2011 in Central Europe: New Faces, Races, & Places

2011 in Central Europe: New Faces, Races, & Places

A new year brings new energy to Berlin, Munich, Salzburg, Vienna, Budapest, and Bratislava. From Botticelli to Schiele, hockey stadiums to Jewish games, and open-air rock concerts to open-air opera, see what 2011 has in store.

Berlin

2011 brings Donatelli, Botticelli, and more to Berlin.

125 Years. What a success story. The Kurfürstendamm celebrates its 125th anniversary. Originally constructed as a bridle path between the former city palace in Mitte (´Berlin Stadtschloss´) and the hunting lodge at Grunewald, the Kurfürstendamm was at the center of commerce, behind the Iron Curtain. Today, it’s one of Berlin’s best known and loved shopping boulevards. The celebrations start on May 5, 2011. More

Faces of the Renaissance. From August 25 to November 20, Berlin’s Bode-Museum houses a new exhibition on the early Renaissance portrait, arranged by the Gemäldegalerie in cooperation with New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art. The exhibition presents the history of portrait painting in Florence, Venice, and the Italian courts. It features works by Donatello and Botticelli. More

All-Inclusive Berlin. Would you rather fill your stay in Berlin with outdoor adventure? Or are you longing for the opposite: a holiday full of nothing but rest and needed relaxation? Are your primary interests shopping and spas? Or historical sights? All of our ‘Experience Berlin’ packages are designed to customize your visit to the bustling German capital—and help you navigate through it. More

 

Bratislava

Bet you didn’t know: Ice hockey is big in Bratislava. It’s about to get bigger.

Hockey Town. If Slovakia is a hockey republic, then Bratislava, its capital, is a hockey town. Bratislava is already preparing for what could be the country’s biggest ever sporting event: Ice Hockey IIHF World Championships (April 29-May 15). Ondrej Nepela Hockey Arena, the city’s arena, is currently undergoing total renovation. On May 15, the stadium will open its doors—just in time for the gold medal finals. More

Re-Opening of Old Town Hall. Spring will mark the completion of the renovation of Old Town Hall, the city’s most beloved historic landmark. Visitors and residents alike will be able to visit the Municipal Museum’s collections and exhibitions for the first time in five years.

Bratislava Jazz Days. One of Europe’s longest-running and most prestigious music festivals returns to Bratislava in October. Begun in 1975, Jazz Days has welcomed scores of established and up-and-coming world class acts.

Photography Month. November 2011 marks Photography Month. A series of exhibitions and events will cover all aspects of the art form, from photojournalism to photoshopping. Among the highlights is the World Press Photo 2011 exhibition.

Hotels You Know. Over 60 Bratislava hotels, including new five-star Kempinski and Sheraton hotels, can be easily booked for guaranteed rates. Early in the year, a new Accor's Hotel Mercure, a four-star property with 175 rooms and suites, is set to open near the main train station. More

  

Budapest

2011 brings new benefits to the Budapest Card, for the same low price. Warmer weather brings wine, art, and music to the city’s beautiful outdoors.

Budapest Card Keeps Getting Better. The Budapest Card is a must-buy for visitors. The card is valid for 48 or 72 hours, and offers more than 150 unique Budapest discounts. In 2010, we added a walking tour of Buda and Pest: free with the purchase of a card. The tour proved so popular that in 2011, we’ve added another appealing trip. A 70% off a boat trip through the city. The card remains available for a low price. More

Spring Festival. Spring starts off with a bang in Budapest. The Budapest Spring Festival (March 18-April 3) will feature artists from all over the world, performing in the city’s most beautiful cultural spots. This year, we’ll also feature exciting exhibitions of local art, street parades, and more. The Spring Festival’s twin is the Spring Wine Festival of Budapest. Fresh wines flow in City Hall Park (April 23-25). More

All of Budapest looks forward to the city’s biggest free, open-air concert. It hasn’t yet been revealed which international star will take the stage during Connection Day Concert (June 25). But sign up today to find out. More
 

Dresden

The Jubilee exhibition and the “Zwingerfestspiele” are two highlights in Dresden’s Zwinger palace in 2011.

Jubilee Exhibition. The Gold of Hercules – The Dresden Zwinger as an Orangery is the title of the Jubilee exhibition being held to mark the 300th anniversary of the start of building work on the Dresden Zwinger. It is on show daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. until 31 March 2011 in the North-West Bogen gallery next to the Nymphs’ Bath.

