A century of "white cross" hospitality...

An unforgettable event takes place every summer at Bregenz, when a breathtaking stage (the largest of its type in the world) floats on Lake Constance opposite the town and hosts artists who take part in an opera accompanied by Vienna's Symphonic Orchestra. After the extraordinary sight of the sun setting over the lake, the night falls softly and a gentle breeze refreshes the 7000 eager spectators. This summer, Puccini's tragic Tosca will be resounding on the banks of the lake.

Once the performance is over, the guests of the Best Western Premier Hotel Weisses Kreuz return to their rooms, strolling along the banks and then up to the historic town. Behind the hotel, the outline of Martin Tower and its distinctive bulbous roof can just be made out.

The hotel is the oldest of Bregenz, which explains both the quality of its location and, above all, its singular elegance. It was built at a time when building permits were only granted for projects likely to significantly enhance the town's beauty. The handsome bourgeois home built in 1873 at Number 5 Römerstrasse is unusual in that it was built at the same time as N°7, of which it is an exact twin. The families of the twin mansions intended their respective children to marry at a later date, at which point the edifices would be merged. True love however decided otherwise and the planned marriage never took place, nor did any architectural fusion. As a result, converted into a hotel, N°5 Römerstrasse was extended upwards with two additional stories (which command stunning views of the lake and the surrounding mountain landscape) instead of being merged with N°7.

Switzerland created the red cross and Austria the white cross, representing welcome and hospitality for the humble pilgrims on the Way of Saint James. The quality of the hospitality extended to travellers by the Best Western Premier Hotel Weisses Kreuz is indeed truly exceptional. The hotel's walls are adorned with the photos of guests who have over the years become genuine friends, returning time and time again, first for the quality of the restaurant and the incomparably comfortable rooms, and then for the quality of the relationships built up with the hotel staff. The Kinz family unostentatiously continues to uphold the tradition of the white cross that has adorned its facade for over a century, focusing more on the quality and good taste of their establishment than on business. The hotel's singular charm and decorative detail are largely responsible for making your stay at the Best Western Premier Hotel Weisses Kreuz unforgettable. The wooden furniture and floors (the region is famous for its huge forests), works of art by local 19th and 20th century artists and the fresco in the Colins Bar by the Gustav Klimt School (Klimt stayed in Bregenz for a time) further enhance this unique impression. Much of the restaurant's furniture is period and it isn't rare to come upon a local regular to the establishment, who is happy to wax lyrical about the various notable events of his or her life that took place within the hotel's walls...

The Pfanderbahn station is just a few minutes from the hotel. The funicular will take you up above the town to an altitude of 1000 metres, from where you can enjoy a 360° panoramic view of Liechtenstein, Switzerland, Germany and Austria. The purity of the air is equalled only by that of the water, which is drinkable. The temperature of the lake's water rises to 26°C, (79°F) in summer, perfect for a dip to cool down and the beaches of Bregenz are among the most pleasant in the region. In this truly exceptional spot, the climate is so mild that Mainau Island, known as the island of flowers and that can be reached by a boat leaving from just near the hotel, is home to a botanic collection, renowned throughout the world, in particular for its roses and dahlias. Today, the island's owners, Count and Countess Bernadotte, are pursuing the work begun by Prince Esterhazy in 1827 and are justifiably proud of their orange and palm trees. These are planted all along the banks of the lake, at the foot of the Best Western Premier Hotel Weisses Kreuz, and their delicate perfume fills the air with heavenly beauty.