Burdas Staircase of Fame

On to the next chapter of our journey through Burda's history. Today, we'll show you what else is hidden in the Burda House: The Staircase of Time.

The media landscape has changed considerably since Burda opened its doors in 1983. New editorial teams have emerged, society has evolved, and Burda is in a constant state of change. A transformation that employees and visitors to Arabellastrasse 23 can experience for themselves. However, there is a small catch: history is not served on a silver platter, but requires some muscle power: you have to climb a few stairs to get there.

Here you will find the real treasures, including the cover of the first issue of Aenne Burda's Burda Moden and Franz Burda's pioneering work with Das Ufer, the first magazine after the war. The magazine initially focused on stars and only evolved into a people magazine with the rise of television. In 1954, Burda renamed his new in-house magazine Bunte Illustrierte. By 1972, it became Bunte as we know it today.

Further down the stairs, you can witness the transformation of the magazine portfolio, illustrating the transfer of the entire publishing business to Hubert Burda. The first cover of the news magazine Focus, founded by Hubert Burda and then editor-in-chief Helmut Markwort, is iconic. On January 16, 1993, the first issue of Focus rolled off the production line in Offenburg. Just two days later, the magazine hit newsstands for the first time. Despite initial skepticism in the market, Focus quickly made a name for itself. With its concise texts and expressive visuals, the magazine successfully defied all expectations in the industry, turning Hubert Burda's vision into reality.

As Burda's magazine portfolio evolved, so did the technology. Being a visionary, Hubert Burda recognized the potential of the Internet early on and was one of the first to venture into the digital age. In 1994, Europe Online was the first publication to go online, followed in 1996 by Focus Online, our own digital news portal.

Today, all of our magazines have found their way to the web, but the Staircase of Fame allows us to look back at the developments of the past. So the next time you're in Munich or have the opportunity to visit: Skip the elevator and take the stairs. It's worth it - I promise.