Imperial Summer Festival at the Stadl-Paura Equestrian Center

A journey back in time to the world of Empress Sisi, historical equestrian art, living cultural heritage, and an open-air children’s movie theater: The Stadl-Paura Equestrian Center invites you to the “Imperial Summer Festival” on August 29, 2026.

In this 200th anniversary year, visitors can look forward to an extraordinary day of events that brings history to life. Under the theme “Tradition Meets Uniform,” the Stadl-Paura Equestrian Center will be transformed into an impressive 19th-century setting.

As traditional riding clubs in historical uniforms and elegant riders in side-saddle bring the grounds to life, the era of Empress Sisi is brought back to life. From 2:00 to 6:00 p.m., historical costumes, traditional equipment, and demonstrations will offer exciting insights into the equestrian culture of bygone eras. With penny-farthing bicycles, picnics in the park, cultural carriage rides, and other historical activities, guests will be immersed in this era. In keeping with the event’s theme, the police will also be on hand with a varied children’s program, inviting young guests to participate and explore.

“Rock my Heart” Summer Movie Theater
A movie theater right in the stable, nestled among hay bales and horses? For many horse-loving children, this is a dream come true. The Equestrian Center is bringing this very vision to life by hosting a summer movie theater in an atmospheric setting. With the horse movie “Rock my Heart,” popcorn, and cotton candy, this eventful day comes to a cozy close. Admission to the movie is 5 euros; children 12 and under get in free. The movie starts at 6:30 p.m. and is suitable for children ages six and up.

Experience a UNESCO World Heritage Site Up Close
Parallel to the Imperial Summer Festival, the traditional “Gegenzug” takes place at the Stadl-Paura Boaters’ Association. This impressive reenactment commemorates a centuries-old method of transport in which horses pulled the salt barges upstream back to Stadl-Paura. The tradition was recognized by UNESCO in 2022 as an Intangible Cultural Heritage. In August, this historic spectacle will be impressively reenacted with a 24-meter-long wooden boat and four strong Noriker horses. You can reserve a spot to ride along by contacting the Stadl-Paura municipal office. Contact: Christian Hager, ch.hager@stadl-paura.at

The combination of historic equestrian culture, vibrant traditions, and a family-friendly supporting program makes August 29 a special experience for the whole family. The event will take place only if the weather is imperial summer weather.