15 September 2025  Carinthia—Austria's southernmost federal state—is often celebrated as the sunniest and most light-hearted of the nine. Blessed with long summer days, mild winters in the valleys, and dramatic alpine silhouettes, it offers a landscape that blends crystalline lakes, rolling hills and skywalking peaks. Carinthia is home to more than 1,000 lakes, many suitable for swimming and water sports. In winter, its ski slopes, cross-country trails and alpine valleys turn into a playground for winter sports enthusiasts. Amid this rich natural and cultural tapestry lies one of Carinthia's more recent gems: Burg & Weingut Taggenbrunn — castle, museum, winery and boutique hotel rolled into one, anchored by the heritage watch and jewellery brand Jacques Lemans. A Castle of Innovation: Museum, Hotel & Winery in Dialogue with HistoryBurg Taggenbrunn dates back to the 12th century, built upon even older Celtic-Roman roots, and has been extensively restored since 2011 by the Riedl family, owners of Jacques Lemans. The castle now combines its historical architecture with contemporary interventions: café, restaurant, boutique hotel, modern concert hall and festival venue, winery and shop, panorama lifts and landscaped grounds.The Jacques Lemans Museum, housed within the castle, offers two main strands of exhibition: a 50 Years of Jacques Lemans show tracing the development of the watch & jewellery brand (its milestones, designs, collaborations, international growth) and a permanent, historical exhibition of local artefacts (coins, ceramics, tools, weapons) rooted in the region's Noric and Roman heritage. There is also a multimedia exhibition "Zeiträume", curated by André Heller, that engages with themes of time, light, and information, blending art and technology. One relatively rare feature for an Austrian castle museum is its year-round partial openness: from April to September, open daily (10:00-19:00 including public holidays), and from October to March, Wednesday to Sunday (11:00-17:00), with public holidays open longer. Jacques Lemans: Watch Brand, Global Reach & Cultural PatronageThe watch and jewellery brand Jacques Lemans was founded in 1975 by Alfred Riedl in St. Veit an der Glan, Carinthia. Over the past five decades, it has grown into an internationally recognized name, present in more than 120 countries, collaborating with over 1,500 jewellers worldwide and producing hundreds of watch and jewellery designs each year. Its history includes major partnerships with Formula 1 and the UEFA Champions League.Over the years, Jacques Lemans has been represented by prominent faces: Hollywood actor Kevin Costner was once the global brand ambassador, underlining its international profile. Today, Austrian Olympic snowboard champion Anna Gasser and award-winning actor Tobias Moretti continue this tradition, embodying the brand's values of precision, creativity and cultural engagement. Moretti, who was recently awarded the Austrian Musiktheaterpreis in the special award category "Crossover" for his work blending acting, spoken word and musical performance, will soon appear at Burg Taggenbrunn with his ensemble Wood Sounds for the program Irrfahrten, combining texts from Homer to Dante with music ranging from Monteverdi to Philip Glass. Culture & Concerts: The Taggenbrunn Festival and Upcoming EventsThe Festspiele Taggenbrunn is an annual festival of music, words and art hosted in the restored hall of Burg Taggenbrunn. It brings together classical, chamber, crossover and literary performances.One of the autumn highlights is the sold-out concert "Irrfahrten" (Wanderings) on 19 October 2025, featuring Tobias Moretti & Ensemble Wood Sounds. The evening blends storytelling and music, taking audiences on a journey through ancient and modern odysseys — a fitting event in a place where time, heritage, and culture meet. Images, from left: The vineyard of Taggenbrunn stretches up the hillside, crowned by the silhouette of Burg Taggenbrunn against the Carinthian sky. Right: The modern concert hall inside the castle, where historic stone walls meet contemporary architecture. Photos courtesy of Taggenbrunn, Jacques Lemans. Photo right: © Ferdinand Neumüller |