Bregenz is the capital city of Vorarlberg province in western Austria. Located at the eastern end of Lake Constance, it is a winter and summer tourist centre with a population of 27,236 (1991). During the Middle Ages it was ruled by the counts of Bregenz and the counts of Montfort. The town of Feldkirch is closely linked to the family. Vorarlberg was sold to the Habsburgs in the 16th century.
In the mid-12th century, the Germans imported the troubadour-trouvere tradition giving rise to the minnesinger movement, comprised of aristocratic poet-musicians who cultivated monophonic songs of love (Minne) and other subjects. The movement reached its high point during the mid-13th to early 14th century before yielding to the MEISTERSINGERS in the 15th. Important minnesingers included Hugo von Montfort, and Oswald von Wolkenstein.
Another less plausible version of how the family got it's name is that name turned into Munford or Mumford which was derived from the English word "mum" meaning silent and the German "furt" meaning ford, or one who lives near a quiet river crossing.
Vinobile Montfort is one of Western Austria's biggest wine fair with more than 100 wine growers and 3,000 visitors.
A search of the German
Telephone Directory reveals just four Munfords and a very large public
relations firm.