Burgtheater
Standing at the Forefront of Dramatic Arts for German-speaking Countries
The present-day Burgtheater (known locally as the Burg) was built from 1874 to 1888 according to the designs of Gottfried Semper and Karl von Hasenauer. However, the theater traces its roots back to 1741 when an entrepreneur wanted permission to convert a disguised building on the Michaelerplatz into a stage. This new theater struggled to establish itself. Then, Emperor Joseph II founded the Court and National Theater in 1776. It was the first of its kind in German-speaking Europe. The imperial theater became the Burgtheater in 1918. Since it's early years the theater has held a leading position in the dramatic arts for the German-speaking countries. In fact, the 2014/15 season led the Burgtheater to be awarded "Theater of the Year" by the German-language journal "Theater heute". And all this despite receiving a great deal of physical damage during World War II, as well as negative cultural influences. But the true theater spirit will always persevere!
Come visit the Burgtheater to get extraordinary insights into the amazing technology, architecture, organization, and history of this well-known and important theatre. About 13,000 people receive guided tours and traverse the building each year. On your tour, you'll get to see the grand staircases, replete with famous ceiling paintings by Gustav Klimt and his associates Franz Matsch and Ernst Klimt; the inimitable sculpture collection, including busts of prominent playwrights, such as Hauptmann, Schnitzler, Raimund, and Nestroy; the portrait gallery with portraits of supremely important actors; and a grand behind-the-scenes look at the facilities of Europe’s largest theater.
