Village of Dull invited to waltz off to Vienna and show metropolis is not, erm, boring
One is bustling European capital and a magnet for tourists, while the other is a tiny village in Perthshire famed only for its quirky name.
But now the residents of Dull have been handed an offer few could refuse – a trip to Vienna designed to prove that the Austrian capital is, quite literally, anything but dull.
Wax-sealed invitations from the Vienna Tourist Board will be delivered in person to Dull’s approximately 100 residents on November 29 and 30, along with traditional Austrian goodie bags.
The village – known for its light-hearted pairing with Boring in Oregon – was selected as part of a new cultural initiative aimed at showing that Vienna has plenty to offer even in January, often seen as the quietest month of the year.
On January 23, villagers will be offered the chance to fly from Edinburgh Airport to the Austrian capital and stay at the Hotel Imperial, a landmark venue that has previously hosted Queen Elizabeth II and the Rolling Stones.
They will take part in two days of cultural events including attending the Vienna Ball of Science, exclusive museum tours, a visit to Schönbrunn Palace and a potential meeting with the UK ambassador to Austria.
Residents would then return to Dull on January 25.
Norbert Kettner, CEO of the Vienna Tourist Board, said: ‘We’re proud of our museums, our concerts, our balls and our winter magic – but we also enjoy a good sense of humour.
The tiny village of Dull in Perthshire is twinned with Boring, Oregon, in the USA – and also Bland in New South Wales, Australia
Pictured: A general view of Vienna – the capital of Austria
‘January is often considered the dullest month of the calendar, which is exactly why we wanted to bring Dull to Vienna.
‘It’s the perfect opportunity to show how vibrant this season can truly be. We hope many residents will join us, and we’re eager to hear their expert judgement.’
Dull has a rich history linked to an early Scottish monastery, St. Adamnan. It was once a significant site as the seat of the monastery and later became a sanctuary,
Its name is believed to derive from the Pictish word for a field.
The village is also paired with Bland in New South Wales, Australia.
Dull, Boring and Bland formed an informal partnership called the League of Extraordinary Communities, which involved the creation of a special ‘Bland, Dull & Boring Day’ celebrated each year on August 9.
The idea for pairing came when Elizabeth Leighton, who lives in Aberfeldy, near Dull, was on a cycling holiday in the US.
She passed through Boring and immediately phoned home with the idea about a link.
Differences between the areas mean they cannot be officially twinned: Boring has a population of about 10,000 while Bland Shire has about 6,000 people and Dull around 100.
Bland and Boring are both named after early residents of the area – William Bland and William Boring.
