...Bad Ischl and the Salzkammergut as its Capital of Culture. For the first time in history, the prestigious title was awarded to an inner-Alpine, rural region. The result is a cultural region that has reinvented itself through the interplay of art, culture, business and tourism. With a programme fed by international impulses that brought new voices and perspectives to the Salzkammergut. and tourism. With a programme fed by international impulses that bring new voices and perspectives to the Salzkammergut.
Europa is a Phoenician king's daughter of Greek mythology. She fell in love with the god Zeus, who approached her in the form of a bull. Today, Europa and the bull are a symbol of a united Europe.
The Salzkammergut boasts a vast wealth of fascinating stories, places and people in a spectacular landscape. The influences of salt, water and wood combined to create this multifaceted region, where the history of salt mining began 7,000 years ago in Hallstatt. The salt trade has supported the region, enriched it and connected it to the world; powerful and wealthy people have been attracted to the area; and the invention of the summer retreat has transformed the Salzkammergut into a dream tourist destination. Today, the historic cultural landscape of the Inner Salzkammergut is on the UNESCO World Heritage List.
Four programme strands
The programme for the 2024 Capital of Culture Bad Ischl–Salzkammergut highlights opportunities for shaping our future in four key areas.
23 towns and villages
23 communities in the provinces of Upper Austria and Styria make up the Capital of Culture region: the flagship town of Bad Ischl, Altaussee, Altmünster, Bad Aussee, Bad Goisern, Bad Mitterndorf, Ebensee am Traunsee, Gmunden, Gosau, Grünau im Almtal, Grundlsee, Hallstatt, Kirchham, Laakirchen, Obertraun, Pettenbach im Almtal, Roitham am Traunfall, St Konrad, Scharnstein, Steinbach am Attersee, Traunkirchen, Unterach am Attersee, Vorchdorf.
Traditions are kept alive and well in the Salzkammergut. They take in a wide range of activities, from music, crafts, customs, theatre and literature to inn culture. Culture is constantly changing, born out of social processes – sometimes even out of acts of protest. Recognising the roles played by power and tradition is vital when it comes to understanding and respecting local and global identities as they evolve.
From its roots in the 19th-century concept of the summer retreat, tourism has grown into a vital industry in the Salzkammergut. “Sharing Salzkammergut – the Art of Travelling” explores the myriad challenges as well as the opportunities for enhancing the high-quality tourism offer. It also seeks answers to the question of how the Alpine region can be made attractive in ways unconnected to tourism, especially outside the summer and winter seasons.
Customs, traditions and a shared language are resources that are available to everyone. Culture and cultural identity never stand still. It goes without saying that culture is in motion. It embraces new developments and makes a region and its people strong and well-equipped for the future. It recognises diversity as a strength that allows us to learn from each other, to develop and to rise to new challenges.
A challenge faces the rural Alpine region: what can be done so that people can make a life in the countryside but also be connected and work globally? “Globalocal – Building the New” is all about imagining the world of tomorrow, developing strategies and exploring intergenerational tensions. Young people are the focus when it comes to promoting cultural and creative diversity in the Salzkammergut region and making it an attractive place to live for all ages.
