Paradise has a clinking name: Baden-Baden. It is located in the Southwest of Germany, protected by the Black Forest and Vosges mountains, blessed by mediterranean sun and endlessly sparkling thermal springs. Milelong parks and blooming gardens, the traffic-free old part of town with its exclusive boutiques and trendy street cafés, the elegant Belle Epoque-architecture – all this makes the special charm of Baden-Baden.

In the evenings, the casino with its gorgeous rooms, top-rated restaurants and numerous top-class events at the “Festspielhaus” (Europe’s second largest opera and concert hall), the theater and the Kurhaus invite to spend festive hours.

But the small town with its big name has a lot more to offer than “relaxing de luxe”. Especially during the summer months Baden-Baden is cornucopia with music, events, open-air-festivities and a lot of fun.

For example, the glamourous performances at Europe’s second largest opera and concert hall, the Baden-Baden „Festspielhaus“. Richard Wagner’s „Parsifal“ comes from 4th to 8th August, the „Rheingold“ on 21st August – both in outstanding stagings with Kent Nagano and Simon Rattle at the conductor’s desk. From 16th to 18th of July, Brasil’s most famous ballet company gives a guest performance at the Festspielhaus. Deborah Colker with her „Companhia de Dança“ reached the top of this dance enthusiastic nation and presents a mix of classical ballet with Samba- and Capoeira elements.

Baden-Baden with its important TV and Radio station SWR is a town with a long Jazz tradition that is revived by the so-called JazzNights. For example on 10th of July with an open-air concert on Market Square, featuring the Pasadena Roof Orchestra and the Dutch Swing College Band. Dave Brubeck, the grand old man of cool jazz, will give only three concerts in Germany this summer, one of which will be held on the 11th July 2004 in Baden-Baden.

Twinkling chrome and polished varnish – during the 28th International Oldtimer-Meeting on 17th and 18th July more than 300 automobiles of nine decades of automobile history will be presented within the beautiful scenery of the Lichtentaler Allee and the Kurhaus garden. The “Concours d’élégance” awards a prize not only to the vehicle, but also to the drivers’ costumes. During evenings the park will turn into an illuminated magical garden – nostalgic dreams of the past.

And finally, from 27th of August to 5th of September, all passionates of the turf sport meet for the „Grand Week“ of the International Horse Races of Baden-Baden. The town boosts with open-air music and culinary highlights of the Baden and Alsace region at the „Kurpark-Meeting“. Festive conclusion is the Grand-Prix-Ball at the Kurhaus – elegant ambiance for breeders, princes, stars and starlets – dancing until the early morning.

From 16th until 18th September can be experienced a different side of Baden-Baden: during the New Pop Festival organized by the biggest German radio station SWR3, newcomers of the current year and coming celebrities of popmusic present themselves – some even had made their break-through here. The concerts will be held in unusual places like the DaimlerChrysler-Factory in nearby Rastatt or the honourable Baden-Baden theater.

Information and Picture material: Baden-Baden Conven-tion & Visitors Office, Schloss Solms, Solmsstraße 1, 76530 Baden-Baden.
E-mail: marketing@baden-baden.com