Back Stage Visits/Specialist Seminars

Would you like to take a glimpse behind the scenes?
Secrets will be brought to light!

Who would like to go backstage at the Festspielhaus? Or how about seeing television in the making at the SWR broadcasting center? And how do you get the wine into the oddly shaped Bocksbeutel wine bottle.

These and many other companies and cultural institutions, in and around Baden-Baden, allow you to take a glimpse behind the scenes.

More information on these guided tours can be obtained from the Baden-Baden Convention & Visitors Office,

Solmsstraße 1, 76530 Baden-Baden.

Telephone +49 (0) 07221 275281 Fax +49 (0) 7221 275260
E-Mail sales@baden-baden.com

Guided Tour of the Festspielhaus

Europe's second largest Opera House Take a peak behind the scenes of Europe’s second largest opera house and discover more about the internationally acclaimed acoustics. Opened in 1998, this grand, eminent structure combines the Belle Epoch designs of yesteryear with the Avant-garde styles of the present. The tour will take you into the main concert chamber, the backstage area and the rehearsal rooms. You will find out about a host of interesting facts regarding the technical side of things, the history of the building and its unique financing concept. Visiting dates vary according to the performance plan. Tour duration: approx. 1 hour, conducted in German, English and French. Group size: up to 35 persons.

Caracalla Spa and the Friedrichsbad

Water, wellness & well-being! All thanks to the 200,000 gallons of thermal water that surge daily from Baden-Baden’s 23 springs! Discover everything you have ever wanted to know about thermal water and wellness by taking a guided tour of the Caracalla Spa, the Friedrichsbad or the Roman Bath ruins. Find out about how the water is prepared, details on the numerous types of therapies offered at both baths, plus all the technical subtleties. Duration: approx. 45 minutes, conducted in German, English and French. Group size: max. 35 persons per group.

SWR

Broadcasting to the World The SWR broadcasting center in Baden-Baden, idyllically located on the green slopes of the Fremersberg, is a major power house in German broadcasting. It is home to the company’s radio and television stations, plus all their engineering and production activities. SWR are responsible for one sixth of all broadcasts on the ARD channel, Germany’s main terrestrial television station. Programs such as ‘Tatort’ and ‘ARD-Buffet’, for example, which are household words in Germany, are produced in Baden-Baden. If you come to Baden-Baden and turn on the radio in your hotel room, the chances are that you’ll have tuned in to an SWR station. And no, it’s not being broadcast from hundreds of miles away, the signal is actually coming from just around the corner! So while it’s on the doorstep, make the most of this opportunity and witness a broadcasting house in action. And while you are there, snap up a breath of studio air at a live television recording. It is recommended, however, that group visits to the SWR studios are booked at least a month in advance. Duration: 2 to 3 hours, Conducted in German, English and French.

Horse Racing in Iffezheim

Have you ever heard of the Formula 1 of the racing world? The horse racing festivals, in the nearby village of Iffezheim, are the most prestigious in Germany. The ‘Große Preis von Baden’ is the only horse race run on German soil that is part of the Emirates Cup; the Formula 1 of horse racing. The race meetings attract over 180,000 visitors a year. On this tour you will find out about everything to do with horse racing: the racecourse, the sport, the rules and of course the betting. You will probably also pick up a few tips from the jockeys, so it’s unlikely that you will leave empty handed! Duration: approx. 2 hours (6 – 7 hours if all races are included plus the transfer from Baden-Baden).

Tour of the Baden-Airpark

Ascending to Baden-Württemberg's second largest airport The Baden-Airpark is a rapidly expanding industrial estate situated, between the Black Forest and French border, on a former Canadian air base. Its airport is a newly built, state of the art complex covering an area of 270 hectares. It offers daily national flights as well as charter flights to 18 European destinations. With a catchment area of 5.1 million people, it plays an important role in supporting the region’s economy and tourism. The visit includes a tour of all the buildings and open spaces (the runway, hangars, etc.) plus an insight into the future development plans of the airport and the industrial park. Duration: approx. 1.5 hours, conducted in German and English. Group size: 10 to 50 people.

