edited: 02/26/00 current for: 2000

Year 2000 Anniversary Topics in the four Bavarian Tourist Regions
Allgäu/Bavarian Swabia, Franconia, Munich/Upper Bavaria, Eastern Bavaria

"Ludwig Musical" to be premiered in April 2000.

"Ludwig II. – Longing for Paradise" is Bavaria’s first major musical and the musical of its kind to be staged at the original historical scene, in this case the Allgäu Königswinkel with a panoramic view of the world-famous Neuschwanstein and Hohenschwangau castles. For this elaborate first production, musical producer Stephan Barbarino has been joined by composer Franz Hummel and set designer Heinz Hauser to create a romantic synthesis of the arts as a homage to Ludwig II, Bavaria’s fairy-tale monarch. An international audience will be able to follow the storyline by means of overtitles displayed in several languages.

"Ways leading into the Future"

Bavarian State Garden Show in Memmingen, 2000

Visitors to what was formerly industrial wasteland in Memmingen will gaze out upon 18 hectares of newly created parkland including a lake, with a direct link to the old city: a "green and eventful landscape" – a path with various stations along it that invite one to join in, think and play. Complementing the main overall themes of "Energy and Movement", "Music", "Literature and Film", "Arts and Crafts", "Dance and Theatre", a varied programme of actions and events is aimed at motivating the whole family to join in.

Depending upon the time of year, all eyes will of course be on the carpet of flowers and majestic plants, although in the main the show serves to demonstrate the permanency of an urban-landscaping concept, extending well beyond the dates of the show itself and aimed at improving the quality of urban life in a sustained manner.

Information: Landesgartenschau Memmingen 2000 GmbH,
In der Neuen Welt 10, 87700 Memmingen, Germany
Tel. (++49) 8331/9486-0, Fax (++49) 8331/9486-30;
E-mail: Igs.memmingen2000@t-online.de

Baroque and rococo exhibition route

Along these 14 routes car drivers, cyclists and walkers interested in the arts will be able to visit a total of 113 well-known baroque and rococo style buildings at 66 locations throughout Southern Bavaria. They are concentrated in the Allgäu/Bavarian Swabia region in towns such as Augsburg, Schwangau, Füssen, Kaufbeuren, Kempten, Ottobeuren and Buxheim. The exhibition route continues into Upper Bavaria, and is a part of the overall international "Museum without Frontiers" project.

Further information on all topics available from:

Tourismusverband Allgäu/Bayerisch-Schwaben,
Fuggerstrasse 9,86150 Augsburg, Germany
Tel. (++49) 821/33335, Fax + 49 821/38331,
tourismus@allgaeu-bayerisch-schwaben.btl.de
www.btl.de/allgaeu-bayerisch-schwaben

Anniversary year 2000 topics: "Franconia – Toyland"

Almost all the towns and holiday regions of Franconia will contribute to this emotive, appealing topic. Emphasis will be placed on the "Nostalgia of Toys", highlighting the region’s century-old tradition of toy manufacturing, its museums and collectors’ exchange markets, but also on the "Adventure World of Toys" including events in which visitors can participate in active games, join toy-factory tours and visit the toy manufacturers’ modern play-worlds. Holiday guests will be offered opportunities to book theme-package tours, including numerous suggestions on how to explore the region on their own, for example by taking the "German Toys Road".

For the target group of active holidaymakers a medium-term marketing campaign with the working title "Activity Park Franconia" is currently being prepared. Launched from 2000 onwards, it will place the initial emphasis on "Cycling Holidays" (other aspects and/or sports and leisure activities will follow later). With the well-known Franconian cyclist Hubert Schwarz as the central publicity figure, opportunities and packages for cyclists – from the casual to the highly proficient – are to be focussed and marketed in the 14 Franconian holiday regions. "Activity Park Franconia" considers itself as a follow-up and completion of the "Health Park Franconia" initiative undertaken jointly by Franconian spas and health resorts, which will, however, retain its independent image within Franconia’s marketing activities.

The Tourist Board Franconia regards the 950^th anniversary of the city of Nuremberg as a central marketing topic for the Year 2000 celebrations. In its anniversary year the capital of Franconia is to present itself as the "City of Peace and Human Rights". This includes for example the eagerly-awaited opening of the new documentation centre on the former Reich Party Congress site.

Further significant events include the "Mastersingers Festival" with a new production of the "Meistersinger von Nürnberg", a spectacular exhibition of masterpieces by Albrecht Dürer and a three-day festival to celebrate the city’s current birthday in July. The opening of the "New Museum for Art and Design" (planned for May 2000) will add another accent to Nuremberg’s cultural life.

