The Austrian capital with the affectionate name Vienna is associated primarily with the name of the “King of Waltzes” - Strauss, with the enchanting sounds of his music, with Viennese salons, with musical evenings and festivals. But it is also a city of ancient architectural monuments and wonderfully interesting museums, a visit to which leaves deep impressions. So, a list of the best museums in Vienna.
The largest art museum owes its appearance to the enlightened lover of painting and graphics, Duke Albert (1738-1822), who amassed a huge collection artwork great masters of brushes from different eras. Today the museum contains in its collections over 900 thousand copies of graphic works, 50 thousand watercolor sketches and drawings by da Vinci, Rembrandt, Rubens, Santi, Durer, Picasso, Dali and many other famous artists. The Albertina Museum building itself can also be called a work of architectural art.
After reconstruction in 2003, a titanium slab (64 m) was installed above the entrance, which successfully complemented the appearance of the museum and became its modern symbol. The bronze monument to the founder of the museum, Duke Albert, sitting on a galloping horse is impressive. Now in Albertina there are permanent and temporary exhibitions in several showrooms, there is a solid library, a large reading room, and a souvenir shop. The permanent exhibitions feature works by Monet, Picasso, Renoir, Bacon and other brilliant artists.
To get a more complete picture of the artistic masterpieces, the museum provides an audio guide service (in many languages, including Russian).
Open every day from 10.00 to 18.00, on Wednesdays until 21.00.
The former summer residence of the imperial Habsburg dynasty is a magnificent park and palace ensemble, occupying an area 1.2 km long and 1 km wide. The majestic palace, containing 1441 rooms, was built according to the design of Johann von Erlach in the Austrian Baroque style, striking in its scale and pomp. The architect took the Palace of Versailles in Paris as a model. The adjacent park delights with its landscapes, the Palm House, Henrietta's Pavilion, marvelous fountains, a labyrinth in the spirit of pseudo-Roman ruins and the oldest zoo in Europe.
The ancient Botanical Garden (1753) deserves special attention - a real work of floristic art, with rare species of trees and shrubs. Today, of all the halls of the palace, only 40 belong to the museum, 190 are rented out to private owners. Traveling through the luxurious rooms, you can appreciate the degree of wealth of the Austrian emperors, see the history of the Habsburg family, whose representatives were born and died here, and abdicated the throne.
Over the years of the palace's existence, Charles IV, Franz I, Franz Joseph, and Maria Theresa lived in it. Napoleon's headquarters were once located here in several halls. Schönbrunn is a center of incredible beauty, luxury and dazzling wealth. Since 1992, the complex has been placed under UNESCO protection.
Not inferior to Schönbrunn in beauty and splendor is the architectural and landscape pearl of Vienna - another palace and park ensemble, Belvedere, which unites two luxurious palaces and a wonderful park. The Lower Palace was built earlier (1714-1716), and the Upper Palace - in 1722 by order of Prince Eugene of Savoy. Magnificent palaces became his residence, between which a beautiful park was laid out according to the design of the famous landscape designer Girard. Now in the Lower Palace there is a museum of Baroque and Middle Ages art with Marble, Mirror, Grotesque halls; with the Golden Cabinet.
Here the palace stables and greenhouse have been converted into exhibition halls. The Upper Palace houses the Belvedere Gallery, which captivates with the masterpieces of famous artists G. Klimt, E. Schiele, O. Kokoschka, G. Böckl and other Austrian painters. The original layout of the park's lawns and fountains is a real miracle of landscape design. The park between the palaces is a comfortable place for a relaxing holiday for parents with children, lovers and students preparing for exams. The grace of snow-white sculptures against the backdrop of the bright beauty of flowering trees and shrubs of the park, the sparkling splashes of fountains, the luxurious appearance of palaces, and the contents of museums leave the best memories of the Belvedere.
Open to the public: Upper Belvedere - 10.00-18.00, every day
Lower Belvedere - from 10.00 to 18.00, on Wednesdays - 10.00-21.00.
Belvedere Gallery
The Baroque palace and park complex Belvedere is a masterpiece of architecture and landscape design of the Austrian capital. The amazingly beautiful mansion was built in the 18th century and served as the summer residence of the great commander of his time - Prince Eugene of Savoy. The architectural landmark consists of the Lower and Upper Belvedere. Today, in the luxurious halls of the palace, there is a national gallery consisting of a collection of paintings by outstanding masters of the 19th-20th centuries. It contains works by Van Gogh, Renurard, Schiele, Monet, Kokoschka and many other great artists.
The museum displays not only artistic paintings, but also sculptures made of plaster, marble and wood. The interiors of the Golden, Marble and Mirror Halls of the Lower Belvedere are of particular interest. The walls and ceilings are painted with frescoes and decorated with bas-reliefs and statues. The main pride and pearls of the gallery are the iconic works of Gustav Klimt. His works fascinate viewers with deep motifs of radiant love passion for women.
For many of his works, the artist used real gold leaf, thanks to which he achieved a unique effect of perceiving the painting. Gallery visitors can see these famous paintings G. Klimt, like “The Kiss”, “Adam and Eve”, “Judith and the Head of Holofernes”, as well as “Portrait of Fritz Riedler”. The cost of visiting the Upper and Lower Belvedere is 22 euros. The gallery is open daily from 9:00 to 18:00. On Fridays the museum is open until 21:00.
Another magnificent palace in the Baroque style (1700) is a memory of previous generations of the noble Austrian family of the Princes of Liechtenstein, whose representatives collected various objects of art. The beginning was made by Charles I, who had a weakness for expensive furniture, exquisite jewelry made of gold, silver and precious stones. His descendants continued collecting for 4 centuries, accumulating during this time a large number of valuable rarities. They began to be exhibited for public viewing from 1805 until 1938.
Now the Liechtenstein Museum houses works of art by Italian, Flemish, Dutch, and Austrian masters of different eras and movements. Here are masterpieces by Rubens, Rembrandt, Raphael, Ricci. Unique examples of antique furniture, hunting weapons, ivory, bronze, and jewelry are presented. The pride of the museum is the Golden carriage, which was made for the ceremonial trips of Prince J. Wenzel, the 4th prince of the Liechtenstein family. Rococo decorations and virtuoso craftsmanship make the carriage a true work of art and a priceless treasure.
Every Friday the museum hosts public excursions with an audio guide; on other days you need to personally negotiate with the owners of the palace to get into it.
Address: Furstenqasse 1,1090 Vienna. Entrance – 20-25 euros.
In the Hofburg palace and park complex, which numbers 19 palaces, 18 different buildings, 2,600 rooms and halls, everything amazes with its grandeur and beauty. Here you can spend the whole day looking at architectural masterpieces in the Gothic, Baroque, Empire, and Renaissance styles and admiring the high artistic level of the architecture of past years. The first palace received its inhabitants already in 1279 under Leopold VI, but the Hofburg received the status of the winter residence of the Habsburgs in 1533, when new palaces, office premises, and a magnificent park appeared.
Each new emperor sought to complete something, to erect another new palace, and thus Vienna inherited a real architectural and park miracle. Today, on its 240 thousand sq. m. m there are several museums, administrative and government institutions, a congress center of international importance, a chapel, the Butterfly House and other institutions. The “Swiss Wing” is the oldest part of the complex in the form of a fortress, where guardsmen once served.
The luxurious apartments of the emperors are now a popular museum, where thousands of tourists come to admire the luxurious interiors of the halls, amazing dishes, wonderful antique furniture, and unique silverware. The decoration of 19 halls, bedrooms, and living rooms exactly corresponds to the authentic historical setting of the Habsburg era. There are especially many visitors to the chambers of the famous Princess Elizabeth (Sisi), beloved by the Austrians. In the Empress's halls, exhibits include her numerous luxurious dresses, stoles, other personal items, and gymnastic equipment.
