Society 361 / 2012

Diplomatie
Welcome to Austria
Foto: WA, Jungwirth
Highlights of WA
Highlights of the recent WA programmes were
two special excursions, one to Stift Klosterneuburg
in the vicinity of Vienna, and a two day excursion
to the Czech Republic.
Text: Society
Two day excursion to the Czech Republic
Welcome to Austria” once
again met its claim of
being an international
platform with the purpose
of introducing foreign
diplomats and international
civil servants to Austrian history and
culture past and present. This spring it offered an
amazing list of programmes and events, from arts
to cuisine, history and music, as well as German
conversation.
•
Stift Klosterneuburg
As a final highlight of the series “The Gothic
Age in Austria” WA visited Stift Klosterneuburg
where the participants could study the exquisite
enamel and gold Verdun altar from 1180, as well
as the highly important altarpiece by the Albrechtsmaster
in the chapel. There was also a guided
tour through the newly opened museum and a
spring lunch in the Stiftskeller.
•
South Bohemia
Another highlight was the “Two Day Castle &
Monastery Tour to Southern Bohemia”. WA organised
a comprehensive tour from Vienna via Linz to
beautiful Czesky Krumlov (former Krumau) with
a visit of the famous Burg (former Schwarzenberg
Castle) with its lovely “Schlosstheater” and of the
Schiele Museum. On the way to Budejovice (Bud-
weis), where the night was spent, “Zlata Koruna”
(Goldenkron), an important monastery, was visited.
The following day included a guided tour of
Castle Hluboka (Frauenberg an der Moldau), a
drive via Jindrichuv Hradec (Neuhaus) to beautiful
Telc, where WA had lunch and visited the Podstatsky
hunting lodge, followed by a journey to
and visit of Vranov (Frein an der Thaya), a Baroque
castle built by Fischer von Erlach.
•
Lectures and meetings
In the Clubroom of WA interesting lectures
took place, such as “Austria in Bhutan”, a talk
given by Marie Christine Weinberger, Honorary
Consul of Bhutan in Austria.
Well-known historian Oliver Rathkolb talked
about “Austrian Identity after 1945”.
Margit Fischer, wife of the Austrian Federal
President, kindly organised a special meeting for
WA in the Präsidentschaftskanzlei with a short
briefing on the Social Network in Austria. The
Ministry for Social Affairs, Caritas Austria, Volkshilfe
and the privately managed “Vinzirast” gave
surveys of their activities.
•
Stift Klosterneuburg
„The Gothic Age
in Austria“
Welcome
to Austria
WA “Welcome to
Austria” was founded
in 1997 by Dr. Benita
Ferrero-Waldner, who
was then State Secretary
for Foreign Affairs,
with the overriding
objective of introducing
foreign diplomats and
international
civil servants assigned to
Vienna and their spouses to
the Austrian way of life. The
aims of WA are to promote
the awareness and understanding
of Austria’s rich
heritage of culture and history
past and present. WA
would welcome newly accredited
diplomats and their
spouses to join the club.
•
WA invites you to join:
■ You will meet many
interesting Austrians in a
relaxed atmosphere and
make new friends.
■ You will be offered a
wide choice of excellent
programmes and learn
a great deal about your
host country.
■ You will be invited to private
homes and through
WA events you will enjoy
many things which you
would not have access to
outside our Association.
•
THE BOARD OF
“WELCOME TO AUSTRIA”
Dr. Benita Ferrero-Waldner
Founding President •
Foreign Minister Dr. Michael
Spindelegger – President •
Gabrielle Schallenberg –
First Vice President - History,
Art •
Dr. Monika Türk – Second
Vice President •
Mag. Stephan Hofstätter –
Treasurer •
Mag. Gertrud Tauchhammer
– Public Relations, “Schriftführerin”
•
Dr. Elisabeth Wolff – Music •
Dr. Heide Almoslechner –
German •
Anne Thun-Hohenstein –
History, Art •
Dr. Stefanie Winkelbauer –
Applied Arts, Cuisine •
Mag. Adelaida Calligaris –
Liaison Officer
•
OFFICE HOURS
Mo-Tue-Wed: 2 p.m.–5 p.m.
Thurs-Fri: 9 p.m.–12 p.m.
Gabriela Znidaric, Secretary
Hofburg, Stallburg, Reitschulgasse
2, 1010 Vienna
Phone: +43-(0)1-535 88 36,
Fax: +43-(0)1-535 88 37
E-mail: office@welcome-toaustria.org
www.welcome-to-austria.org
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