Ansitz Mildenberg (Bregenz)

The Ansitz Mildenberg is a two-storey timber-framed house in Bregenz, Vorarlberg. Its steep roof and overhanging upper floor mark it as a former noble residence. The building stands on a gentle slope above the town centre, with the old town and Lake Constance just below. The house has belonged to many owners since the 16th century. In 1546 the Villenbach family lived here; later the Bregenz chronicler Christoph Schalk made it his home between 1608 and 1612. The Deuring family were prominent owners in the 18th century. After a fire in 1975 the damaged rooms were rebuilt using copies of the original panelling and ceiling. Inside, visitors see richly carved door frames and window jambs. The first-floor great window recess was once a viewing balcony for the crossbow guild’s practice sessions. The north-side entrance portal still shows its 19th-century rusticated pilasters and Doric entablature. Outside, the west gable with its double jetty and lion-head ornaments faces the street, giving the house its public face.