A unique attraction of the Hofburg is the Demel cafe, where you can buy delicious specialty delicacies: Sachertorte, candied violets, chocolate “cat’s tongues,” etc. To enhance the 19th-century ambiance, the waitresses are dressed in dresses in the fashion of that time.
World Museum
The southern wing of the majestic Hofburg palace ensemble, which is one of the main architectural attractions of Vienna, houses the ethnological and anthropological museums. More than 250 thousand valuable artifacts have been collected for public viewing, embodying the historical, religious and cultural heritage of numerous peoples of Asia, Africa, America, Australia and Oceania.
It is noteworthy that the exhibits previously belonged to famous sailors, politicians, emperors and philanthropists. The basis of the museum fund is the collection collected famous travelers James Cook during his long-distance expeditions. Jewelry, weapons, armor, coins, dishes, clothing, and figurines are displayed in 14 halls. Also presented here are religious objects, masks, manuscripts, jewelry, musical instruments and other historical things.
The only surviving headdress of the leader of the Aztec tribe in the world deserves special attention. This decoration consists of quetzal bird feathers, leather and more than a thousand precious stones. Open daily except Wednesday from 10:00 to 18:00 and until 21:00 (Friday). The entrance ticket price is 12 euros.
The round tower with thick walls houses a museum whose exhibits do not excite most visitors. This is a pathological museum where various physiological abnormalities of the human body are demonstrated. Presented here are freaks preserved in alcohol, the heads of various people (according to rumors, dead criminals), the lungs of smokers; amputated arms and legs; human organs affected by sexually transmitted diseases (about 4,000 exhibits in total). Despite their unpleasant appearance, these “masterpieces” are useful for people with bad habits to watch as an edification.
The museum received this name as an inheritance from the previous purpose of the 5-story tower, where patients with mental disabilities of varying degrees were previously kept. The fact that there were violent ones among them is evidenced by the massive doors and iron chains present in each of the 139 chambers. Among the grim exhibits is the head of the assassin of Empress Sisi.
Address: Spitalqasse 2, university campus.
Increasingly, on the walls of austere buildings in Vienna you can see bright, daring artistic paintings, striking in their originality and unusualness. The art of street art was developed from graffiti, but acquired a larger scale: the “canvases” of street artists occupy huge walls, facades, sections of roads and sidewalks. Works of street art reflect various subjects and carry deep meaning and ideas, which is why this art has become very popular.
The Vienna Street Art Gallery (2006) is a logical continuation of the development of this new type of artistic painting, where innovative artists have the opportunity to demonstrate their brilliant works to everyone. Public recognition and high ratings from visitors contributed to the expansion of the street art gallery space. She recently “moved” to a new location on the 1st floor of an old building (170 sq. m.). Regular exhibitions of artists from all over the world are held here, and seminars for the exchange of experience are organized. Visitors can expect interesting encounters with fantastic masterpieces of street art that make city life more fun and joyful.
Address: Stiqenqasse, 2/3.
Opening hours: Tue. – Friday – 12.00-18.00, Sat – 12.00-16.00, closed – Sun, Monday.
A unique residential building with amazing facades was built by the famous architect Friedrich Nundertwasser, who can be considered the Austrian Gaudi - their architectural creations are so similar in originality and expressiveness of execution. A striking example The Nundertwasser House in Vienna serves as the imaginative thinking of a genius from architecture. It is impossible not to notice: kaleidoscopically colored facades, the absence of the usual right angles and lines in the architecture of the building make this house an incredibly beautiful fairy-tale object.
This avant-garde style was the fruit of the long creative quest of an extraordinary creator who studied impressionism, transautomatism and founded his own academy of creativity - Pintorarium. Believing that city dwellers were bored living in standard multi-storey boxes, he created a “cheerful” colorful house, with different levels of roofing and windows. The facades of each apartment are painted in different colors; round balconies with lacy railings are covered with ivy and climbing flowers. In some places, trees grow directly from the windows or on the roof - a synthesis of urbanism and wildlife, which, according to the architect, is what the city lacks.
In front of the entrance there is an unusual-looking fountain of an intricate design, laid out around with mosaic wavy paving stones. 50 apartments are inhabited by residents, not all of whom can withstand the pilgrimage of tourists who come in droves to the famous architectural miracle. You can only view it from the outside, you cannot go inside.
A museum dedicated to the famous psychiatrist was opened in the house where he lived with his family for 47 years. The exhibitions illustrate the life, everyday life and medical practice of the great medical scientist. Here are Freud's personal belongings, his study, a library with scientific literature in psychology, objects of ancient art from his collection. The atmosphere of the reception room, study room, and waiting room is faithfully preserved, transporting those present to the era of Freud.
Address: st. Bergasse 19. Open to the public: 09.00-18.00 every day.
The magnificent building, decorated with carved sandstone tiles, with a 60-meter dome, houses a grandiose art museum with rich collections of paintings, ancient monuments, valuable archaeological relics and numismatic rarities. The museum's art gallery presents great amount artistic masterpieces of Bruegel, Durer, Titian, Rubens, Veronese and many other classics of painting from different times, collected by generations of the Habsburgs.
During World War II, the museum building suffered significant destruction, and it reopened only in 1959. The most valuable exhibits were hidden before the war, so the museum’s collections have been completely preserved. A visit to a museum is a journey through wonderful world art that cannot leave anyone indifferent.
Address: pl. Maria Teresa, U 2.
Receives visitors: every day in summer, 10.00-18.00, Thursday. – until 21.00. spring-winter; Tuesday - Sunday – 10.00-18.00, Thursday – 10.00-21.00.
Leopold Museum
On the territory of Vienna's Museum Quarter stands a snow-white building in the shape of a rectangular parallelepiped. This is a unique building where masterpieces of leading Austrian expressionist artists of the late 19th and early 20th centuries are on display. Oak parquet flooring and an abundance of metal decorative elements give the interiors of the museum a special originality.
The basis of the exhibition was the private collection of a passionate avant-garde pictorial art- ophthalmologist Dr. Rudolf Leopold.
Connoisseurs of the era of modernism will receive true pleasure from perceiving the works of Egon Schiele, Gustav Klimt, Oskar Kokoschka and other equally famous artists. Benches are installed in the exhibition halls so that visitors can leisurely look at the extravagant, shocking and sometimes overly revealing paintings. Open every day except Tuesday. The doors of the institution are open from 10:00 to 18:00 (on Thursday until 21:00). Entry price is 13 euros.
Natural History Museum
It is rightfully considered one of the best scientific and educational institutions in Europe. There are more than 20 million exhibits of historical and archaeological value. Consists of 39 exhibition halls, which contain an impressive collection of unique specimens demonstrating the evolution of the animal and plant world, as well as the development geological processes. The exhibition is divided into several thematic scientific sections: mineralogy, paleontology and zoology.
The history of the formation of the first collections dates back to 1750, when the husband of Empress Maria Theresa began to be interested in rare minerals, precious stones, snail shells and various fossils. As a result, he collected about 30,000 amazing natural objects. Over the years, representatives of the Habsburg dynasty supplemented the collection with new items. The opening of the natural history museum took place at the end of the 19th century. A luxurious Renaissance palace was built on Maria Theresa Square specifically to house the exhibits.
It impresses visitors with its spacious premises, the total area of which is 8700 square meters. On the ground floor are exhibited insects, birds, fish, reptiles, various mammals, skeletons of dinosaurs and primitive people, as well as stuffed extinct animals. The second floor is filled with rare minerals, precious stones, meteorite fragments and all kinds of minerals. Of no less interest are the luxurious interiors of the palace: wall and ceiling frescoes, bas-reliefs and sculptures.
Tourists seeking to understand the world can visit the museum from 9:00 to 18:30 (on Wednesday until 21:00). Tuesday is a day off. The ticket price for an adult is 12 euros; for children and teenagers under 19 years of age, admission to the museum is free.
