short films are shown to a crowd of 1,000 visitors. Related events are the Alpinale Ländle Tour, the Vorarlberger Short Film Night, and the Horror Short Film Night in autumn.[6][7] The festival has taken place in Bludenz from 1985 to 2002, and from 2020 onwards. Between 2003 and 2019, it was held in Nenzing.[8]
The Brewery Museum Fohrenburg displays the development of the Fohrenburg brewery and beer brewing in Bludenz in general. Historical photographs, old beer bottles and labels, earlier advertising motifs and equipment for beer production allow a look back at more than 130 years of Fohrenburg's brewing history.[9]
Restaurant Muttersberg at the Muttersberg in Bludenz, Vorarlberg (2000). In the background the beginning of the Brandnertal.
The Bludenzer Tage zeitgemäßer Musik is an international contemporary music festival annually held in autumn/winter. It was founded by Hans Peter Frick, later artistic directors were Georg Friedrich Haas, Wolfram Schurig and Alexander Moosbrugger and the young Italian composer, Clara Iannotta, who been responsible for the programme since 2014. Over the years, more than 100 world premieres have been performed in Bludenz.[10][11]
