Discover Kennelbach

Get to know Kennelbach through its industrial history, sacred art, and the river landscape of the Bregenzerach. These themes provide a clear framework for planning your trip: depending on whether you are interested in local history, nature, or a cultural event, different sides of the village come to the fore.

Industrial history and change

The village’s history goes back a long way: the former Hirschtal Dominican convent burned down in 1796 in the area of today’s parish church. The development of the textile industry marked a later turning point. The Jenny & Schindler textile mills were founded in Kennelbach in 1838 and were then the monarchy’s largest cotton mill. In 1882, the company introduced electric lighting in Vorarlberg for the first time. These dates show how closely the village’s history is linked to its transformation into an industrial community.

The history of the parish church also reflects this change. Once Kennelbach had become an industrial community, St Joseph the Worker was chosen as its patron; previously, the patron had been John the Baptist. The village’s development and the naming of its church are thus linked by a specific historical context.

Parish Church of St Joseph: Building history and art

The Neo-Gothic Parish Church of St Joseph was built because the old little church had become too small. Construction began in spring 1890, and the church was consecrated on 28 October 1891. Its interior comprises a spacious nave with a wooden ceiling and a large apse. Its artistic features include 13 figurative windows, 11 of which were made by the Tyrolean Stained Glass Institute.

The design of the altar area also brings together different forms of ecclesiastical art: instead of a high altar, it features a carved Nativity scene by Tyrolean artist Josef Bachlechner. The triptych TOWARDS THE LIGHT by Manfred Egender is an example of modern church art. The windows, carvings, and triptych each lend the church a distinctive artistic accent, while the spacious interior provides the architectural setting.

The Bregenzerach and its trails

The Bregenzerach Gorge valley in Kennelbach is part of a Natura 2000 site. In the stretch between the mouth of the Weißach and the Kennelbach weir, the Bregenzerach flows through a relatively narrow gorge. Alongside local history, this striking river landscape is one of the defining features of Kennelbach.

The Weinbergweg trail still connects the village with Langenerstraße and recalls the former viticulture of the Mehrerau and Hirschtal monasteries. All routes on the Känzele via ferrata are reached via the Unterer Känzeleweg and end at the Oberer Känzeleweg. The municipality strives to keep hiking trails and rest benches in the best possible condition. These details give you specific ideas if you would like to include a walk or tour in your stay.

Cultural events and Villa Grünau

At Villa Grünau, you can include cultural events in your travel plans: the programme features concert evenings with classical music from every era, as well as jazz in the park. The Kennelbach Music Association also announces an annual village festival on 4 and 5 July in the villa’s park. If you want to plan your trip around a particular date, check the details of the next event in advance.

Villa Grünau also offers civil wedding ceremonies, non-religious ceremonies, and a reception on its idyllic terrace. Civil wedding ceremonies must be coordinated with the Bregenz registry office. Services are held at St Joseph’s Parish Church at 10:15 on Sundays and public holidays; if this time is important for your plans, check the parish’s latest information.

Discover more destinations: Hörbranz, Egg, Reuthe, Bezau, Hard, Hohenweiler, Schnepfau, Bildstein.

For the broader travel overview: Bregenz.