Description of the attraction
The Baden City Theater is located in the historic center of this city, in the immediate vicinity of St. Stephen's Church and the spa park. The theater building was built at the beginning of the 20th century.
However, the first theater building appeared in Baden at the end of the 18th century, but it was not particularly popular, although various dining rooms and even billiard rooms were also equipped there. Already in 1811, it was decided to abandon this failed project, demolish the old building and build a new theater. The next construction took about a year, but the new theater, built in the city spa park, was open only during the summer season. Only once in its long history in the city theater there were performances even in winter, and for this it even had to be gas-heated. It happened in 1867.
However, the theater in Baden was still in a deplorable state and in need of constant renovation work. Already at the end of the 19th century, the city authorities decided to build a new theater. The work dragged on for ten years, and the grand opening of the new theater, which has survived to this day, took place on October 2, 1909. One of the overtures by Ludwig van Beethoven, written in Baden, the operetta "The Bat" by the great Johann Strauss, and the tragedy "The Glory and Sunset of King Ottokar", written by the famous Austrian playwright Franz Grillparzer, was performed at this colorful ceremony. This concert program is still used during the ceremonial events taking place in the theater.
The theater building itself is made in the Art Nouveau style - the German version of the Art Nouveau movement. This imposing structure is distinguished by an exquisite colonnaded façade, graceful windows and a triangular pediment with interesting carvings. The stage is decorated in the Art Deco style. The theater now seats over 800 spectators. The area around the theater has been a pedestrian zone since 1973.
