Garten der Villa Raczińsky

The garden of the Villa Raczyński sits on the north-west slope of the Gebhardsberg hill in Bregenz’s Dorf district. It was laid out in 1874 as part of a larger park for Count Karl Eduard Raczyński. The villa itself was built between 1875 and 1877 to plans by architect Stephan Tragl. A casino building with billiard rooms and bowling alleys followed in 1880–81, designed by Romed Wacker. In 1904 the Dominikanerinnen moved into the villa from Lauterach and converted it into a monastery with schools. A new wing, the Josefsbau, was added in 1907. The garden remains the setting for classrooms and quiet walks. The whole complex is protected as a historic monument. Visitors find a broad lawn bordered by mature trees and a gravel path that winds past the villa’s south front. The casino building stands at the north-east edge of the garden. A connecting wing links it to the Josefsbau, whose gable niche holds a statue of Saint Joseph from 1907.