Military History Museum
Located in the south of Vienna in an ancient complex of buildings of former barracks and weapons workshops. The ensemble of buildings, built of red brick and located in a square on an impressive territory, is impressive with its originality. On the facades you can see distinctive features Byzantine, Moorish and medieval architecture. These are Gothic rose windows, tracery arches, an oriental dome and battlements.
The museum fund is divided into five thematic halls, in which exhibits related to various historical eras. The collection of valuable artifacts covers periods from the 16th to the 20th centuries. These are small arms and bladed weapons, military equipment, uniforms of military leaders, helmets, armor, everyday items of soldiers, samples of equipment, artillery pieces, models of ships and submarines, banners, insignia and much more.
History buffs will be interested in exhibits dedicated to the assassination attempt on Archduke Franz Ferdinand in Sarajevo. Museum objects reflect the details of the events that led to the outbreak of the First World War. Attention is drawn to the car in which the heir to the Austrian throne was shot. Next to the car are displayed the main attributes of that fateful day: the bloody uniform of F. Ferdinand and the authentic weapons of Serbian criminals.
Open daily from 9:00 to 17:00. Ticket price is 6 euros. You can visit the complex for free every first Sunday of the month.
Technical Museum
The exhibition consists of 80,000 exhibits that clearly demonstrate the history of scientific and technological progress. The basis of the collection is equipment that was widely used in energy, farming, mining, heavy industry, mechanical engineering, communications and culture. Many specimens are presented in life-size, which arouses genuine interest among visitors of all ages. You can see cars, aircraft, computer devices, industrial machines, steam engines, locomotives, electric cars, bicycles and much more.
It will be interesting to get acquainted with the rare collection of household items of the last century. These are refrigerators, gas stoves, irons, vacuum cleaners, washing machines, televisions and other respectable home appliances. Until recently, they were an integral part of household life, and now they occupy pride of place in the exhibition pavilion.
On weekdays it is open from 9:00 to 18:00. On Saturday and Sunday the exhibition is open from 10:00 to 18:00. Adults will pay 13 euros for an entrance ticket. Pensioners and students (19-27 years old) can enter the museum for 11 euros.
House of Music
Invites tourists to immerse themselves in the magical world of musical works and tonalities of various sounds. The exhibits are housed in the house where the founder of the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra, composer Otto Nicolai, lived. Some of the museum's exhibitions are dedicated to his creative work. Here you can see awards, batons, records, concert costumes, sheet music and many other personal belongings of the composer.
It is filled with unusual exhibits, representing a multimedia platform with visual effects. In one of the halls, all sorts of vibrations in the surrounding world are demonstrated. Here you can hear the rustling of tree leaves, the noise of a metropolis, the roar of a spaceship launch, the sounds of a fetus in the womb, animal voices, laughter, sneezing, coughing and much more. Museum visitors have the opportunity to use interactive screens to create their own musical masterpiece, experiment with different shades of their voice, listen to music with exemplary acoustics, and even control a symphony orchestra with the baton.
It is no less informative to get acquainted with the exhibitions dedicated to the greatest composers: Mozart, Beethoven, Strauss, Haydn, Schoenberg and other musical luminaries. Open every day from 10:00 to 22:00. Entrance fees: for adults - 13 euros, for students - 9 euros, for children under 12 years old - 6 euros.
Museum of Contemporary Art MUMOK
In the Museum Quarter of Vienna, among the ancient buildings of the former stables, rises a stylish rectangular gray building with a curved roof and narrow horizontal slits instead of windows. This building, called MUMOK, has become a container for objects of shocking modern art. The fund consists of 9,000 exhibits. In the snow-white spacious halls of the complex there are original and sometimes quite provocative specimens, most of which contradict common sense. These are paintings, sculptures, audio and video installations, performances, abstract graphic images and photographs.
Many artistic creations leave an ambiguous impression or make you think about socio-political problems modern world. The exhibition is open daily, from 10:00 to 19:00 (Tuesday-Friday), from 14:00 to 19:00 (Monday), from 10:00 to 21:00 (Thursday). Ticket price: 12 euros.
Museum of Applied Arts
It is one of the most comprehensive institutions in Europe in terms of exhibitions. Exhibits from different eras are presented to the public, from the Middle Ages to modern days. These are priceless artistic design masterpieces that were intended for aesthetic pleasure and practical use in everyday life. The exhibition received its first visitors in 1872. A school of applied arts was founded on the basis of the museum, where famous artists G. Klimt and O. Kokoschka studied.
The total exhibition area is about 2,700 square meters. The spacious halls display numerous items made of glass, porcelain, silver and textiles, as well as interior items and magnificent rare furniture. A rich collection of Persian carpets and tapestries, forged sets and precious dishes, oriental figurines and exquisitely painted vases, Venetian lace and Viennese chairs evoke enthusiastic feelings among viewers.
Open every day except Monday. The exhibition is open from 10:00 to 22:00 (Tuesday) and from 10:00 to 18:00 (Wednesday to Sunday). The cost of visiting the museum is 12 euros. Every Tuesday from 18:00 to 22:00 a ticket for tourists will cost 5 euros.
Museum of Clocks and Clockworks
An exhibition of clocks and clock mechanisms is located in an ancient three-story Viennese building. The collection numbers about three thousand different pieces, demonstrating the history of the development of manufacturing techniques and artistic design of watchmaking instruments since the 15th century. The exhibition presents a collection of pocket, wrist, fireplace, table, solar, floor, outdoor and pendulum clock mechanisms. Skillful creative work and the design solutions of the watchmakers are amazing. The dials are decorated with paintings, vases, figurines, boxes, porcelain and jewelry, as well as other interior items.
The unique astronomical clock “Cajetano”, made in XVIII century. They show the length of the day, the movements of planets in orbit, and even solar and lunar eclipses.
The kingdom of clock mechanisms welcomes its guests from Tuesday to Sunday. You can visit the museum from 10:00 to 18:00. Ticket price is 7 euros for adults, 5 euros for pensioners and students under 27 years old.
Museum of Forensics
In the ancient building of a former soap factory of the 17th century, a small museum is opened, dedicated to high-profile crimes, the organization of police order and the structure of the judicial system during the Austro-Hungarian Empire. The exhibition halls are filled with the gloomy atmosphere of terrible criminal cases. The exhibits include authentic protocols and dossiers describing atrocities, as well as murder weapons, photographs of victims, texts of verdicts, physical evidence, police uniforms from different years, skulls of criminals and even embalmed fragments of human bodies. The museum has recreated the interior of the room where visitors will see instruments for torturing defendants.
You can plunge into the chilling world of crime and forensics for 6 euros. Open from 10:00 to 17:00. Opening hours: Wednesday to Sunday.
Secession
Not far from the Ringstrasse boulevard ring, an original cubic building was erected, standing out against the backdrop of the majestic architectural ensemble Vienna. The facade of the building is crowned with a gilded dome with openwork ornaments in the form of intertwined laurel branches. This is the Secession Gallery, which houses works of art reflecting contemporary forms of artistic expression. At the end of the 19th century, the famous Austrian master Gustav Klimt led the community of modernist artists.
The main goal of the union of talented painters was to isolate themselves from traditional conservative movements in art. The first Secession exhibition took place in 1898. The new direction in artistic culture made a stunning impression on the audience, who became acquainted with the works of Van Gogh, Edouard Manet, Auguste Renoir and Edgar Degas. The main exhibit of the museum is famous work G. Klimt - “Beethoven Frieze”. A series of wall paintings is dedicated to Beethoven’s iconic ninth symphony.
Open every day except Monday from 10:00 to 18:00. The entrance ticket costs 9.50 euros. In the Secession you can see not only works contemporary artists, but also video installations.
