English

"Festspiele Reichenau" is a top-ranking theatre festival among the Austrian summer cultural events. Its program is based on an outstanding cultural tradition.

Only 70 miles south of Vienna, situated in a scenic mountainous setting, Reichenau has been a traditional summer resort for the Viennese high society since the late 19th century.

Even the Royal family of the Habsburgs had a summer castle in Reichenau as well as the rich Baron Rothschild.

Elegant villas and oldfashioned palace-hotels are reminders of prosperous periods between 1890 and 1930. In these years the area around Reichenau was also a favourite summer retreat for great artists, poets and writers, musicians and scientists.

Famous names like Sigmund Freud, Gustav Mahler, Oskar Kokoschka, Arthur Schnitzler, Stefan Zweig, Franz Werfel etc. are listed among guests and houseowners.

Important parts of their works were written here in this inspiring countryside.

In 1926 a theatre was built in the centre of the village of Reichenau, but the upcoming period of depression and war set a sudden end to summer enjoyment.

Although a "Sleeping Beauty" for some decades, the area has never lost its basic attraction: unspoiled nature, clear water, fresh air and a fascinating landscape with hills and mountains so close to the city of Vienna.

With a special selection of best actors and artists the summer festival "Festspiele Reichenau" has now set a new cultural highlight on top of this natural beauty.

A new fascinating stage-arena ("Neuer Spielraum") was added to the old theatre building in 2005, so that two different plays can be performed at one time under one roof.

Every year thousands of theatre-loving visitors come to Reichenau and Semmering to see excellent presentations of the plays, once written by famous poets in this area.

Performances are in German language only.

Special recitals of music-soloists.

For information about program, tickets please contact our office. English is spoken.