From the Castle Grounds to the Opera Stage
The History of Burg Gars
At the heart of the castle complex stands the main fortress from the 11th century – the only unaltered Babenberg residence still preserved today. Leopold II had this fortification built to expand his influence, though after his crushing defeat at the Battle of Mailberg (1082) he was barely able to maintain his position. It is highly probable that his son, Leopold III, the patron saint of Lower Austria and Vienna, was born here in 1075.
The Babenbergs soon moved their seat of power to Klosterneuburg and later to Vienna. Burg Gars was subsequently administered by castellans and over the centuries several noble families, including the Maissauer, held ownership in the 14th and 15th centuries. In the second half of the 16th century, Georg Teufel added the Renaissance wing that still stands today. From the 17th century onwards, the castle saw many changes of ownership. Since 1989, it has been owned by the town of Gars am Kamp.
Among the highlights of the castle are the North Tower, accessible since 2017, whose viewing platform offers a breathtaking view of a centuries-old cultural landscape, and the Gothic Church of St. Gertrude on the southern slope.
Burg Gars as an Opera Stage
The unique atmosphere of the thousand-year-old castle walls and its remarkable natural acoustics continue to define the magic of this extraordinary open-air setting. For up to 1,250 guests, opera can be experienced here in its purest form under the open sky and completely unamplified.
In the late 1980s, the potential of Burg Gars as a venue for grand opera was recognized, marking the birth of the Gars Opera Festival. Director and cultural manager Karel Drgáč initiated the “Opern-Air” festival in 1990 and produced a new opera each summer within the castle walls.
A reorganization took place in 2012: the municipality of Gars am Kamp founded Burg Gars GmbH and under the new name Opera BURG GARS, took responsibility for the castle’s cultural programming. In 2013, Austrian conductor Dr. Johannes Wildner was appointed Artistic Director. Since 2014, the opera stage of the Waldviertel has steadily attracted growing audiences, with the program expanding to include concerts, exhibitions, readings, and cabaret performances.
In 2023, the artistic directorship was newly tendered. Among many applicants, Kammersänger Clemens Unterreiner stood out and took over as Artistic Director of the Opera BURG GARS in autumn 2023. In his first season in 2024, the celebrated Vienna State Opera baritone brought Donizetti’s “L’elisir d’amore” (The Elixir of Love) to Gars. The beloved Italian opera has never been performed at the castle.