Residents of Dull welcomed to Vienna as guests of honour following surprise invitation

Residents of Dull have been welcomed to Vienna as the Austrian capital’s guests of honour.

Wax-sealed invitations were delivered in person to the residents of the Perthshire village, which has around 100 residents, in November.

The tourist board chose the village, which is paired with Boring in Oregon, to prove that Vienna is anything but dull in January following the festive period as part of a new cultural initiative.

A total of 33 residents travelled to the Austrian capital on January 23 and stayed at the iconic Hotel Imperial, which previously hosted Queen Elizabeth II and The Rolling Stones.

During their two-day stay, guests attended the Vienna Ball of Science, were given exclusive museum tours, a tour of Schönbrunn Palace and met the UK ambassador.

The people of Dull were invited as the guests of honour to Vienna. Martin Morscher

Norbert Kettner, CEO of the Vienna Tourist Board, has said: “Vienna never hibernates, not even in January.

“The residents of Dull experienced this first-hand through exclusive museum visits, the Spanish Riding School, ice skating in front of the City Hall and even an evening at the Vienna Ball of Sciences, proving that winter is one of the city’s richest cultural seasons.

“Now we’re inviting travellers everywhere to follow in their footsteps and experience the same winter magic for themselves.”