What’s New in Central Europe in 2010

Austria

From Mahler to Swarovski, Austria’s brightest symbols glimmer in 2010.

150: Gustav Mahler

With his pioneering compositions and lasting influence, Gustav Mahler (1860–1911) was perhaps the single greatest musical genius of the fin de siècle. 2010 marks his 150th birthday, and 2011 is the 100th anniversary of his death.

Born in Bohemia, Mahler moved to Vienna at age 15 to study piano and composition. He launched his career here, and met his wife Alma (a femme fatale in the classic sense). He directed the Viennese opera for a cool decade. After reforming opera, Mahler made his way overseas to take a directorship of the Metropolitan Opera, but died of heart disease just three years later, in Vienna (where he is also buried.

SalzburgFestival

The undisputed highlight of Austria’s year in music is the Salzburg Festival. In 2010, this festival—one of the world’s most important—turns 90. The entire city, including Salzburg’s baroquely beautiful Old Town, lights up as Hugo von Hofmannsthal's amazing vision comes to life once again. This year, mythology—in all its universal intrigue—is the theme, and will infuse the festival’s ambitious program of operas, concerts and plays.

Vienna: Swarovski Boutique

On December 2, 2009, Vienna received an early gift: a three-story Swarovski boutique. Swarovski Wien boasts a modern interior within a 19th century building. Alongside the sparkling merchandise: exciting crystal art, created by internationally renowned artists.

The illuminated, shifting exterior lures visitors inside. Clear cubes extend into the street space, forming stages for installations by Belgian artist Arne Quinze, and a wide range of Swarovski products. "We chose Vienna for a reason," explains Markus Langes-Swarovski, member of the Swarovski executive board. "It is a city that has served as a melting point between east and west for centuries and as such, it’s a cultural platform—both classically, and as a modern, trend-focused urban centre."

"Vienna as a location reflects our traditional identity as an Austrian/European brand, which in turn, will now also become a fascinating part of Vienna’s identity in all its dazzling variety," adds Andreas Braun, CEO of Swarovski.

The New Sofitel Vienna – An Architectural Highlight

October 2010 sees the opening of Vienna’s newest five-star hotel, located close to the Schwedenbruecke, an important hub between the inner city and Vienna’s up and coming 2nd district. Designed in its entirety by French architect and 2008 Pritzker-Prize winner Jean Nouvel, the hotel will be the newest highlight in Vienna’s collection of architectural masterpieces. The Sofitel is not the first project that connects Mr. Nouvel to Vienna: In 2001, he re-designed Gasometer A, one of four landmark buildings that had been repurposed as modern lining centers.

The Sofitel’s location is ideal for tourists interested in exploring the inner city, and for business travelers requiring proximity to the city’s convention centers. The 18th floor will house a top-tier restaurant with stunning views over the city, as well as a stylish bar.

 

Czech Republic

This picturesque country invites you to follow the trail: to a new herb garden, or of traditional dishes, outdoor activities, or in front of a 600-year-old astronomical clock.

 

600 Years of the Astronomical Clock Orloj

It was 1410 when Prague’s Astronomical Orloj Clock was erected in the city’s Old Town Square. 600 years later, the clock is still fascinating—and extremely relevant.

The clock's astronomical dial shows the positions of the sun and moon in the sky. The twelve inner medallions depict the twelve signs of the zodiac. Every hour, Orloj Clock presents "The Walk of the Apostles", featuring the moving procession of 12 apostles and a skeleton that represents Death.

Taste the Czech Republic

Join us on a delicious culinary journey. CzechTourism has teamed up with the Czech Association of Hotels and Restaurants and the Association of Master Chefs and Confectioners to create a project called “Savor the Czech Republic”. Look for certified restaurants and pubs sporting the “Czech Specials” logo. Master Chefs have chosen sirloin as a symbol of Czech cuisine, but on your travels around the Czech Republic you will discover many other tasty regional dishes. Come taste, and take home these traditional recipes—before this event disappears.
 

New Tiree Chmelar Herb Garden

On May 2010, Valtice Chateau receives the new Tiree Chmelar Herb Garden—part of the E.U.’s “Gardens without Borders.” The garden themes are Medicinal Herbs, Dyer’s Herbs, Culinary Herbs, Mythological Herbs, Aromatic Herbs and Aphrodisiacal Herbs.