Children's Museum ZOOM
This is an entertainment complex with themed interactive exhibition halls for children of different ages. The exhibitions are divided into zones, each of which in a playful way is aimed at developing vision, hearing, coordination, attention, motor skills and creative potential kids.
Children, accompanied by adults, will be taught how to create art installations, animated films, sculptural compositions, musical works, make dance steps, conduct Scientific research and learn the world. Children have a wonderful opportunity to learn the basics of the profession of a doctor, salesman, builder, or test themselves as a parent.
She welcomes her little guests every day except Monday. IN weekdays the complex is open from 9:00 to 15:30, on Saturday and Sunday - from 10:00 to 16:00. Ticket prices start from 5 euros. The cost of visiting depends on the choice of thematic studio.
Mozart's house
In the historical center of Vienna, not far from St. Stephen's Cathedral, there is an old residential building where Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart had his apartment on the second floor. This is the only surviving apartment in which the great Austrian composer lived from 1784 to 1787. It was in this house that Mozart wrote one of his most famous works - the opera “The Marriage of Figaro”.
Today's Mozart's apartment is a popular museum. The exhibition is aimed at recreating the conditions in which he lived and worked. great composer. Here are rare furniture sets, interior items, musical instruments, scores, manuscripts, costumes, musical clocks and personal belongings of the composer. The museum also has video installations showing Interesting Facts from the biography of Mozart.
The apartment-museum is open every day from 10:00 to 19:00. Ticket price - 11 euros (adults), 9 euros (for pensioners and students).
Jewish Museum
Its exhibition is dedicated to the history of the large Jewish community of the capital of Austria. An impressive part of the collection tells about the creative and social activities of famous Viennese Jews, such as psychologist S. Freud, writer S. Zweig, politician T. Herzl and composer G. Mahler.
Paintings, jewelry, assorted dishes, printed publications, household items, elegant figurines, ancient manuscripts and other precious artifacts provide insight into the rich cultural identity of the Jewish population. Thanks to animation technology, museum visitors can see the former beauty of Vienna's destroyed synagogues. Accepts guests from Sunday to Friday. Opening hours: 10:00-18:00. The entrance ticket costs 12 euros.
The content of the article
MUSEUM OF ART HISTORY IN VIENNA(Kunsthistorisches Museum) – belongs to the largest museums world, in whose collection are celebrated masterpieces Western European art, was opened on October 17, 1891. Currently, it is the property of the state, is under its protection, and is administered by the Ministry of Culture.
The museum project was developed by architects Karl Hasenauer and Gottfried Semper. The museum building is one of the twin buildings included in the museum ensemble, built in 1871–1891. The Museum of Art History and the Museum of Natural History stand on two sides of the square, in the center of which is the majestic monument to Empress Maria Theresa by Zumbusch.
The main building of the museum includes 91 rooms, where there is a collection of oriental and Egyptian antiquities, a collection of ancient monuments, works of Western European sculpture, a numismatic cabinet, as well as a world-famous art gallery.
HISTORY OF THE MUSEUM CREATION
The art collection of the Kunsthistorisches Museum was originally private collection Austrian Imperial House. Emperors, kings, and archdukes from the Habsburg dynasty collected works of art starting from the 15th century.
A fundamental contribution to the formation of the modern museum was the activity of Archduke Ferdinand II (1529–1595), stadtholder (governor) of Bohemia in 1547–1563 and ruler of the Alpine lands in 1564–1595, who assembled his collection at Ambras Castle according to truly museum standards. Subsequently, the best things from this collection were taken to Vienna.
Emperor Rudolf II (1552–1612) established an art gallery and a Kunstkamera in Prague Castle, where he moved the capital of the empire. Most of all, Rudolf II admired the works of Albrecht Dürer and Pieter Bruegel the Elder, which are now the pride of the Vienna Museum. Later, the most significant items were transported to Vienna, which became the capital of the Austrian Habsburg Empire, which included almost all of Central and Southern Europe in the 16th and 17th centuries, including the Southern Netherlands.
Archduke Leopold Wilhelm (1614–1662) is considered the founder of the Vienna Museum. From 1647 to 1656, the Archduke was stadtholder (governor) of the Southern Netherlands. In Brussels, which at that time was the center of the art trade, he acquired picturesque values. After the fall of Charles I, extensive collections of the English aristocracy (Duke of Buckingham, Earl of Arundel), as well as some paintings from the collection of King Charles I, which were purchased by Leopold William, were brought from England after the fall of Charles I for auction. In a short time he created the best art gallery in Europe. His collection included paintings by Giorgione, Titian, Veronese, Andrea Mantegna, Tintoretto, Jan van Eyck, Peter Paul Rubens, Jacob Jordaens.
During the reign of Empress Maria Theresa (1717–1780), it was decided to improve the art gallery: following the ideas of the Enlightenment, art treasures opened to the public and reorganized the collection. For this purpose, the most artistically significant works of art were brought from all the palaces, residences, and castles that belonged to the empress. For the first time, the exhibition was based on a historical principle: the paintings were grouped by national schools and hung in chronological order.
The imperial collections were available to the public even before the official opening of the Museum of Art History, but were scattered in different places. The Imperial Art Gallery was formerly located in the Upper Belvedere Castle, the collection of Egyptian, Oriental, Greek and Roman art, Renaissance objects made of gold, bronze and ivory, as well as works of the Baroque era - in the Lower Belvedere Castle. Many masterpieces decorative arts, including dynastic regalia and family jewels of the Habsburgs, were kept in the treasury of the Hofburg, the imperial palace. Several halls of the Hofburg housed coins and medals, as well as collections of minerals, shells and other natural wonders, which are now part of the Natural History Museum (Naturhistorisches Museum).
Even before the official opening of the Kunsthistorisches Museum by Emperor Franz Joseph (1830–1916) in 1891, its various departments were reclassified and made available to visitors. First among them was the armory (Leibstrammer), a memorial to Austrian military glory, with armor and weapons. Nowadays the military collection (Waffen-Samlung) is exhibited in the Court, Hunting and Armory halls of Neueburg Castle, which is an outbuilding of the old Hofburg Castle. In the Hofburg, in turn, the Museum of Ancient Musical Instruments, the Ephesus Museum and other exhibitions are open. These collections, as well as the collections in Stalburg, Schönbrunn Castle and Ambras Castle near Innsbruck, although scattered, form a single property of the Kunsthistorisches Museum.
In 1918, the Vienna Museum, like all Habsburg collections, was expropriated and became a state property.
The museum building was heavily damaged during the Second World War, but the monuments were mostly removed and hidden in 1939. In 1959 the museum was again opened to visitors.
PICTURE GALLERY OF THE MUSEUM OF ART HISTORY
The most significant part of the Museum's collection is the art gallery. It is considered the fourth largest in the world and includes paintings exceptional value of Western European artists of the 14th–18th centuries.
Dutch art section
15th–16th centuries includes works by the luminaries of Northern Renaissance painting - Jan van Eyck (c.1390–1441), Rogier van der Weyden (1399 or 1400–1464), Hugo van der Goes (c.1440–1482), Pieter Bruegel the Elder (1525/ 1530–1569).
Jan van Eyck: Cardinal Niccolo Albergati(c.1431), Jeweler Jan de Leeuw(Leeuva) (1436).
Rogier van der Weyden owns the altarpiece Triptych with crucifix(c.1440-1445), and Hugo van der Goes - a diptych Original sin And Lamentation of Christ (1475).
The world's largest collection of paintings by Pieter Bruegel the Elder is of enormous value - half of the entire surviving heritage Dutch artist 16th century (15 works). The most significant works of the painter are landscapes that were originally part of the cycle Seasons of six paintings (1565): Return of the Hunters(Winter), Cloudy day (Spring Eve), Return of the Herd(Autumn), as well as two compositions on a rural theme: Peasant wedding And Peasant dance(c.1568).
