Every stroll through the center of Austria’s capital forces tourists to stop frequently in front of buildings with historic styles. However, not every passerby considers the extraordinary treasures hidden within the interiors of these impressive structures.
The Kunsthistorisches Museum in Vienna (German: Kunsthistorisches Museum Wien) is one of the largest and most important museums not only in Austria but in the world. Located at Maria Theresien Platz in Vienna, this institution houses masterpieces by such significant European artists as Titian, Pieter Bruegel the Elder, and Velázquez. However, these priceless paintings represent only a small fraction of the museum’s vast collection. A walk through its corridors will reveal an array of exhibits representing seven millennia of history – from ancient Egypt to the late 18th century.
History and architecture of the museum
The beginnings of the Kunsthistorisches Museum date back to the 16th century when members of Austria’s imperial family began systematically collecting works of art. Over the centuries, the Habsburgs’ collection grew in strength, becoming increasingly diverse and valuable. By the 19th century, the collection was so extensive that a dedicated institution was needed to safely store and display the works to the public. Thus, at the initiative of Emperor Franz Joseph, construction of the museum began in 1871, and exactly twenty years later, its doors opened to visitors for the first time.
The museum was established as part of a grand urban development project aimed at creating a group of monumental buildings to make Vienna an even more prestigious city. The design of both the Kunsthistorisches Museum and its neighboring counterpart, the Natural History Museum, was undertaken by renowned architects Gottfried Semper and Carl von Hasenauer. Thanks to their vision, today’s tourists are captivated by the richly detailed interiors of these buildings.
The entire Neo-Renaissance structure was designed to resemble something between grand royal palaces and ancient temples. Just a quick glance at the building reveals that this concept was successfully realized. Furthermore, the museum’s 60-meter central dome remains one of the most iconic landmarks in Vienna’s skyline.
Key collections
The Kunsthistorisches Museum in Vienna is renowned for the remarkable diversity and wealth of its collections, which span from ancient art to exhibits that transport visitors to the Middle Ages, Renaissance, and Baroque eras. This wide range is part of what makes the institution so highly esteemed, as every visitor, regardless of their interests, can find something captivating within its walls.
The painting collection
Any discussion of the museum’s exceptional collections must begin with its most important one: the painting gallery. It houses world-famous works by master painters from across Europe. This gallery is a major reason why the museum is often described as a mecca for lovers of Renaissance and Baroque art. Through its varied works, the exhibition allows visitors to understand the major artistic movements that flourished in Europe from the Middle Ages to the early modern period. Titian represents the Italian Renaissance, Vermeer the Dutch Golden Age, and Rubens and Rembrandt the height of Baroque painting.
It’s worth mentioning a few specific works that truly enrich the museum’s painting collection. The walls of the galleries are adorned with masterpieces by Pieter Bruegel the Elder, including “The Tower of Babel”, “The Hunters in the Snow”, and “The Fight Between Carnival and Lent”. However, this is only the beginning of the famous works on display at the Vienna museum. The collection also includes “Madonna of the Meadow” by Raphael, “David with the Head of Goliath” by Caravaggio, “Summer” by Giuseppe Arcimboldo, “Samson and Delilah” by Van Dyck, Rubens’ “Self-Portrait”, and portraits of the Infanta Margarita by Velázquez.
The Kunstkammer Collection
Kunstkammer Wien is considered the most significant collection of its kind in the world. To fully understand what this part of the museum entails, one must first uncover the meaning behind “Kunstkammer,” or cabinets of curiosities. These were rooms curated by aristocrats up until the 18th century, where they exhibited collections of natural objects, works of art, and other rarities.
Such cabinets were meant to reflect the understanding of the world at the time, where art, science, and magic coexisted. Alongside seashells and coral, you would typically find precious sculptures and supposed unicorn horns. The concept of cabinets of curiosities is often seen as the precursor to modern museums, which is why the Kunstkammer at the Kunsthistorisches Museum is often referred to as a “museum within a museum.”
The entire exhibition consists of twenty galleries filled with 2,200 objects from different eras and fields. Among them are examples of magnificent goldsmith work, such as the famous Saliera by Benvenuto Cellini, remarkable sculptures, bronze statuettes, delicate ivories, and vessels made of precious stones. The Kunstkammer isn’t just about splendor—it’s also about oddities. You’ll find unusual clocks, intricate automatons, and mysterious scientific instruments. There are also opulent game boards, tapestries, and unexpected treasures like a drinking horn shaped like a dragon.
