Lots of jazz and the longest castle in the world
Every year in spring, the Bavarian town of Burghausen becomes a metropolis for jazz fans. Since 1970, the International Jazz Week has been one of the most significant music festivals worldwide. Over the years many prominent artists have performed in the small town by the river Salzach.
The next festival will take place from the 6 to the 11 March 2018. There will be large concerts featuring the stars of the scene as well as the opportunity for musicians to play in the many local pubs and bars. In June there will be a follow-up to the festival at the “Summer Jazz Night”, and regular jazz courses are organised throughout the year.
Burghausen has even created a “Street of Fame”, where concrete slabs have been set into the street bearing the names, signatures and information about the lives of past guests to the festival. Prominent names include Dave Brubeck, Chick Corea and Ella Fitzgerald.
Burghausen boasts another attraction: the longest castle in the world. The castle is fully preserved and more than a kilometre long – 1,051 metres to be precise. A narrow mountain crest above the town supports a long row of battlements, towers, chapels and walls. This is the home of museums and groups of artists that organise exhibitions, concerts and plays. The historical castle festival takes place on the second weekend in July. For three days, visitors can immerse themselves in the world of the 16th century. A highlight of the festival is the parade, where more than 1,500 people dress up in historical costumes.
Below the castle is the listed historical old town with its charming alleyways and market squares. The bourgeois houses, typical of the region near Austria, are a particularly remarkable feature. Their facades are painted in various pastel colours, with hues ranging from soft to vibrant. There are several idyllic beer gardens in the town square and the pedestrian streets are full of charming crafts shops, galleries, bars and restaurants.
A particularly enjoyable experience is a ride on one of the old flatboats. In the Middle Ages, these were used to transport salt, whilst today they are a tourist attraction used to see the town from the water.
The town has been populated for thousands of years, as findings from the bronze and iron ages as well as the Celtic and Roman eras tell us. Burghausen was first mentioned in writing in 1025.
Burghausen is situated 100 kilometres east of Munich and 50 kilometres north of Salzburg in Austria. The town is worth visiting even if you don’t like jazz. The atmosphere is so friendly that you will want to stay for a while – perhaps in the newly renovated youth hostel. All rooms have recently been modernised and equipped with en-suite bathrooms. The entire youth hostel has been redesigned for easy access and the reception area gives guests a taste of the nearby countryside. The hostel bistro with its conservatory is a popular meeting place for hostel guests.
The
youth hostel is equipped with 146 beds in 36 rooms and is situated close to the Salzach and the old town and has a large leisure area with table tennis, football, streetball, volleyball and badminton facilities.
To celebrate our opening, guests can enjoy great package deals for weekend trips between the 30 March and the 3 June 2018.