DaimlerChrysler Car Plant in Rastatt

A front row view of the A Class production line At the DaimlerChrysler works in Rastatt you will witness the ins and outs of the Mercedes A-Class production line. This high-tech tour will offer you a fascinating insight into the production of the cars of tomorrow. With the sight of synchronized robots dancing through showers of sparks, it really is a spectacle that should not be missed. Booking well in advance is therefore recommended. Duration: approx. 2 hours, conducted in German and English. Groups of 15 to 35 persons. For special groups (e.g. armed forces, firemen, agriculturalists, special construction firms, etc.) a guided tour of the commercial vehicle production line (UNIMOG) can also be offered. Booking well in advance is also recommended for this tour. Duration: approx. 3 to 4 hours.

Mechanical Room at the Merkur Mountain Railway

A funicular railway with a 54% incline! Find out about the fascinating history of the Merkur Funicular Railway and all the technical facts and figures that go with it. Did you realize that with an incline of 54%, this is one of the steepest and most high-tech railways is Europe? Duration: approx. 1 hour, conducted in German and English. Group size: max. 15 people.

Visit to a Trout Farm

Delicate handling for this special delicacy Ensuring that you savor the delights of a tasty, fragrant Trout Meunière, requires an exceptional high level of quality management at the trout farm. How this is achieved and why the oxygen rich Black Forest water is so important, can all be discovered at this fascinating farm. Duration: approx. 1.5 hours. Group size: max. 30 per group.

Wine Estates & Wine Tasting

The ins and outs of the vine to wine process! Are you interested in wine? Do you also rave about vintage years? If that’s the case, you will have definitely heard of the region’s local classics such as Neuweier Riesling, Varnhalter Klosterfelsen and Affentaler Spätburgunder. A whole host of other sun blessed wines can be discovered by attending a wine tasting in the cellars of one of the renowned Rebland wineries. Whether you are intrigued to find out more about the vine to wine process, or simply wish to enjoy the delights of the finished product, the Rebland is the place for you. Group size: up to 35 people. One wine tasting involves the sampling of 6 wines. Wine dinners and evening events can also be arranged.

Pottery Visit

A visit to a pottery in Alsace Looking over the shoulder of one of the potters at work, should certainly not be missed, and nor should the chance to take a couple of these eye-catching regional pieces back home with you. On this visit, you will find out everything about the special clays, the hand and wheel techniques and the numerous firing processes. Tours are offered to individuals and groups. The journey time from Baden-Baden takes approximately 40 minutes. The tour lasts for around one hour and is conducted in German or French. Why don’t you combine this visit with an excursion to Strasbourg? Baden-Baden Convention & Visitors Bureau Telephone +49 (0) 7221 275241 Fax +49 (0) 7221 275260 E-Mail sales@baden-baden.com

Glass Art

For glass art connoisseurs everywhere! Galerie B, in the Baden-Baden district of Sinzheim, is one of only three galleries in the whole of Germany that specializes in contemporary glass art. Aficionados from all over the world swarm to this gallery to get their hands on these fascinating pieces. Visits are conducted by the owner herself, who will entertain you with facts relating to the history and importance of glass art in Germany and Europe. An introduction to the most influential artists and a tour of the exhibition is also included. Guided tours can be arranged for groups of up to 20 people and for private individuals if advanced notice is given.

Majolika Ceramic Works

An excursion with a difference - And not just for ceramic fans! Peer over the shoulder of famous artists and witness works of art being created before your very eyes. The famous Majolika ceramic works in Karlsruhe, idyllically placed in woodland not far from the Karlsruhe palace, has been producing ceramic art, such as sculptures, vases, pictures and other decorative objects, since the start of the last century. Wander through the Majolika’s history, admire precious works in the Majolika Museum and let yourself be inspired by the ever present artistic flair. After the tour, you can browse around the factory shop and pick out your own favorite piece to display at home. Guided tours take place from Monday to Friday. Duration: approx. 2 hours (4 hours when including the transfer from Baden-Baden).

ZKM - Center for Art and Media

Where did the Algorithm Revolution actually take place? Unique, impressive and inter-active. As a cultural institution, the ZKM is in a class of its own. Opened in 1997, the ZKM consists of the Museum of Contemporary Art, the Media Museum and a Media Library. Venture into the interactive world of art, admire the unique masterworks in media art, take part in the algorithm revolution and dare yourself to go into Frankenstein’s laboratory. It’s a museum of the extraordinary. The complex also includes the Städtische Galerie (City Galley), a café and a museum shop. Duration: approx. 3 hours to and from Baden-Baden. Max. 12 persons per group.

Back Stage Visits/Specialist Seminars

Would you like to take a glimpse behind the scenes?Secrets will be brought to light!

Would you like to take a glimpse behind the scenes?
Secrets will be brought to light!