Antiquities Collection
For lovers of ancient history, the Kunsthistorisches Museum in Vienna has prepared several exceptional collections of ancient artifacts. The Egyptian and Near Eastern collection includes exhibits from Egypt, Mesopotamia, and the Arabian Peninsula. With over 17,000 objects, it constitutes one of the world’s most important collections of ancient Egyptian artifacts. It is divided into four major areas, within which visitors can explore the mysteries of funerary culture, learn about the history of civilization, admire magnificent sculptures and reliefs, and discover everything about the development of writing. The most popular exhibits in this section include sarcophagi and coffins, animal mummies, tomb stelae, sculptures, and valuable everyday objects.
The 2,500 objects in the collection of Greek and Roman antiquities aim to showcase the cultural and artistic richness of ancient Europe. This collection not only introduces museum visitors to the secrets of classical culture but also demonstrates its influence on other European arts, which should satisfy true enthusiasts of ancient cultures. This collection features mosaics, sculptures, sarcophagi, and a full collection of vases. Among the most valuable exhibits are the massive votive statue of a man from Cyprus and the gold treasure of Nagyszentmiklós.
GOOD TO KNOW: Complementing a visit to the ancient culture collections could be a trip to the Ephesus Museum, located nearby in the Hofburg at Heldenplatz. Hundreds of ancient artifacts discovered during excavations by Austrian archaeologists are displayed there. Among the numerous exhibits, visitors can see statues from the Sanctuary of the Great Gods on the Greek island of Samothrace and sculptures recovered from the ruins of Ephesus.
Coin Collection
Although the objects in this collection are not the largest, their significance is unquestionable. After all, the more than 2,000 items on display served people in trade transactions for over three millennia. Despite the name of the collection, visitors will find much more than just coins in the showcases. The exhibition presents the entire history of money, from pre-coinage forms of payment to coins and paper money. One of the three rooms dedicated to this collection diverges somewhat from the main theme, showcasing both Austrian and European honorary medals and orders.
What else does the museum offer?
The Kunsthistorisches Museum regularly attracts not only tourists passing through Vienna but also has a loyal following of regular visitors. They come to admire the extraordinary exhibits of the permanent collection and the various temporary exhibitions that change throughout the year. In addition to displaying historical objects, the museum also serves an educational role. It offers numerous workshops, lectures, and educational programs for both children and adults, providing insights into art in an accessible way.
After a long day of exploring the museum, the best place to rest is the café located inside the building. There, you can enjoy local delicacies as well as exquisite desserts in a charming, historic setting. And if you feel inspired to take a piece of the museum home with you, make sure to stop by the museum shop, where you can purchase reproductions of artworks, books, jewelry, and a range of items related to the temporary exhibitions.
Museum District
The exhibits displayed in the showcases of the Kunsthistorisches Museum form an impressive collection, but right in the heart of the Austrian capital, near Maria Theresien Platz, there are many more museums that not only allow art lovers to deepen the knowledge gained from this institution but also provide valuable information on other topics. While the Kunsthistorisches Museum and the adjacent Natural History Museum are considered the most important landmarks of Vienna’s museum district, they are not the only interiors worth visiting. Be sure to step inside the Leopold Museum or the Hofburg, which houses the Imperial Treasury, safeguarding the extraordinary treasure of the Order of the Golden Fleece.
Some of the Kunsthistorisches Museum’s collections can also be viewed outside the official building. Examples include the armory and the world’s most significant collection of Renaissance and Baroque instruments, located within the Hofburg. The largest portion of this collection consists of Viennese pianos, but there are also string and wind instruments. Interestingly, if the condition of a given object allows, the collection not only helps you understand their function and history but also lets you hear their sounds.
Visiting the Kunsthistorisches Museum in Vienna
The museum is open year-round, but particularly long lines tend to form during the spring and autumn months when crowds of tourists visit Vienna’s elegant streets. During these peak times, it’s highly recommended to purchase tickets online, for example, through this site. The type of ticket you should buy depends on your personal preferences. You can explore the museum’s corridors on your own, or take advantage of audio guides that make the visit more accessible even to those who aren’t well-versed in art history.
A popular option is to purchase combo tickets, which allow you to combine your visit to the Kunsthistorisches Museum with tours of other iconic locations such as the Leopold Museum or the Imperial Treasury, saving you a bit of money along the way.
Practical information
- It is best to purchase tickets for the Kunsthistorisches Museum in advance. This way, you can avoid standing in long lines and reduce the risk of tickets being sold out.
- Address: Maria-Theresien-Platz, 1010 Wien, Austria
- Buy tickets on GetYourGuide