Flemish painting
The museum features a collection of works by Peter Paul Rubens (1577–1640), Jacob Jordaens (1599–1641), and Anthony van Dyck (1599–1641). Peter Paul Rubens: Altar of St. Ildefonso (1630–1632), Portrait of Elena Fourman, usually called Coat(c. 1638), Self-portrait(c. 1639).
Jacob Jordaens: Bean King Festival(c. 1638).
Anthony van Dyck: Prince Ruprecht (with Great Dane), Prince Karl Ludwig of the Palatinate (1631/1632), Portrait of a warrior gilded armor(c. 1624), etc.
Section of Dutch painting
the museum is small, but full of genuine masterpieces by Frans Hals (1580/85–1666), Rembrandt van Rijn (1606–1669), John Vermeer of Delft (1632–1675), and Gerard Terborch (1617–1681).
Frans Hals: Portrait of a man (c. 1654).
Gerard Terborha: Lady peeling an apple (1661).
Rembrandt Harmens van Rijn: Portrait of the artist's mother (1639), Large self-portrait (1652), Small self-portrait(c. 1657) and Portrait reading Titus(c. 1656).
Late painting by Johannes Vermeer of Delft In the artist's studio(c. 1665) often called Allegory of painting.
Section of German art
filled with masterpieces of the Renaissance: Albrecht Durer (1471–1528), Lucas Cranach the Elder (1472–1553), Hans Holbein the Younger (1497–1543) and others.
Of the eight works of Albrecht Dürer, the following should be highlighted: Portrait of the Emperor Maximilian I (1519), Mary with baby(1512) and one of the artist’s main works - an altar image Adoration of all saints of the Trinity (1511).
Lucas Cranach the Elder: Deer Hunting by Elector Frederick the Wise (1529), Judith with head Holofernes(c. 1530).
Hans Holbein the Younger: Portrait of Jane Seymour, Queen of England (1536),Portrait of a young merchant (1541).
The Italian collection is famous for its abundance of names and masterpieces of the Renaissance, 17th–18th centuries: Andrea Mantegna (1431–1506), Raphael Santi (1483–1520), Giorgione (c. 1477–1510), Titian (Tiziano Vecellio) (c. 1490 –1576), Paolo Veronese (1528–1588), Tintoretto (1518–1594), Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio (1571–1610) and others.
Andrea Mantegna: St. Sebastian(c. 1460).
Rafael Santi: Madonna in green (1505).
Among several paintings by Giorgione (Giorgio da Castelfranco), the central place is occupied by the painting Three philosophers(c. 1508).
Titian: altarpiece This man (1543), Portrait of Jacopo de Strada (1567–1568).
Paolo Veronese: Lucretia (1580).
Tintoretto (Jacobo Robusti): Susanna and the elders(c. 1560).
Caravaggio (Michelangelo Merisi): Madonna with rosary(c. 1607) and David with Goliath's head(c. 1606).
Collection of Spanish paintings.
The main decoration is the work of Diego de Silva Velazquez (1599–1660). The court painter of the Spanish kings painted numerous portraits of the king, his children, and courtiers: Portrait of the Infanta Margherita-Theresa (1659), Portrait of King Philip IV (1652–1653).
DEPARTMENT OF ANCIENT EGYPT AND ANCIENT EAST
The Egyptian collection of the Vienna Museum is not only one of the largest in the world, but also one of the oldest. Works of ancient Egyptian art began to flock to Vienna even before the general European interest in Egypt, which arose after Napoleon's military campaign in 1798. The oldest exhibit was acquired back in the 16th century, and by the first quarter of the 19th century. the collection consisted of almost 4,000 items. In the 20th century the main revenues came from archaeological research by Austrian scientists, especially in the necropolis of the Cheops pyramid in 1912–1929. The Vienna collection is of great importance for its excellent examples of sculpture from all periods of the history of Ancient Egypt. These include deeply realistic portraits of pharaohs, sculptures introducing us to important dignitaries, and meticulous depictions of animals. The halls contain a collection of reliefs, architectural fragments, figurines made of stone, bronze, wood and other materials, sarcophagi and objects of funeral rites, papyri, scarabs, amulets, and jewelry.
The museum halls in which this collection is located take us to the world of Ancient Egypt, not only because of the rich collection, but also thanks to the decorative and finishing works that brilliantly imitate interior decoration temples of that era. The architects used three original granite columns (c. 1420 BC), and also decorated the halls with paintings that replicate the frescoes of the burial chambers.
DEPARTMENT OF ANCIENT ART
The antique collection includes Greek, Etruscan and Roman treasures, as well as treasures from the Great Migration era of the early Middle Ages, found during archaeological excavations. From the 16th century coins, medals, and carved stones were collected. In the 18th century scattered collections scattered throughout the vast Habsburg Empire were united, and archaeological expeditions of the 19th century. significantly enriched this section of the museum with objects of sculpture and architecture.
The crown jewel of the antiquity department is a series of unique cameos. Ptolemaic Cameo(274–270 BC), made of nine-layer onyx, this masterpiece of Hellenistic glyptics depicts portraits of a married couple from the Ptolemaic dynasty. Gemma Augusta(end of the 1st century BC) - two-layer onyx of Roman work amazes with its multi-figure composition. Often, jewelers of subsequent eras used the works of their predecessors: Italian masters of the 16th century. decorated an antique cameo with a precious frame Eagle(27 BC).
The sculpture is represented by statues made of marble and bronze: Aristotle's head(4th century BC), Amazon sarcophagus(4th century BC), found in the 16th century. In Cyprus.
An interesting large collection of gold and silver items from the era of the Great Migration of Peoples, found in the 18th–20th centuries. in Europe: finely crafted jewelry, decorated with precious stones, a variety of vases and goblets.
KUNSTKAMERA
The exhibition of this department continues the collection of art of the early Middle Ages, covering the entire period of the European Middle Ages, the Renaissance, the Baroque, Rococo eras - up to the beginning of the 19th century. The core of this department was formed in the 16th–17th centuries. A group of the most significant exhibits comes from the treasury of German kings and emperors of the Middle Ages, the so-called. "imperial treasury" Items from this “golden pantry” clearly express the religious orientation of medieval art, while simultaneously continuing many traditions of the ancient world, the Ancient East, and Germany: Griffin-shaped jug(12th century). The museum has two excellent examples of medieval art: Madonna of Krumau(ca. 1400), Madonna by sculptor Riemenschneider(approx. 1500). Applied art in this section includes a variety of bowls, goblets, watches made of crystal, gold, precious stones and pearls in elaborate, luxurious shapes. The most famous exhibit is Salt shaker Benvenuto Cellini (1500–1572), made by the author (1540–1543) from gold, partially enameled, ebony for the French king Francis I. The Kunstkamera displays tapestries of the finest work, woven from wool and silk in the first half of the 18th century. Small-sized figurines and complex 17th-century ivory sculptural compositions amaze with their grace, sophistication and virtuosity of execution.
This year it is celebrating its anniversary - 125 years since its opening, and is presenting a magnificent gift: more than 10 thousand images of exhibits digitized and made publicly available. Titian and Caravaggio, Tintoretto and Arcimboldo, Bosch and Jan van Eyck - we enjoy beautiful works of art.
Giuseppe Arcimboldo, "Summer". 1563
Now you can create your own selections of your favorite paintings, select exhibits to visually teach art history, post them on social networks, or even just “stick” to the Museum’s electronic library, looking at the magnificent paintings in every detail.
Please note that the main language of the site only provides general information about the museum. Simply “scrolling through” previews of 10,000 works is tiring, and besides, the paintings and sculptures are mixed together. Therefore, for easy navigation, we recommend filling out the search bar - entering the name of the artist you are interested in in Latin. So, we were interested in Arcimboldo, and a search for the word Arcimboldo returned a preview of all his works from the collection, including those paintings that are only attributed to the master. The illustration above is a detail from one of the master’s paintings. And this is far from the limit of detail!
