Thurn-und-Taxis Park, Bregenz

Thurn-und-Taxis Park began as the garden of a villa built in 1848 for a local jewelry manufacturer. In 1884, Prince Gustav von und zu Thurn und Taxis purchased the property and, in 1887, expanded it to about 1.6 hectares. The Thurn und Taxis family is known for establishing a public postal service in the 16th century and operating European postal networks until 1867.

The property has belonged to the city since 1915. Under monument protection since 1929, the park has kept its 19th-century landscape style, with curved paths, open lawns, and mature trees. It is one of the larger public gardens on Lake Constance. Since 1953, the palace has housed Künstlerhaus Bregenz, a centre for contemporary art and the seat of the Professional Association of Fine Artists of Vorarlberg.

One of the park’s special features is its arboretum. Around 78 types of conifers and 33 types of deciduous trees grow here, including rare species such as the handkerchief tree from China. Many of the trees are over 100 years old. In 2016, panels were added to show their origin and age. The park is open all day and is mostly wheelchair accessible, though the historic palace is not barrier-free.