A crossover concert of the Beethoven Philharmonic Orchestra and a rock band from Baden, now that has never happened before. “I was allowed to make a wish,” smiles our host and tourism director Klaus Lorenz at this year’s blogger event with dear colleagues from the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Germany and Austria. And he tells us about the initial discussions, the uproars of protest, the excitement – and finally, the event itself, which had thousands of guests (including us!) rocking in the Baroque Orangerie of Baden on 3 June 2023, making headlines well beyond Baden.
But, one step at a time.
Where exactly is Baden (except near Vienna) and what makes this small town so extraordinary, a small town previously known mostly for past imperial glory and quiet visitors to its many spas? We discuss what’s happened with one of Baden’s official Austria Guides. It’s an interesting transition for sure!
Our Austria Guide Emilie meets us at St. Stephan’s Church …
… and right beside, the first stark contrasts existing in Baden appear: Larger-than-life size photo exhibits of the annual Photo Festival La Gacilly Baden.
Emilie also shows us “the origin of Baden”, the hot sulphur springs which were already discovered by the Romans and led to the construction of a town here, about 40 kilometres from Vindobona (Vienna).
My advise is that you check out not only this Statue of the Holy Trinity shown here, in downtown Baden …
… but also this picture only a few steps away (in Herwig Gasser’s backyard), one of the largest photo installations in Baden!
This year’s photo festival motto: “Orient”. Travel and explore!
For the sixth time since 2018, the largest European photo festival La Gacilly takes place in Baden near Vienna. The event originated in La Gacilly in Brittany, France, and is now celebrating its 20th anniversary there.
Every year, the photo festival highlights some of the most pressing issues of our time, such as climate change or the refugee crises, and focuses on a specific region of the world – in 2023, it’s the “Orient”.
I love wandering through this exhibition, which pays tribute to the world’s best photographers with truly haunting images. Once again, I realise how incredibly privileged we are. And of course, since I now have young children of my own, the images of the families shown here, the women and children, move me in particular.
Check this out.
Well hello there, you beauty. I really hope you are not being married off to anyone against your will?
The images from the Orient stand in stark contrast to the green idyll that is Baden near Vienna …
… this artist from Iran asked other artists to paint in destroyed, bombed-out places – and then photographed them with their work …
… “Persian Identities” all wait to be discovered by you in Baden near Vienna this year …
… I also love this picture at the public parking Römertherme in Baden …
… and for me, the epitome of absolute madness is this picture of a child’s wedding where the best friends and siblings accompany the young bride who will soon live in the house of her family-in-law.
And then, you turn and watch an all too familiar scene in Baden’s Doblhoff Park, which catapults us back into another world. Freedom and the right to self-determination are unfortunately still not “normal”, especially for women.
So take your time, and even better, one of Baden’s wonderful Austria Guides, and treat yourself to a guided visit through La Gacilly photo exhibition in Baden near Vienna! It’s worth it, I can assure you.
Now turn up the volume: On roses, rock musicians and philharmonics!
On the day of the crossover concert in Baden, I started off with taking it very easy. Well, I did work up a bit of a sweat jogging, but now I have this tip for you: Go for a run (or walk) through the Baden Rosarium rose gardens early in the morning. Shortly after 7.00 a.m. there are hardly any other people around (dog-walkers only); in addition, there is the unbelievable scent of thousands of roses, which has a particularly fresh and intense effect in the morning when it is still nice and cool.
Selfie as if proving: Jogging, roses + photo festival goes well together, here in Baden near Vienna.
After breakfast, it’s the lovely Christine Triebnig-Löffler, for me one of the best and most charming Austria Guides in the city of Baden, who walks us through the Baden Rosarium. Christine adds what we didn’t know about the 700+ rose varieties of the rose gardens. She explains that there is a rose bush for almost every Baden resident (about 25,000 of them grow and thrive around here). Wow!
To obtain this kind of fan rose, whose inner rose petals are “held together” by the outer ones, it took many many breeding efforts …
… we walk around and marvel at a blooming splendour whose origins date back to the 15th century.
Of course, the rose gardens are THE ideal spot for taking photographs …
… being well known across the borders now, as even my friend Cindy from Canada asked to come here when visiting last year!
Hanging around the “Mammoth Tree” in Baden near Vienna is always a good idea, I say.
But now I don’t want to keep you hanging any longer. Only a few hours after our visit to the rose gardens, the Baden rock band Stereoparty, the Beethoven Philharmonic Orchestra and folk opera singer Juliette Khalil transform the stage in front of the Baden Orangery into a sound experience of its own.