Madonna of the Greens (Madonna of the Meadow or Belvedere Madonna)
Rafael Santi
1505, 113×88 cm
The Museum of Art History is considered one of the largest in the world and, in terms of its importance and wealth of collections, is on a par with the Hermitage and the Louvre. The main building of the museum has 91 rooms, where collections of Eastern and Egyptian antiquities, a collection of ancient monuments, and works of Western European sculpture are presented. But the heart of the museum is the world-famous art gallery, with a special focus on Renaissance and Baroque art. Hundreds and hundreds of masterpieces: Durer, Rubens, Raphael, Velazquez, as well as the richest collection of works by Pieter Bruegel.
Pieter Bruegel the Elder. Hunters in the snow
1565, 117×162 cm
Detail of work by Quentin Massys from the museum's website.
Peter Paul Rubens. Coat. Portrait of Helen Fourment (1636/1638)
Detail of one of Rubens's paintings from the collection of the Vienna Museum
Giorgione. Three philosophers
1504, 125.5×146.2 cm
Precious paintings and exhibits were collected by the Habsburgs since the 15th century. However, a moment came when the thoughtfully and exquisitely compiled collections of the Austrian imperial court were no longer housed not only in the Hofburg, the city residence of the emperor, but also in other buildings belonging to the Austrian crown. In the 1860s, the issue of new museums began to be actively discussed, and Emperor Franz Joseph I, accustomed to getting the best of everything, invited the famous architect Gottfried Semper to design a new complex for the new Ringstrasse. It is planned not only to expand the territory of the city at the expense of the Imperial Forum - this is the name Semper gave to his architectural project - but also to build separate museum buildings for the imperial collections.
Jan Vermeer. Allegory of painting
1660s, 120×100 cm
Hans Holbein the Younger. Portrait of Jane Seymour, Queen of England
1536, 40×65 cm
The huge complex, conceived by the author of the buildings of the Dresden Opera and the Dresden Art Gallery, was only partially realized, but Emperor Franz Joseph I still received the coveted museums, where the rich collections of the Austrian court were transported. The museum's spaces are steeped in the Renaissance, from Mihaly Munkacsi's huge painting "The Apotheosis of the Renaissance" adorning the ceiling above the main staircase, to the beautiful frescoes by Gustav Klimt, his younger brother Ernst and friend Franz von Machu.
Peter Paul Rubens. Head of Medusa
1618, 69×118 cm
The Kunsthistorisches Museum is one of the pearls of the Museum Quarter of the Austrian capital. Or rather, these are two pearls: on Maria Theresa Square there are two luxurious and almost similar in appearance buildings, built in the spirit of the Renaissance. The second building houses the Natural History Museum, which houses a huge collection of natural exhibits collected by the Habsburg family. Among the treasures of its 39 rooms are the insect collection of Ignaz Schiener, the skeleton of a diplodocus, the almost complete composite skeleton of Steller's cow and other fossils and rare finds.
Peter Paul Rubens. Four parts of the world (Four Rivers of Paradise)
1615, 208×283 cm
If we cross the square, we will find ourselves in a treasury of works of art, the foundation of which was laid by the Austrian Archduke Leopold Wilhelm (1614-1662). As Viceroy of Flanders, the Archduke regularly visited the famous Brussels art market. In a short period of time, Leopold Wilhelm created a significant art collection, selected with great taste and understanding. Leaving Flanders, the Archduke took his treasures to Vienna - paintings by Dutch, Italian, Flemish, and German masters. This collection has been replenished over the centuries. In 1918, both museums - art history and natural history, as well as all the Habsburg collections - were expropriated and became the property of the state.
Jacopo Tintoretto. Bathing Susanna
194×147 cm
Now the Kunsthistorisches Museum consists of several exhibitions. Thus, the military collection of the emperors is exhibited in the Neuburg halls (in the wing of the Hofburg Castle). The Museum of Ancient Musical Instruments, the Ephesus Museum and other exhibitions are also open there. Separate meetings are in Stalburg, Schönbrunn Castle and Ambras Castle near Innsbruck.
Of course, the digitized collection of the Vienna Kunsthistorisches Museum is a great contribution of its employees to the popularization of art. However, nothing can compare with visiting luxurious halls, where you can not only enjoy works of art with your own eyes, but also feel the touch true History. The museum is huge, so if you are in Vienna, plan a separate day to visit it.
The great treasures of the Habsburgs became the basis of many of Vienna's museums, each of which amazes not only with its outstanding collections, but also with the architecture of the buildings in which they are housed. In the year of cultural tourism Russia-Austria, ARTANDHOUSES has compiled its guide to the most significant art collections Austrian capital.
Kunsthistorisches Museum
The great collection of art collected by the Habsburgs is presented here in all its diversity. The museum is divided into three parts. The right wing of the second floor displays Roman, Greek and Egyptian antiquities and sculpture; on the left, in the so-called Kunstkamera, there are objects of decorative and applied art of the 13th–19th centuries from all over the world (the most famous among them is the golden “Salier”). The most spacious third floor of the museum building is occupied by a collection of old masters, making the museum, along with the Louvre and the Hermitage, one of the main ones in the world. The pride of this part of the collection is the largest selections of works by Pieter Bruegel the Elder, Dürer, Rembrandt and other artists.
Albertina
The world's largest collection of graphics by old masters, impressionists and modernists, was founded in the 18th century by Albert of Saxe-Teschen, the son-in-law of Maria Theresa. Thanks to his excellent taste, there is a collection of drawings by Leonardo and Michelangelo, Dürer and Raphael, Rubens and Rembrandt, and Bosch. The collection is still being replenished, not only with graphic works, but also with paintings by contemporary artists, which are regularly exhibited. Since opening after global reconstruction in 2003 Albertina It has also become famous for its blockbuster exhibitions, produced by the museum itself. In recent years, powerful retrospectives of Titian, Raphael and Renoir, Bruegel and Durer have been held here.
Leopold Museum
The museum, based on the collection of ophthalmologist Rudolf Leopold, is located in the famous museum cluster in the former royal stables in the heart of Vienna. It can be considered a museum of 20th century Austrian art - it was the collector's focus. And it is this art, like his first names - Gustav Klimt and, that form the main core of the collection. The permanent exhibition, which rotates twice a year, also features masterpieces by Oskar Kokoschka, Koloman Moser and other local artists. Various exhibitions of contemporary art, both Austrian and international, are also regularly held here.
MUMOK
The second most important (and most visited) institution in the MuseumsQuartier museum cluster. This museum of contemporary art is also known by its second name - Ludwig Museum. Peter Ludwig, the famous chocolate magnate from Cologne, scattered his legendary collection all over the world (he donated part of it to the Russian Museum in St. Petersburg), but it seems that Vienna got the most. There is no permanent exhibition here, but every six months they come up with a new exhibition concept for a huge collection of world art of the 20th–21st centuries, from Dali to Warhol, Maria Lassnig and the Viennese actionists. Along with its own collection, MUMOK simultaneously shows two or three temporary exhibitions of current artists.
Kunsthalle Wien
This huge exhibition hall is the third exhibition space in the MuseumsQuartier and, perhaps, the most radical. It hosts experimental exhibitions of contemporary artists from different countries, explores the subcultures of world capitals, organizes performance festivals and alternative music concerts. IN Kunsthalle For example, monographic shows of such artists as Camille Henrot, Isa Genzken, Leigh Bowery and others took place.
