Vienna City Festival (Wiener Festwochen)
Country: Vienna, Austria
When: 12th May- 18th June 2017
Cost: Each event is priced separately, ranging from around EUR 30-100.
History
The Wiener Festwochen was established in 1951, a time when the city was still occupied by the United States, the Soviet Union, the United Kingdom and France. Born out of the desire to demonstrate “Austria’s will to survive”, and the cultural resilience and rebirth of the city, the Festwochen is a powerful testament to the artistic identity of the Viennese people, and international co-operation in the Arts.
The festival attracts over 180, 000 visitors every year, from all over Europe and the world, and since its inception has become a popular event for any lover of performance arts. Over the five weeks, 39 productions take to the stage, from 20 different countries, to perform drama, dance, and opera. The festival also includes a series of concerts held in the Vienna Konzerthaus, with more than 50 evening performances from international and Viennes orchestras.
The festival strives to present high-quality contemporary stage art, and devotes funding to the kinds of special productions, joint projects and guest performances that ordinarily cannot be realised. On its website, it claims a “love of risk, the commitment to a type of art that may also trigger a productive scandal.”
Festival Videos
Key Highlights
The opening of the festival is not to be missed: taking place outside the City Hall, this open-air concert has free admission and in 2015 was performed by the Vienna Philharmonic.
Where is it
Vienna, Austria
How to get there
The Vienna Festival events are held at various locations throughout the city.
Vienna International Airport is about 16km away from the city centre, with trains and buses available for around EUR 20 return.
Where to stay
The inner city is the best place to stay, with its proximity to the festival events, and its old-world charm. Cheap hotels are around $80-$150 AUD per night, and there are plenty of Air BnB spots available, for around $32 AUD per night.
However, even if you are not in the city centre, Vienna’s public transport system is excellent, and getting around is very easy.
Useful links
http://www.planeteu.com/events/wiener-festwochen/
