The Flair
of the Grand Jane Austen Ball 2027

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I. The Crowning Glory:
The Grand Jane Austen Ball

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II. Princely Splendor:
The Legacy of Leuchtenberg & Bavaria

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III. Ball & Game:
Gambling Hells & Clubs around 1800

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IV. A Dance in the Splendor of Past Epochs:
Rococo Stucco & Empire Salons

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V. The Dances of the Regency Era

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As we know from the novels of Jane Austen
and the chronicles of that time,
the balls of the season were
the pulsating heart of High Society.
They provided the glamorous stage
for seeing and being seen,
for the forging of bonds
and the subtle courtship within the dance.
Where could this incomparable attitude to life
be celebrated more consummately than
in the magnificent princely Residence of Eichstätt?

Step through the sublime portal on the Residenzplatz
and let yourself be carried away into the gallant world of the early 19th century
right from the festive welcome.
With a festive entrance into the glamorous hall
and a shared toast
to our exquisite society of guests
we open an evening full of grace, etiquette, and romance.
To the lively live sounds of our ensemble we revive
the graceful dances of the Regency era.

Immerse yourself in an epoch
full of delicacy and refinement.
At our ball, dancing together
and the charming encounter take center stage:
The Contredanses of the epoch are the most pleasant way
to get to know everyone present,
without exchanging a single word.
On the parquet, pure harmony prevails –
status and rank step back,
while we as a united society
glide across the dance floor.
Surrender to this intoxicating feeling:
For what is more promising
than a meaningful exchange of glances when passing
in the figures of the English Country Dances?

From the year 1817, the Eichstätt Residence awoke
to a new, truly European splendor:
Eugène de Beauharnais, stepson of Emperor Napoleon
and former Viceroy of Italy,
resided here as the first Duke of Leuchtenberg
with his consort, the Bavarian king's daughter
Princess Auguste Amalia.
The princely couple brought the elegance of the courts
of Paris, Milan, and Munich
to the Altmühl and filled the halls
with lavish festivities and princely hospitality.
We resurrect this glamorous epoch
for one night.
An integral part of this noble festivity
is our Grand Dîner in the form of a fine buffet volant
in the royal Italian style –
a refreshment according to the best social custom,
without interrupting the momentum and flow
of our ball night.

As every lady and gentleman of standing knew
during the time of the Regency:
A true ball night draws its special charm not solely
from the dance, but requires
the cheerful thrill at the gaming table.
The game for luck and skill belonged
in the London clubs just as much to the good tone
as the mastery of the Contredanses.
Therefore, starting with the first dance break,
we open the doors to our salons of fortune.
Test your fate
with popular historical games like Hazard,
Faro, Lansquenet, or Rouge et Noir!
Equipped with play money at the beginning of the evening,
the goal is to prove your own skill –
for Fortuna rewards the daring,
and coveted presents for future dancing pleasures
await the masters of the game.

It is an incomparable privilege
not merely to look upon the historical state rooms of the Residence
with reverence,
but to fill them with life
entirely in the spirit of their builders
with music, laughter, and graceful steps.
Each salon reflects the fascinating development
of princely court culture.

Even the ascent via the monumental magnificent Baroque staircase
sets the senses in a festive mood for the upcoming ball night.
Once at the top, we are welcomed by
the sparkling centerpiece of the evening: the Hall of Mirrors.
With its enchanting, filigree stucco work
from the heyday of the Rococo, it forms the breathtaking backdrop
for our Regency choreographies.
When the warm light of the chandeliers
is refracted in the mirrored walls and the orchestra plays,
the delicate Rococo magic of the room
and the classicist simplicity of the Empire gowns
merge into consummate aesthetics.

The adjacent halls immediately bear witness
to the era of the Dukes of Leuchtenberg:
First and foremost the world-famous Tapestry Room,
whose precious scenic wallpapers fully
breathe the noble interior design and the representative style of the Empire.
Here, amidst this sublime setting
of museum significance, we offer you the perfect framework
for lasting souvenir portraits,
which capture your festive appearance for eternity.

The repertoire of our ball night encompasses
the entire variety of dances that conquered
the salons in England and on the continent between 1770 and 1820.
We dance lively English Country Dances in Minor Sets,
elegant Cotillons, and French Contredanses.
Guided by your Maître de Danse and carried
by the masterful arrangements of our orchestra,
even beginners effortlessly find their way into the figures.
And naturally, the legendary dance
from the year 1695 must not be missing –
Mr. Beveridge’s Maggot, that indispensable classic
of the Jane Austen film adaptations, which crowns the ball night
with its sublime melody.