Further information on all topics available from:

Tourismusverband Franken e.V.,
Fürther Strasse 21, 90429 Nürnberg, Germany
Tel. (++49) 911/264202, Fax (++49) 911/270547
tourismus@franken.btl.de ; www.btl.de/franken 

"Musicians and Composers"

Tourists interested in culture can get to know Upper Bavaria, Allgäu/Bavarian Swabia and the neighbouring regions of Austria from a very special viewpoint. Following the successful "Painters and Poets" project, music lovers now have an opportunity to tread in the footsteps of famous musicians who lived and worked in the Alpine region or who often spent their extensive creative holidays there - Johannes Brahms and Richard Wagner, Richard Strauss or Carl Orff, Johann Strauss or Karl Lanner. Traditional and new styles of folk music will play a significant part in this Bavarian music programme, and guests will enjoy reading the informative and entertaining brochure entitled "Musicians and Composers" with many illustrations and interesting facts. Since music is for the ear rather than for the eye, a CD will be supplied with the brochure – the result of cooperation with the Bayerischer Rundfunk (Bavarian Radio).

From 12^th May to 5^th November 2000 the Lokschuppen (Loco Shed) exhibition centre in Rosenheim hosts the major regional exhibition "The Romans between the Alps and the North Sea". This exhibition, under the patronage of the Bavarian Prime Minister, is the first supra-regional overall presentation of Roman archaeology in Germany following the country’s re-unification. The exhibition was commissioned by the State of Bavaria, designed by the Prehistoric State Collection in Munich and organised jointly with the Veranstaltungs- und Kongress GmbH Rosenheim exhibition company.

First-class archaeological finds from Germany, the Netherlands, Luxembourg and Eastern Europe are in many cases being shown for the first time, and convey a vivid picture of Europe’s Roman heritage. Elaborate, spectacular design and the use of inter-active media will make this exhibition a very special experience for all visitors.

Information:
Ausstellungszentrum Lokschuppen Rosenheim
May 12^th, up to November 5^th, 2000
Rathausstrasse 24, 83022 Rosenheim, Germany
Postanschrift: Kufsteiner Strasse 4,
83022 Rosenheim, Germany
www.lok-schuppen.de ; info@kuko.de 
Press office: Alexandra Birklein
Tel:(++49) 8031/3001-43, Fax: (++49) 8031/3001-69

Ingolstadt is to celebrate its 750^th anniversary in 2000 with four major topics. Exhibitions held on the Klenze Park site, in the Riding School building, the Parade House and the Tilly Reduit will depict Ingolstadt as a university, military, fortress and industrial town.

Ingolstadt, located on the River Danube, is one of Bavaria’s "greenest towns", surrounded by waterside woodland. It is represented at the Expo 2000 in Hanover with a most impressive programme.

Information: Stadt Ingolstadt
Fremdenverkehrsamt, Rathausplatz 2, 85049 Ingostadt, Germany
Tel. (+(++49)) 841/305-1098, Fax (+(++49)) 841/305-1099
www.Ingolstadt.de ; touristinformation@Ingolstadt.de 

Further information on all topics:

Tourismusverband München-Oberbayern,
P.O. Box 60 03 20, 81203 Munich, Germany
Tel. (++49) 89/829218-0, Fax (++49) 89/829218-28,
E-mail: tourismus@oberbayern.btl.de 

In Eastern Bavaria the year-2000 celebrations revolve around Nature. This varied tourist region with its beautiful scenery and geologically interesting landscape is depicted in nature and panoramic guides which are available to guests from Germany and abroad. Its delights range from family holidays and the "Forest Adventure" to classifying plants and tasting local delicacies from the nearby woods and fields. Holiday packages are offered in a separate brochure entitled "Nature 2000".

In 2000 the city of Regensburg will be in the centre of the millennium festivities. The "Worldwide EXPO Projects" of Regensburg Cathedral, the Unterer Wöhrd Solar Quarter and the "Roter Herzfleck" ("Red Heart"), an excellent example of the widely acclaimed redevelopment of Regenburg’s historic city centre, represent further attractions for guests from Germany and abroad. From July 23 to 25 Regensburg will host and organise the "Festival of Bavarians" for all Bavarian regions. The programme will include a wide range of topics from the past, present and future, including numerous aspects of tradition, art, culture, economy and technology.

Further information available from
Verkehrsamt der Stadt Regensburg,
Altes Rathaus, 3047 Regensburg, Germany
Tel. (++49) 941/507-4410, Fax (++49) 941/507-4419,
tourismus@info-regensburg.baynet.de 

The European Weeks in Passau, which have now become an international event and are to be held at historic sites in Lower Bavaria, Bohemia and Upper Austria from June 27^th to July 29^th 2000, are intended to commemorate great artists, musicians and composers of the last century under the motto "With Grief and Joy".

Information from
Festspiele Europäische Wochen Passau e.V.",
Dr.-Hans-Kapfinger-Strasse 22, 94032 Passau Germany
Tel. (++49) 851/560960, Fax (++49) 851/70994,
europaeischefestwochen@t-online.de 

Further information on all topics available from:

Tourismusverband Ostbayern,
Luitpoldstrasse 20, 93047 Regensburg, Germany
Tel. (++49) 941/58539-0, Fax (++49) 941/58539-39,
tourismus@ostbayern.btl.de