Iron Curtain Trail

For almost half a century, Europe was divided into East and West by the "Iron Curtain", a border stretching from the Barents Sea to the Black Sea. The trail starts at the Baltic and continues along the Czech border, giving visitors the opportunity to see historic monuments and museums. The Iron Curtain Trail offers visitors to retrace and experience the former division of the continent on a 4200-mile cycle track along the former border, combining European culture, history and sustainable tourism.
The "Green Belt” consists of 150 natural parks, 150 flora-and-fauna areas, three biosphere reservations and National parks.
 

New Eco Hotels

Two new eco-hotels in the Czech Republic promote kindness toward the environment.
 

Grunt Resort Golf & Ski (Krkonose Mountains)
Respect for the environment and a healthy integration into the surrounding Krkonose Mountains is what makes the four-star Grund Resort Golf & Ski Hotel eco-friendly. But with an interior designed by top Italian design studio Ferrari Pagani Tresoldi Architetti. visitors need not give up luxury. In the summer, there’s a new 18-hole golf course, as well as horseback riding, swimming, cycling and hiking.
 

Adria Eco Hotel
Adria Eco Hotel is Prague’s first hotel to earn the E.U.’s Eco Label. To qualify, the hotel had to meet dozens of mandatory criteria, such as using a wastewater recycling system, obtaining electricity from renewable sources, banning smoking and using long-life lightbulbs. On top of all of that, it is a comfortable place to stay, with young, energetic service. 

 

Germany

This year, Germany presents a major new museum, a landmark exhibition of an amazingly relevant craft, the birthday of Oktoberfest, and a glass-enclosed panoramic hotel.

 

Munich: 200 Years of Oktoberfest

October 12th, 1810 marked the birth of Oktoberfest. Honoring the marriage of Crown Prince (later, King) Ludwig I and Princess Therese of Saxe-Hildburghausen, Oktoberfest began as a horse race. Over the past two centuries, it has been through a metamorphosis—and transformed the way the world drinks beer.
In 1811, a parade was added to the festivities. By the end of the 19th century, brewers had erected the now-familiar beer tents. Now, Oktoberfest is arguably Germany’s most-anticipated event. People of all nationalities gather in Munich to experience this Bavarian tradition, have fun, guzzle overflowing steins, and enjoy local delicacies. A bit of a misnomer, it’s held on the Wies'n fairground from mid-September to early October.
 

Berlin: The New Museum

Following the completion of the Old National Gallery in 2001 and the Bode Museum in 2006, Berlin is gearing up to celebrate the opening of the New Museum. This marks a milestone on Museum Island: for the first time in 70 years, all five museums on the Island will be open.  The New Museum combines the Egyptian Museum, the Papyrus Collection, and part of the Museum of Prehistory and Early History and the Antiquities. The world-famous bust of Queen Nefertiti gazes from the North Cupola into the South—straight through the Niobe Room, the Bacchus Room, and the Roman Room. There, her gaze is returned by two monumental statues that stood in the Egyptian city of Alexandria during the late Roman Empire.
The Museum of Prehistory and Early History offers equally spectacular exhibits, such as the Troy Collection of Heinrich Schliemann and the berlin Goldhut.
 

Meissen: 300 Years of Porcelain

From January to December 2010, a special exhibition entitled “All Nations Are Welcome” showcases 300 years of porcelain craftsmanship by artisanal manufacturer Meissen.
A dwindling art form, lovely and complex porcelain was at its peak in the 18th century due to its vast popularity with diplomats and the European monarchy. Rare and outstanding pieces from that era will be on display, and will clearly distinguish the influence of different cultures and epochs. The exhibit includes “The Great,” a special porcelain highlight commissioned by the Russian Tsarina Catherine II.
The exhibit will also show recent pieces by contemporary Meissen artists—providing a full overview of this stunning, tactile decorative art.
On a related note, “Japanisches Palais” can be seen in Dresden from May to August, 2010. This exhibit showcases Meissen pieces from the first 100 years of the Dresden State Art Collections. These pieces are usually in storage—away from public view. The exhibit will be supplemented by museums and collections around the globe, providing a comprehensive overview of Meissen’s porcelain from the Baroque era to the Biedermeier. Paintings and drawings will place the works in their cultural and art historical context.