Belvedere
This palace complex is called the Viennese Versailles or the Viennese Peterhof. It, like its French and Russian counterparts, was built during the Baroque period as a summer residence, has a fantastic park with fountains and is associated with royal stories, from Prince Eugene of Savoy to Empress Maria Theresa. Today it is the main repository of historical art in Austria, from the Middle Ages to the Secession. Tourists flock here from all over the world to admire “The Kiss” and “Judith” by Gustav Klimt, “The Embrace” by Egon Schiele and funny busts by Franz Xaver Messerschmidt. The ensemble of the complex is divided into Upper Belvedere And Lower. In the solemn Upper, the treasures of Austrian art are demonstrated, and in Nizhny temporary exhibitions are held. In recent years, the classical museum has begun to pay attention to and, so don’t be surprised if you see works by Jeff Koons, or, in the lobby, exhibition or park.
21er Haus
This museum of modern art is part of the Belvedere association - that’s why large-scale projects 21er Haus can be continued in the parks of the palace, and sometimes inside the Baroque walls. The museum building is the former Austrian pavilion, built by the architect Karl Schwanzer for the World Exhibition in Brussels in 1958. It would have been criminal to destroy an avant-garde building with references to constructivism, and the Austrians moved it at the end of the exhibition to the area of the railway station, which was then almost the outskirts of Vienna. Today, this fantastically beautiful space hosts large-scale exhibitions and retrospectives of contemporary artists, as well as street art exhibitions in the adjacent garden.
MAK
Museum of Applied Arts in Vienna - one of the best in the world in its category. Here they know how to present the public with such sad exhibits as tables, chairs and dishes in a fun way. This is largely due to its former long-term director Peter Noever, who was more obsessed not with design, but rather with contemporary art. To decorate the museum halls, he invited contemporary artists, who literally assembled numerous exhibits of decorative and applied art and furniture of the 19th–20th centuries into exciting total installations. Based on them, undoubtedly, studying the history of world design of this period is much more interesting.
Academy of Fine Arts Vienna
Vienna Academy of Fine Arts- just like the Venetian one, a collection of old masters. It is based on the collection of Count Lamberg-Sprinzenstein: in 1822, he donated more than 800 paintings to this educational institution. Over the next two hundred years the collection expanded with other gifts and today has nearly doubled in size. Having climbed several floors of the existing educational institution, you will come face to face with the masterpieces of Rubens, Bosch, Lucas Cranach the Elder, Titian, the Little Dutch and other authors.
Palais Liechtenstein, Garden Palace
At the turn of the 17th–18th centuries, the luxurious Baroque palace was considered only the summer residence of the Princes of Liechtenstein on the outskirts of Vienna, but today it is located practically in its center - just a few tram stops from the Kunsthistorisches Museum. Until recently, it worked as a museum, but today you can get there by appointment, and there is a reason for it. The palace, with its gigantic ballroom, frescoed by Johann Michael Rothmayer, displays masterpieces from the princely collection, which continues to grow today: from Botticelli and Quentin Masseys to the largest collection of Rubens and European decorative arts.
Palais Liechtenstein, City Palace
In 2013, the second princely palace in Vienna, the City Palace, was opened to the public, where a large family still stays today. Viewers (also by appointment) have access to the most magnificent rooms of the building, designed by Domenico Martinelli in collaboration with the Swiss Gabriel de Gabrieli at the beginning of the 18th century. The interiors are decorated with powerful draperies, huge bronze chandeliers with rock crystal pendants, soft sofas with woven pillows with patterns from the Rococo era, repeated in gilded elements of mirror and picture frames, ceiling and wall stucco, covered with a triple layer of gold leaf. On two accessible floors, a rich Biedermeier collection is exhibited with works by the main representatives of the style - Ferdinand Waldmüller, Carl Spitzweg, Moritz von Schwind and other artists, as well as furniture, dishes and graphics of that era.
Hofburg
One of the largest palace complexes in the world, the construction of which lasted from the 13th to the 20th centuries, was the home of the Habsburgs until 1918, and today it is fragmented into several museum institutions and the residence of the President of Austria. The most famous museums in the composition Hofburg- The Sisi Museum, the Imperial Apartments and the Treasury attract tourists primarily with collections of artifacts from the life of the legendary dynasty and a collection of decorative and applied arts different centuries and countries. Among the highlights are the crown, spear and sword of the rulers of the Holy Roman Empire, one of the largest emeralds in the world, furniture and decor of the 16th–19th centuries.
Schönbrunn
The summer imperial residence was rebuilt many times until Maria Theresa decided to settle in it thoroughly and ordered it to be remodeled in a lush Baroque style with references to Versailles in Paris. In fact, the skill of German, Italian, French and English cabinetmakers, glassmakers and other court artisans of the 18th century can today be seen in all its splendor in the forty rooms of the palace open to visitors. Plus a huge park with Italian garden sculpture and the world’s first zoo, along whose alleys the young Mozart walked.
Wien Museum Karlsplatz
Like any museum in the city, it is a museum of everything. Thousands of historical exhibits include topographic maps and models of the city, household utensils and furniture, paintings and sculpture and many other things characterizing the life and customs of the townspeople, starting with the first settlements here during the Neolithic period. The museum is especially proud of its own collection of great names of Austrian and German painting - Gustav Klimt, Egon Schiele, Ferdinand Waldmüller and others.
Bank Austria Kunstforum
This largest exhibition hall is located in the building of the postmodernist architect Gustav Peichl in the center of Vienna and, as the name suggests, belongs to the main Austrian bank. The latter uses it not at all to demonstrate its own art collections, but to display retrospectives of world classics of the 19th and 20th centuries. Among large-scale exhibitions recent years there are exhibitions of Aivazovsky, Picasso and many others.
Weltmuseum
Opening at the end of October, it occupies an entire wing of the Hofburg imperial residence in the center of Vienna. He is the new reincarnation ethnographic museum, famous for his collections archaeological antiquities and minerals from all over the world, including, for example, finds from James Cook's expeditions. Unique items of the Aztecs, applied art - wood, bronze, ivory - from different centuries and continents are stored here.
Secession
An incredibly beautiful white house with a golden dome, as if woven from tree branches, is the quintessence of Viennese Art Nouveau, an exhibition pavilion called Secession House. It was erected in 1897–1898 on the initiative of artists famous architect Joseph Olbrich and since its creation has been used to display the works of Art Nouveau artists. The main attraction inside is Gustav Klimt's Beethoven Frieze, written at the very beginning of the 20th century. Today, it also hosts exhibitions, mainly of contemporary artists from different countries.
If you don't like the creations of Ernst Fuchs, one of the founders Vienna school fantastic realism, an art movement in post-war Austria, then his museum is worth a visit, if only because it is located in the famous house built by Otto Wagner. The architectural pearl of Art Nouveau, or Art Nouveau, was erected by the famous architect for his family in 1888 and decorated according to all the canons of the style by famous masters of the era.
KUNST HAUS WIEN - Museum Hundertwasser
"Vienna House of Arts" was opened in 1991 by the Austrian artist and architect Friedensreich Hundertwasser. In fact, the founder dedicated the space to himself: on two floors, his many whimsical works are exhibited, mixed with expressionism, surrealism and the fantastic buildings of Gaudí. Temporary exhibitions of contemporary artists are also held here, and nearby is the famous asymmetrical and colorful residential building designed by Hundertwasser and which has become one of the symbols of Vienna.
Hofmobilendepot
Furniture Museum has been operating since 1924 and presents outstanding examples of almost all styles and trends, from Gothic to Art Nouveau. It is based on the imperial collection, represented here by individual items and entire rooms, such as the apartments of Princess Sissi, beloved by the Austrians, or the so-called Egyptian Cabinet, an empire masterpiece that belonged to Empress Marie Louise.
Like
The exhibition of the Kunsthistorisches Museum or Kunsthistorisches Museum in Vienna is housed in two huge buildings located not far from each other. All exhibitions located in these two buildings are visited with one ticket. We only realized this when we bought the ticket, because the information on the Internet is presented in such a way that it seems that you need a separate ticket for each of these exhibitions. It will take a whole day to visit this museum.
