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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Burgtheater

1., Dr.-K.-Lueger-Ring 2
Tel. 51 444-4140

Guided tours: 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

Burgtheater

Klimt Walk: download