Bonn: Kameha Grand Hotel

Gourmet food, an outstanding spa, luxurious rooms, and a panoramic roof terrace—with a pool have justified five stars for this new hotel. But its 360-degree views—filled with hills and valleys—are what make the Kameha Grand unforgettable.
A postmodern wall of glass separates this hotel from the drop of the Rhine River, and the rise of the Siebengebirge hills. When it opened in November, 2009, visitors gasped at the stunning interiors—which include surprisingly spacious rooms, all designed by Marcel Wanders, the Dutch industrial architect. Not only is the hotel visually stunning, it’s also convenient: just 15 minutes by car from Cologne/Bonn Airport, and 40 minutes by train from Frankfurt Airport. 

 

Hungary

All eyes turn toward Hungary this year as the ancient city of Pécs mounts the world stage as E.U.’s cultural capital. There are few cities more visually and historically interesting. Meanwhile, the action in Budapest gets hotter, with a water circus, Europe’s first amphibious tour vehicle, and the city’s newest luxury hotel.

 

Pécs: 2010 European Capital of Culture

As the E.U.’s Capital of Cuture, the spotlight will be on Pécs throughout 2010. The largest city in Transdanubia (southwestern Hungary), Pécs is thoroughly Mediterranean. Christian tombs sit side by side with Turkish mosques—illustrating the city’s ancient multicultural past.
All year long, colorful programs and festivals will be held in the city’s historic sites and buildings. The settings are as exciting as they are surprising, and include early Roman burial chambers, cathedrals and mosques, medieval buildings, and streets paved with stones several thousand years old. Yet the visitor does not get the sensation of a vanished past, since these ancient structures sit comfortably amidst contemporary art forms. The spirit of modern art penetrates into Pécs.
You can only understand the spirit of the city if you visit Pécs and get first-hand experience of the colors, flavors and voices of this unique place.
 

Cinetrip Sparty

A 600-year-old Turkish bath provides an unusually sensual location for Cinetrip Sparty, the world’s only water circus. The party is both difficult to describe—and ever-changing. Visitors bathe in one of four rooms, amidst strange, live acts. Performances range from fire dancers, air acrobats, water ballet dancers and belly dancers—mostly scored by world-class DJs. To go along with the evening’s performance, you can get a drink or a snack…or a massage. And it all takes place against Renaissance-era tiles.
 

RiverRide: Budapest’s Amphibious Tour Vehicle

Gaze at Budapest’s bustling streets from the comfortable seats of a coach called RiverRide. Then, with a splash, your bus slides into the Danube and sails downriver past the city’s World Heritage sites—all while you remain cozy and dry. At the end of the tour, the boat turns back into a bus.
 

Budapest: Hotel President

As of October 2009, Budapest’s bustling heart is home to the Hotel President, an affordable example of Central European luxury. If it weren’t for the designer rooms, this place would be straight out of “Bourne Identity,” complete with a bulletproof Presidential Suite and a rooftop helicopter landing pad. The Hotel President also boasts one of central Europe’s most advanced wellness centers, a conference room that accomodates 200, and a room strictly dedicated to the city’s bright panorama.

 

Poland

The country that gave us Chopin marks a major bicentennial celebration this year. But it’s not all trills and mazurkas: in southern Poland, one can descend into a real-live coal mine.

 

Chopin 2010: Bicentennial of a Composer’s Birth

Frederic Chopin requires no introduction. Therefore, on the eve of the bicentennial of the great composer’s birth, Monika Strugala anticipates that the world’s love for Chopin will serve to promote Poland and Polish culture—as well as vice versa.
Ms. Strugala is coordinating “Chopin 2010,” which commemorates the 200th anniversary of his birth on March 1, 1810, in a tiny village called Zelazowa Wola (20 miles west of Warsaw). The countrywide celebration will last for nearly a year, and include the country’s national dances—scored by Chopin’s famous polonaises and mazurkas. The festival culminates in October, with the International Frederic Chopin Piano Competition held in Warsaw.
 