The exhibitions are very extensive. This is one of the richest museums in the world. Both of these buildings were built under the penultimate emperor of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, Franz Joseph. It was he who decided to bring together all the scattered collections of the Habsburgs and put them on public display. After the collapse of the empire in 1918, all collections became the property of the Austrian Republic.
The building located on Maria Theresa Square (Maria-Theresien-Platz, 1010 Wien) houses:
- On the ground floor there is Kunskamera, which presents all sorts of interesting things like music boxes, wind-up toys, etc. - this is the earliest kunskamera in central Europe; information about its organization dates back to 1550. And the meeting ancient Egyptian, ancient Greek and ancient Roman art.
- Huge on the second floor painting collection, which includes paintings by famous European painters - Titian, Veronese, Tintoretto, Anthony van Dyck, Pieter Bruegel and many others.
- Huge on the third floor numismatic collection.
In New Burg (Neue Burg Heldenplatz, 1010 Wien) there are:
- Ephesus Museum.
- Hunting and Armory Chamber.
- Collection of ancient musical instruments.
- In addition, the headquarters of the OSCE mission is located in the same building, but they are not allowed there.
New Burg building All of the above can be visited with one ticket and it’s impossible to see everything quickly in one day, so it’s better to think in advance about which exhibitions to go to.
Adult 16€, children under 19 years old free. We offer a combined ticket for the Kunsthistorisches Museum + = 22€ (save 6€). There is an annual ticket - 44 €. The prices shown are valid for 2019. During the high season, there may be long queues at the museum and an electronic voucher provides a 5% discount in the museum gift shop, this is how Europeans are trying to encourage visitors to buy tickets online. In this case, the museum will be able to save on the maintenance of cashiers, and on printing the paper ticket forms themselves.
There are audio guides. 990 museum objects are described in German, English, Italian and French, and only 120 in Russian. The cost of using the audio guide is 4 euros.
In the souvenir shop you can buy books in Russian with descriptions of the collections, but prices start from 19 euros for a description of selected exhibits of only one Kunskamera, the same for a description of an art gallery and another 39 euros for a description of the works of the grandiose exhibition of Velazquez (it took place in 2016) . The museum always hosts very impressive exhibitions
Kunsthistorisches Museum
The building of the Kunsthistorisches Museum on Maria Theresa Square is a twin building. These two buildings stand opposite each other and are almost identical in architecture.
The interior of the Museum of Art History is also very good, one might say simply gorgeous.
Kunsthistorisches Museum - interior As in the Natural History Museum, there is a cafe under the central dome.
Kunsthistorisches Museum - cafe under the dome Gorgeous front staircase.
Kunsthistorisches Museum - main staircase Art of the Ancient World
The collection of Egyptian and Near Eastern treasures is considered one of the most significant in the world due to its representative collection of ancient Egyptian monuments from the period Ancient kingdom(300 - ca. 2270 BC). Sculptural portraits of pharaohs and high-ranking officials, animal sculptures, reliefs, stone and bronze figurines, amulets, jewelry, papyri, mummies, sarcophagi and other objects introduce us to the ancient civilization of the peoples of northeast Africa and Asia.
Hall dedicated to the art of ancient Egypt The collection of Greek and Roman antiquities is one of the most significant in the world, including ancient monuments culture and treasures of the era of the Great Migration of Peoples and the early Middle Ages.
Art of ancient Greece 550 - 525 BC. Gold jewelry is displayed in common rooms, no special rooms or storage rooms like we have in the Hermitage.
Exhibition of antique gold jewelry All the halls of the museum are decorated very elegantly, it is immediately noticeable that museum workers We thought through every detail of the decor of the walls, ceilings, and the location of display cases with exhibits.
The Gemma of Augusta is considered a significant treasure of the museum and is displayed in a separate display case.
Gemma Augusta. Not earlier than 10 AD, onyx All rooms have ideal lighting.
Exhibition of ancient Roman figurines Kunskamera
The exposition of the Kunskammer in Vienna is very different from the exposition of the Kunskammer in St. Petersburg. The Vienna Kunskammer contains amazing and precious products of human hands, no freaks preserved in alcohol, like ours.
Kunskamera exposition - gold devices Many halls are equipped with interactive screens where you can read about the exhibits in the hall in English and German.
So, for example, this large-scale ceiling painting is accompanied by a tablet, by poking your finger into it you can find out the names and who each of the characters in this huge painting was.
Ceiling painting in one of the halls 
Kunskamera exposition - bone product Art Gallery
It is prohibited to take photographs in the art gallery and its exposition is so rich that it makes no sense to include photographs. I will limit myself to only one that made the greatest impression on me. These are amazing paintings by the Italian painter Giuseppe Arcimboldo, a harbinger of surrealism, he painted these amazing allegories in the 1560s.
Examples of allegories from the 1560s cycles “The Seasons” Along with the permanent exhibition of paintings, the art gallery held a huge exhibition of works by Diego Vellasquez, he was a court painter to the Spanish king and painted a large number of portraits of the Habsburg family. The exhibition features several portraits of Infanta Margherita and famous painting“Las Meninas”, 59 variations of which I saw in Barcelona.
"Las Meninas" (1656, Prado, Madrid) The art gallery is very rich in immortal masterpieces; the entire second floor of the huge building is hung with paintings in several rows.
New Castle - Hunting and Gun Chamber
The collection of weapons and armor is considered one of the best in the world; the earliest examples date back to the 5th century. The collection was formed in 1889 as a result of the merger of the Imperial Arsenal with the collections located in Ambras Castle in Innsbruck.
New burg or New castle— interior This showcase displays the oldest pieces in the collection.
Ancient armor XIV century This was the first time I saw such pillows on a horse’s neck; apparently, they protected the horse in a collision with an opponent.
Knight at the tournament Some armors look like works of art, the finishing is so fine.
Armouries The collection of armor is very interesting, for example, I didn’t know that there were armor with faces
Armor of Heinrich von Württemberg 1525-1530 Or these helmets with a fish face.
Armor helmet with fish head 
Armouries Interactive screens are installed in the halls. On them you can see the history of knightly tournaments in medieval engravings. In addition to classic European armor, there is also a lot of Turkish military clothing, since Vienna often fought with Ottoman Empire and even one Japanese samurai armor.
Armouries The hunting and gun chamber is many times larger than the knights' hall of the Hermitage, since the knights still lived in Western Europe and it is quite natural that large collections of knightly armor developed in Europe.
New Castle - Museum of Ancient Musical Instruments
I admit honestly that we did not examine the musical instruments, since this is very specific and we are far from being passionate about classical music, but the harp in the interiors of the palace looks great.
Harp in the Museum of Musical Instruments New Castle - Ephesus Museum
The Ephesus Museum displays everything that was found during excavations ancient city Ephesus, now located in Turkey. Excavations were carried out in 1886-1906; as many as 7 expeditions were sent with finds to Vienna. In Ephesus, of course, they wanted to find famous temple Artemis of Ephesus, which is one of the 7 wonders of the world. Unfortunately, the temple was destroyed more than once in ancient times and little remains of it, but marble statues and there was enough debris for the entire Ephesus Museum in Vienna.
The Kunsthistorisches Museum in Vienna is a very large collection of works of art from different eras, from the emergence of civilization in Ancient Egypt to the end of the 18th century. This is one of the largest collections in the world, which is quite natural, since all these collections were collected by the Habsburgs for almost 500 years. Art lovers are guaranteed to have great fun exploring the collection.
You can find out on my website. You no longer have to browse dozens of websites to find information about: what type of transport to choose (plane, train, bus,), all methods of transfer from Vienna-Schwechat airport, what to do in Vienna, what to see on your own, where you can download an audio guide, where to try the legendary Sachertorte and the slightly less famous Tafelspitz, All in one article, all the necessary links.
| 9 | 9 855, today 11 |