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Bregenz is situated on the eastern shore of the lake Bodensee (Lake Constance). On the site of a settlement of the Bronze Age, the Celtic tribe of the Brigantians founded a fortress. Strabon, a Greek geographer, mentions the place as 'Brigantium' in 63 BC. The Romans conquered the fortress in 15 BC and built a garrison which soon became an important trading place. From about AD 450 the Germanic Alemanni began to migrate into the area. The local people were christianized by Irish monks, Columban and Gallus, at the beginning of the 7th century. from 500 to 1150, Bregenz belonged to the Ulrichs who also called themselves Counts of Bregenz. They were followed by the Counts of Montfort. The Habsburg Duke Siegismund bought one half of the town in 1451; the other half was bought by the Habsburgs in 1523. In the times of the Napoleonic Wars the town was part of Bavaria (1805–1814). In 1861 Bregenz became the seat of the provincial parliament (Landtag). Since 1919 it is the capital of the Austrian federal state of Vorarlberg.

The parish church St. Gallus [left] was built in the 14th and 15th century in Gothic style on prior Roman and Romanesque structures. It is believed to be the place where St. Gallus built a church. The interior was remodelled in Baroque style in 1737–1738.

The landmark of Bregenz is the Martinsturm [background centre right, barely visible]. The tower was built 1599–1602. Its 'onion' roof is the largest in central Europe. The chapel of St. Martin in the lower part of the tower dates back to 1361. Frescos of 1361/1362 and of 1420 were discovered in 1914.

A popular excursion place is the Pfänder mountain near Bregenz.