Project Chopin: A Breakthrough Film

As Poland commemorates its most famous composer’s 200-year serenade to the world, BreakThru Films, producer of the Oscar-winning “Peter & the Wolf,” develops an extraordinary film project: a cinematic love letter inspired by—and featuring—Chopin’s music. The 85-minute film combines live action with animation in a series of 24 shorts. Initial storyboards were presented in Cannes, France, during the MIDEM Fair in January, 2009. The so-called Project Chopin, co-produced by Se-Ma-For Studios, opens in August 2010.

Zabrze: Industrial City

What would it be like to work in a coal mine—and experience the depth, the isolation, the danger and thrill?
Experience it nearly firsthand, inZabrze. This industrial city in southern Poland’s Upper Silesia (60 miles west of Krakow) is a cradle of the European coal mining industry. Its oldest coal mines—Krolowa Luiza and Guido—remain operational, and include machines nearly a century old—whose age has been verified by the United Nations World Tourism Organization (WTO). Those very mines have been converted into fascinating—and vividly live—underground museums.
The museums are part of The Industrial Monuments Route of Upper Silesia, a route which includes 31 points of interest, from mining and metallurgy, to electricity generation, to railways, communications, and water and food production—gold for a history buff or armchair scholar of the way humans lived.
 

Hilton Garden Inn, Krakow

Two milestones at once. In spring of 2010, Poland gets its first Hilton Garden Inn, and the brand ticks off its 500th hotel. The Inn—situated in central Krakow—will offer 154 rooms on six floors, all featuring Hilton’s Garden Sleep System(TM) bed, ergonomic Mirra(R) chair by Herman Miller, a 24-hour business centre and complimentary high-speed Wi-Fi Internet access. A stylish lobby and reception area will feature a lounge area and bar, as well as the Hilton Garden Inn 24-hour Pavilion Pantry(TM), which provides an array of food and beverages. A contemporary restaurant will also offer made-to-order breakfast, lunch, dinner, and evening room service.

 

Slovakia

A future cultural capital, a UNESCO site, and an unusual folklore festival capture the essence of one of Central Europe’s lesser-known destinations.

 

Košice: Preparing to be E.U.’s 2013 Capital of Culture

Slovakia’s second largest city, Košice is in the center of the country’s eastern region. Hlavné square is the heart of Košice, and rightly considered one of the most beautiful squares in all of Slovakia. The square contains a dense patch of historical monuments—the most valuable monuments of which are in the center. Dominating the square and town is the Gothic Cathedral of St. Elisabeth. Košice successfully implemented project INTERFACE 2013 and became the European Capital of Culture for 2013. 
 

Levoča: New Slovak Heritage Site Makes UNESCO

The city of Levoca is often considered the brightest jewel in the crown of Spis region. There is the world’s tallest wooden Gothic altar, and other quirky and unusual monuments worth writing home about.
But the focal point of ancient Levoca is the large Namestie Majstra Pavla Square. In its center stands the Roman-Catholic St. Jacob Church, a 14th century monument and one of Slovakia’s most beautiful sacral buildings. The church’s tall, slender 19th century tower is the most distinct feature in Levoca’s silhouette, and now it makes UNESCO’s list of heritage sites. 
 

Janosik’s Days Folklore Festival

Juraj Janosik, otherwise known as the Slovak Robin Hood, became Slovakia’s greatest legend—frequently depicted in films, paintings, and literary and dramatic works. Like his English counterpart, Janosik is commonly believed to have stolen from the rich to give to the poor, and for that reason, he is eternally beloved.
The Janosikove dni—held in early August in Terchová (Janosik’s birthplace)—is an original folkloric festival celebrating this legend. In 2010, the festival features "Janosik: True Story," a film that attempts to de-mystify the legend of Janosik with a first-time telling of the man’s real story. 
   

Bratislava: Kempinski Hotel River Park

On the border of both Austria and Hungary, Bratislava is accustomed to being a hybrid. Its rich history is apparent in the plethora of monuments and the winding cobblestoned streets, yet the attitude of the city is thoroughly young, hip, and modern.
Opening May 2010, the newest Kempinski Hotel reflects the city’s vibve. Centrally located under Bratislava Castle and within easy walking distance of Old Town, the hotel will be part of Bratislava’s ambitious "River Park" development. The hotel is also located on the banks of the Danube River, which are being revived as a bustling social center.