Bad Ischl is Capital of Culture 2024!
High award for the Salzkammergut region
"It is not easy to find the sublime anywhere , the colossal so intimately and touchingly fused with the lovely and idyllic, as here in Bad Ischl". This is how the German journalist and poet Helmine von Chezy described the imperial town of Bad Ischl as early as 1833. Rightly so, as many who have already experienced the cultural centre of the Salzkammergut will agree with this statement. Yet the spa town of Bad Ischl offers much more besides culture: nature, recreation and tradition. It is precisely for this reason that Bad Ischl has officially been chosen as the European Capital of Culture for the year 2024 - with the aim of connecting people through culture.
Europe's showplace in the heart of Austria
In November 2019 the time had come, the municipality of Bad Ischl was awarded the title "European Capital of Culture 2024". More precisely, the award "The Originals 2024 - European Capital of Culture Bad Ischl-Salzkammergut" is an amalgamation of several municipalities in the provinces of Upper Austria and Styria, for which the town of Bad Ischl was selected as the banner town. Between Roitham am Traunfall and Bad Mitterndorf, a total of 23 municipalities are part of this award. This is a premiere, as it is the first time in Austria's history that a municipality in the inner Alpine region has been allowed to call itself a European Capital of Culture. Incidentally, in addition to Bad Ischl, the European jury also named Bodø in Norway and Tartu in Estonia as European Capitals of Culture 2024.
„European Capital of Culture“
The "European Capital of Culture" award, initiated by the Greek Minister of Culture "Melina Mercouri", has been awarded annually by the European Commission since 1985. The main objective of this European project is to make the cultural diversity and commonalities of different cultures within Europe visible and to promote inner-European cultural understanding.
„Project Bad Ischl“
The project team put a lot of thought into the basic idea of the award when designing the concept for Bad Ischl, which is based on the elements of salt and water. Both elements are vital for people and like no other they have shaped and continue to shape the Salzkammergut region and its population for centuries.
Are you also interested in the cultural capital Bad Ischl? The Landhotel Agathawirt in Bad Goisern is the perfect starting point for your visit to the neighbouring town of Bad Ischl - only 12 kilometres away and situated on the beautiful Lake Hallstatt. Send your non-binding enquiry or book conveniently online and look forward to your cultural holiday in the Salzkammergut.
