(Schloss) Schönburn in our memories
In 2017 the idea of this new Austrian burn was born, and it got the name Schloss Schönburn (a riff on but not to be confused with the somewhat more famous Schloss Schönbrunn). Since then have organized the event every year (including over the COVID-19 pandemic!) to let this idea grow and evolve, and celebrate our collective creative energy. “Schloss” means castle in German, while “schön” means beautiful, ie. a “beautiful castle burn”.
Every year until 2021 we transformed Ferienschloss Wetzlas, a unique castle surrounded by the beautiful Austrian countryside, into a magical playground and burner’s paradise. This was our original beloved home, which gave the burn its name. Schloss Schönburn was different each year: the most important infrastructure was organised by a core team, but for the rest we relied on YOU, to make the dream(s) of Schloss Schönburn a reality.
In 2021, we received sudden notice that Ferienschloss Wetzlas did not financially survive the pandemic and has been sold to a new owner. We therefore had to find a new home very quickly, and were lucky to find the alternative arts farm Böllerbauer, where we organized the burn as an outdoor event for two years. In 2023, we tried out another castle at the gorgeous Schloss Drosendorf, but despite hosting a beautiful event, we were not fully welcomed by the local town. Thus, in 2024 we returned to Böllerbauer, where the 2025 burn also takes place.
Like other burns, (Schloss) Schönburn is a fully participatory event, which means that you are NOT a visitor, coming to consume and be entertained. Instead, you are expected to be an active part of this experience by contributing and co-creating to the best of your abilities, may it be big or small. There are plenty of ways to contribute! You might bring an art project, do a performance, offer a workshop, share food, drinks or other gifts with others, or volunteer to be one of the many people who keep the castle running! This could be by checking others in at the gate, explaining to them all there is to know about the event, offer your medical skills, join the rangers to keep castle law and order, keep the castle free of MOOP, or simply jump in wherever help is needed.
Schönburn gives you the freedom to express yourself freely and interact with others on a base of respect and openness, and allows you to unfold your full creative potential. Our community and this event is based on the 10 (+1) principles of Burning Man, which serve as guidelines for our intentions and interactions with each other. These principles are important to us - so please make them important to you as well. As a community, we want to thrive and expand!
You are highly encouraged to start connecting and co-creating right away, well before the event, by joining our online communication tools and platforms, or by coming to one of our regular face-to-face meetings in Vienna.