Au is a town in the Bregenz Forest in Vorarlberg (Austria). Geography The town belongs to the Bregenz Forest, is part of the district of Bregenz, and lies in the Upper Bregenz Forst. 40 percent of its 45 km² area is covered with forest, 34.4% of the area is used as alpine pasture (Almwirtschaft) and for other forms of alpine agriculture. The town itself is unlike most others in the area, as it has no real center. Au is an example of a "scattered village" (German: Streudorf). It consists of several districts: Am Stein, Argenau, Argenstein, Argenzipfel, Jaghausen, Kreuzgasse, Lebernau, Lugen, Lisse, Rehmen, Schrecken, and Wieden. The town hall is located in Argenau, but the parish church is located in Jaghausen. The district of Rehmen also has its own church. The river Bregenzer Ach, the largest river in the region, flows through Au and divides it into two parts: The one part is called Schattseite (meaning “shady side”), and consists of the districts of Argenau, Argenzipfel and Wieden; the other part is called Sonnseite (meaning “sunny side”) and consists (mainly) of Rehmen and Schrecken. Alongside the river runs the L200 road, which is the main route through the Bregenz Forest. History From 1805 to 1814, Au belonged to the Kingdom of Bavaria, but was then returned to Austria. Au has belonged to the province of Vorarlberg since the latter’s foundation in 1861. After World War II, Au was included within the French Occupation Zone of Austria. The occupation lasted from 1945 until the Austrian State Treaty was signed in 1955. The occupation force also included many Moroccan soldiers serving in the French army. Population Politics The town council of Au, called Gemeinderat, consists of 18 members, all of them members of the Auer Liste. The current mayor is Andreas Simma. Culture In 1651, the Auer Zunft (Guild of Au) was founded in Au by Michael Beer. It is an association of builders, sculptors and carpenters. In Au-Schoppernau from 1670 to 1700, more than 90 percent of all male workers were builders. Master builders and craftsmen from the Bregenz Forest in particular, but also from other parts of today's Vorarlberg, played a leading role in the 600 churches and monasteries that were built in the Baroque style in the 17th and 18th centuries. Members of the Guild of Au received 60 percent of the more than 700 major construction contracts awarded