And somewhere between groovy rock guitar sounds, bombastic saxophone solos, powerful orchestral sound and a spectacular light show in front of the baroque Orangery, next to large-format photos of La Gacilly photo festival, the city of Baden near Vienna shakes off even the last whiff of a dusty spa town image.
#Crossover2023 in #BadenBeiWien , you were amazing !!
We get to know the Baden Philharmonic Orchestra on stage.
Soon, the groovy sounds of the Baden rock band Stereoparty mingle with the orchestra, merging into a unique, well, crossover! For a good hour and a half we are blown away by this performance.
Such a feast for the senses should be offered much more often. THANK YOU all so much for taking to, and rocking the stage!
Wine Tasting at the Hauervinothek Baden
But that’s not all. Because our international guests and friends still have to taste and get to know the typical wines from Baden and the surrounding wine region Thermenland! Toni Habres is the man for this, welcoming us to his Badener Hauervinothek and offering five wine tastings.
Zierfandler is an original, autochthonous white wine variety from Austria that is grown almost exclusively in the Thermenregion around Baden and Gumpoldskirchen.
But it’s not only the wine we enjoy: The wine shop Badener Hauervinothek has this former gothic chapel to marvel at.
Thank you so much, dear Toni (far right), dear Klaus (centre) for welcoming us to your town Baden near Vienna!
Baden becomes e-mobile!
And as if all of the above were not enough, Baden is also going the extra mile when it comes to electro-mobility. Closing the famous last mile, i.e. the travel section between the last possible means of public transport and the respective accommodation, is a particular concern of our host and tourism manager Klaus Lorenz.
I too think it should be MUCH MORE NORMAL to have access to e-mobility when travelling – whether it’s the e-bike, the e-car, the e-scooter or the shuttle service between train stations and the city. Thanks to a cooperation with the Austrian railway’s wegfinder app, this is already working very well in Baden near Vienna.
The goal? “To leave your car behind, and still be able to travel around our destination freely and without any inconveniences: Either walking, or with e-scooters, e-bikes, e-cars or whatever. Our guests are prove that this works every day”, says Klaus. I’m sure he already has the next vision in mind!
Talking to a young team of representatives of the wegfinder app at the E-Mobility Days in Baden near Vienna.
This shuttle is set to close your last mile in Baden. You can book it via the wegfinder app or the ÖBB Austrian railway company’s homepage …
… it has become normal to rent e-bikes in Baden near Vienna, and very popular, too.
More travel tips for organising your stay in Baden near Vienna.
Now I already know a few hotels in Baden, but the Hotel Herzoghof has by far the most beautiful breakfast room. It’s a time travel in (art) history to have breakfast there, and we got late almost every day by just sitting in and looking at the wonderful atmosphere.
Beautiful breakfast room at the Hotel Herzhoghof in Baden …
… I also love the views from my room over the Casino Baden and its Congress Centre. Wow!
If you’re headed to “the best Italian restaurant in town”, Ristorante Il Cavallino, be sure to order Pizza Buffala. It was a wonderful restaurant experience, and yes Klaus, you were absolutely right about recommending it to us!
Il Cavallino restaurant in Baden near Vienna.
If you want to wine and dine in style (and well!), then Dinner at Casino Baden is the place to go. You don’t need to register if you only go there for dinner, it’s just when you want to enter the Casino Baden itself. During the summer months, we sit outside on the terrace, enjoy the chill-out vibes of the spacious lounge and of course, the good food of the various casino menus.
Dinner at the Casino Baden near Vienna.
Before you leave Baden, I can recommend – depending on the weather and your mood – a visit to the Strandbad Baden or the Römertherme Baden Spa Centre. The latter is just as suitable for families as it is for us single travellers. I have published more details about a half-day or day visit to the thermal baths for you here.
A view of the Römertherme Baden Spa Centre.
Check out even more travel photos, festival impressions and ideas for your next visit to the city of Baden here:
Besides, I have already written the following articles about Baden near Vienna and its wider area, helping you to get organised and inspired:
- There’s an annual food festival in Baden, near Vienna, that you simply cannot afford to miss.
- #BadenInWeiss: White Summer Party in the Imperial City of Baden near Vienna
- City Escape: Baden near Vienna beckons your visit
Disclaimer: We have been invited by the city of Baden on this trip to visit #LaGacilly photo festival as well as all other events. All opinions are my own.