The Festspielhaus Baden-Baden is Germany's largest opera house. It is the second largest opera house in Europe. It has 2,500 seats. The Festspielhaus Baden-Baden is in Baden-Baden at the place of the former railroad station. The historic station building was combined into the Festspielhaus and is now the entrance building. The Festspielhaus was opened in 1998. After a difficult starting time due to financial problems it managed to become successful. Today it has five festival periods and a rich cultural program.