Vorarlberg cities compete for oldest city title

Three cities in the Austrian state of Vorarlberg—Bregenz, Feldkirch, and Bludenz—each hold a claim to being the oldest city in the region, depending on the historical criteria used.

Bregenz possesses the longest continuous settlement history. It was a fortified Celtic settlement around 500 BC and later became the Roman city of Brigantinum in 15 BC, featuring a forum, marketplaces, and a basilica.

Feldkirch holds the distinction of the earliest documentary mention, with the name ‘Feldkirichun’ appearing in a property register in 842 AD. The modern town developed around the Schattenburg castle established by Count Hugo I of Montfort.