The Zwinger. The Dresden Zwinger is now among the most magnificent baroque buildings in Germany. With its pavilions and galleries, the “Crown Gate”, the “Nymphs’ Bath” and not least the French-style gardens in the courtyard, the Zwinger is an oasis for every visitor to Dresden. The name “Zwinger” is taken from fortification architecture and refers to the original location of the building outside the city walls. However, August the Strong gave this part of the fortifications a new role. The Zwinger pond, the remains of the old fortress moat, is a reminder of its former function. More

Zwingerfestspiele. The Zwinger courtyard, as a garden and orangery, was the setting for courtly festivities. The galleries lined with balustrades, figurines and vases constitute a baroque synthesis of the arts in which architecture and sculpture are inextricably combined. In August 2011, the Zwinger will host the famous Zwingerfestspiele. More

Munich

From slalom skiing to fairytale kings, the sparkling capital of Bavaria has lined up a calendar packed with excitement for 2011.

World Cup. On January 2, Munich kicks off the year with the Alpine Ski World Cup. The world’s best parallel slalom skiers compete at Olympic Park: right in the city center.

Ice People. A few weeks later (January 28-30), Olympic Park decks itself in ice for the Winter Sports Festival. The following week (February 3-13), the same venue hosts Air & Style, the year’s most anticipated snowboard event. This is accompanied by the family favorite, Holiday on Ice.  More

Cars. From January 27 to late June, the Munich’s Deutsches Museum celebrates the 125th anniversary of the automobile. The original gasoline-powered vehicle has long been part of the Deutsches Museum’s collection. This year, the Transportation Center dedicates this special exhibition to inventor Karl Benz and the industry’s rough beginnings.

Fairytale King. At the height of the industrial age, King Ludwig II reigned as the Fairytale King. From May 14-October 16, Bavarian royal drama comes to life in a special exhibition dedicated to the monarch. Treasures from Munich’s royal palaces will be on display at Herrenchiemsee’s New Palace (just outside Munich). Visitors can also sign up for guided tours to the king’s secret hideaways.

Midsummer Dream. Summer sunshine brings open-air concerts to Odeonsplatz, an outdoor Italian-style piazza. On July 16 and 17, visitors can sit under the stars, surrounded by grand baroque buildings, and listen to music performed by the Bavarian Radio Symphony and the Munich Philharmonic.

Memory Loops. All year long, visitors can visit a virtual memorial for the victims of National Socialism. Go to memoryloops.net to listen to audio works of art, featuring voices and music plotted on a digital map.
 

Salzburg

Sound of Music comes home to Salzburg! A true story that touched millions, Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Sound of Music is the story of 20th century Austria. Now, the musical lands on ‘home’ turf—to the Salzburg Landestheater

Sound of Music Homecoming. True. Sound of Music the play was created by Americans, and produced and premiered stateside.
Still, the resonant story of Maria and Georg von Trapp, and their seven (at the time) lovely children is inextricably linked to the rolling hills and quaint metropolis of Salzburg. It is the story of 20th century Austria. That’s why it’s big news that this musical is coming home.

Based on The Story of the Trapp Family Singers, the memoirs of Maria Augusta von Trapp, Sound of Music made its world premiere on Broadway in 1959. The film, directed by Robert Wise, and starring Julie Andrews and Christopher Plummer, followed six years later.

On October 23, 2011, the Salzburg Landestheater celebrates both—on home turf here in Salzburg.

Book today for the Sound of Music re-debut. 680 seats are available in 8 price categories. Seats are expected to sell out fast.

For rates, contact Miss Melanie Müller, mueller@salzburger-landestheater.at
www.salzburger-landestheater.at.

 

Vienna

2011 brings central Europe’s first Shangri-La, a pair of Schiele exhibits, the European Maccabi Games (Jewish sporting event) and more to Vienna.

Central Europe’s First Shangri-La. 2011 marks the debut of Austria’s first Shangri-La hotel. The luxury Asian hotel chain opens its newest five-star hotel inside a historic building complex on the Ringstrasse boulevard. Also, the five-star Hotel im Palais Schwarzenberg is scheduled to reopen in 2011 with a new look—post renovation. Shangri-La, Schubertring 5-7, 1st district, More

Shiele: Portraits, Life & Legacy. With Gustav Klimt and Oskar Kolkoscha, Schiele was one of the leading artists of the Vienna Modern Age. A pair of major exhibitions dedicated to Egon Schiele will premiere in the Austrian capital next year. The Belvedere is gearing up for a large-scale show dedicated to his work, with a special focus on his portraits and self-portraits (Feb 17-Jun 13, 2011). The Leopold Museum in the Museumsquartier will mark its 10th anniversary with a look at Egon Schiele’s life and legacy (Sep 22, 2011-Jan 9, 2012). More

Opera Broadcast. As with last year, the Vienna State Opera will broadcast selected performances live and free of charge on a giant screen outside the Opera House. The broadcasts will occur throughout May and July, and September and October. More

Jewish Games. For the first time, European Jewish sports stars clash in Vienna. From July 5 to 13, the European Maccabi Games is expected to bring over 2,000 athletes to the city, competing in over 15 sports. The event kicks off with a spectacular opening ceremony on City Hall Square. More

American Football. On July 15 and 16, the final games of the American Football World Championship will take place at Vienna’s Ernst Happel Stadium. More