Klimt at the "Burgtheater"

Let us begin our Klimt Walk with a guided tour through the Burgtheater. Here, between 1886 and 1888, the master created impressive ceiling paintings in both stairwells. Nearby are works by his brother Ernst Klimt and the artist Franz Matsch.

In the gala stairwell on the "Landtmann" side of the Burgtheater - the side nearest the renowned Café Landtmann - Gustav Klimt recreated the theater of antiquity in Taormina, Sicily. The stairwell on the "Volksgarten" side is adorned with a depiction of the London Globe Theatre and the final scene from Shakespeare’s "Romeo and Juliet." In the background, the painter immortalized himself and his two colleagues.

Emperor Franz Joseph was so delighted with the paintings in the gala stairwells that he bestowed the Golden Cross of Merit on the members of the artists’ group.

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2 pictures

Stairway in the Burgtheater, ceiling paintings by Gustav Klimt and his associates Franz Matsch and Ernst Klimt, Detail Dionysos — © Georg Soulek / Burgtheater

Stairway in the Burgtheater, ceiling paintings by Gustav Klimt and his associates Franz Matsch and Ernst Klimt, detail "Romeo" — © Georg Soulek / Burgtheater

Other stations of the Klimt Walk:

Burgtheater (Burgtheater)

Universitätsring 2
1010 Vienna

Guided tours
- Thu, Fri: 3 p.m.; Sat, Sun, Public Holidays: 11 a.m.
  For guided tours in July and August see www.burgtheater.at.
  Guided tour in German with written explanations in English, French, Italian, Spanish, Russian, Japanese.
  (subject to change)
Accessibility
- Side entrance
  - (Double swinging doors 170 cm wide)
  - Ramp 300 cm wide
- Car parks Main entrance
  - 3 Parking spaces for people with disabilities
    in the Burgtheater parking lot – Volksgarten side
- Elevator available
  - Door 160 cm wide
- Further information
  - Seeing eye dogs allowed
  - 12 Wheelchair spaces available (in the auditorium, access with the elevator)
  - Wheelchair accessible restroom available.
- Special offers for people with disabilities
  At each performance, the Burgtheater provides places in the stalls with acoustic amplification by means of induction for visitors who wear a hearing aid. The acoustic signal is also amplified for all visitors. This can be received in the theater during the performance on radio frequency 99.2 MHz using a radio receiver, mobile telephone or MP3 player with radio reception. Please bring your own headset.
- Comments
  Special tours for visitors with disabilities and special needs on prior notification.
  Prior notification is necessary for visitors with wheelchairs for admission tickets and tours. Tel. +43 1 514 44-4545, info@burgtheater.at
  The spoken texts of selected performances can be read along with the app (German, English and other languages)

Map Points of interest in the area

Guided tours (Sept. 1 - June 30): in German and English, duration about one hour, daily 3:00 pm;
Mon - Thu in German with English summary;
Fri - Sun in German and English; other languages upon request