Museum Accessibility In Austria: Are Galleries Open?

Austria is home to a plethora of museums, ranging from the traditional to the quirky. The country's capital, Vienna, is a hub of cultural institutions, including the Kunsthistorisches Museum, the Leopold Museum, and the Museum of Modern Art. The city also boasts impressive castles and palaces, such as the Schönbrunn Palace, which was once the summer residence of the Hapsburgs, and the Hofburg Palace, which served as the winter residence of the royal family.

In addition to its famous museums and palaces, Austria also has several unique museums dedicated to specific themes or individuals. For example, the Schwarzenegger Museum in Thal is dedicated to the actor and former governor of California, Arnold Schwarzenegger, and is located in his childhood home. Another interesting museum is the House of Music in Vienna, which showcases the works of renowned composers such as Mozart, Beethoven, and Haydn.

Salzburg, another popular tourist destination, offers a different kind of museum experience. While the city is known for its connection to The Sound of Music, many locals feel disconnected from the film and its portrayal of the von Trapp family. However, the city still attracts millions of tourists each year, who visit the sites featured in the movie, such as the Pegasus Fountain at Mirabell Gardens and the Nonnberg Convent.

Arnold Schwarzenegger Museum

The Arnold Schwarzenegger Museum is located in Thal, Austria, and is the only museum in the world that bears the name of the famous actor and bodybuilder. The museum is housed in Schwarzenegger's birthplace, which was formerly the forester's house of the Counts of Herberstein. It opened in 2011 and offers visitors a journey through Schwarzenegger's life, from his childhood to his careers in bodybuilding, film, and politics.

The museum features numerous exhibits showcasing Schwarzenegger's extraordinary career, including memorabilia and original exhibits from his films, bodybuilding career, and time as Governor of California. Visitors can also purchase merchandise and fan items from the museum's online shop.

The idea for the museum was conceived by former Mayor of Thal, Peter Urdl, a longtime friend of Schwarzenegger. The house was purchased by Superfund owner Christian Baha in 2009, and after renovations, the museum opened its doors on July 30, 2011, Schwarzenegger's birthday. Since then, the museum has continuously evolved, adding new sections such as his military service and new movie props.

The museum is open from February to October, Monday to Friday, from 10:00 am to 6:00 pm, and on weekends and holidays from 10:00 am to 6:00 pm, with the last admission at 5:30 pm. From November to January, it is open on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm, with the last admission at 4:30 pm. The museum offers discounted tickets for groups of over 10 people, students, seniors, people with disabilities, and other special categories.

The Arnold Schwarzenegger Museum provides a unique insight into the life and career of one of the most famous Austrians, making it a must-visit destination for fans and those interested in learning more about his extraordinary journey.

Vienna's Kunsthistorisches Museum

The Kunsthistorisches Museum, or the Vienna Museum of Art History, is housed in a palatial building on the Vienna Ring Road. It is the largest art museum in Austria and one of the most important museums in the world. The museum was opened in 1891 by Emperor Franz Joseph I of Austria-Hungary, who also opened the Natural History Museum, which is directly across Maria-Theresien-Platz and features a similar design.

The Building

The two buildings were constructed between 1871 and 1891 according to plans by Gottfried Semper and Baron Karl von Hasenauer. The rectangular buildings feature symmetrical Renaissance Revival façades of sandstone, lined with large arched windows on the main levels, and topped with an octagonal dome 60 metres (200 ft) high. The interiors are lavishly decorated with marble, stucco ornamentation, gold-leaf, and murals. The grand stairway features paintings by Gustav Klimt, Ernst Klimt, Franz Matsch, Hans Makart, and Mihály Munkácsy.

The Collections

The museum's collections include those of the Habsburgs, particularly from the portrait and armour collections of Ferdinand of Tirol, the collections of Emperor Rudolph II, and the collection of paintings of Archduke Leopold Wilhelm. Notable works in the picture gallery include:

• Jan van Eyck: Portrait of Cardinal Niccolò Albergati (c. 1431)
• Antonello da Messina: San Cassiano Altarpiece (1475–1476)
• Madonna of the Meadow (1506)
• St Margaret and the Dragon (1518)
• Adoration of the Trinity (1511)
• The Bravo (1516–17)
• Portrait of Isabella d'Este (1534–1536)
• Lorenzo Lotto: Madonna and Child with Saint Catherine and Saint James (c. 1527)
• Tintoretto: Susanna and the Elders (1555–56)
• Pieter Brueghel the Elder: The Fight Between Carnival and Lent (1559), Children's Games (1560), The Tower of Babel (1563), The Procession to Calvary (1564), The Gloomy Day (February - March) (1565), The Hunters in the Snow (December - January) (1565), The Peasant and the Nest Robber (1568), The Peasant Wedding (1568/69), and The Peasant Dance (1568/69)
• Giuseppe Arcimboldo
• Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio: The Crowning with Thorns (c. 1602–1604), Madonna of the Rosary (1606–07), David with the Head of Goliath, Miracles of St. Francis Xavier, and Angelica and the Hermit (1626–1628)
• Johannes Vermeer: The Art of Painting (1665–66)
• Diego Velázquez: Several portraits of the Spanish royal family, a branch of the Habsburgs, were sent to Vienna.
• Adrien Manglard: Seestück; Seehafen
• Thomas Gainsborough: Landscape in Suffolk (1748; currently not on display)

The museum also features the following collections:

• Egyptian and Near Eastern Collection
• Collection of Greek and Roman Antiquities
• Collection of Sculpture and Decorative Arts
• Collection of Ancient Musical Instruments
• Collection of Arms and Armour
• Secular and Ecclesiastical Treasury (in the Schweizerhof)
• Museum of Carriages and Department of Court Uniforms (in Schönbrunn Palace)
• Collections of Ambras Castle (in Innsbruck)
• Austrian Theatre Museum in Palais Lobkowitz

The museum is also affiliated with the following:

• Museum of Ethnology in the Neue Burg (affiliated in 2001)
• Lipizzaner-Museum in the Stallburg

Visitor Information

The museum is open daily from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and on Thursdays and Saturdays until 9 p.m. Tickets can be purchased online, and there are discounts for children, teens, students, seniors, and other groups. An audio guide is available in German, English, Italian, French, Spanish, Russian, Ukrainian, and Mandarin. The museum also features a café and restaurant, which are open during museum hours.

The Sound of Music filming locations

The Sound of Music, starring Julie Andrews and Christopher Plummer, is a Hollywoodised tale of a true story. The film is set in Salzburg, Austria, and was filmed in various locations across the city and its surroundings. Here are four to six paragraphs detailing some of the iconic filming locations:

Schloss Leopoldskron

Schloss Leopoldskron, a palace with a rich and complex history, served as the setting for the Von Trapp family home. The back of the palace was used for exterior shots, and several key scenes were filmed on the grounds, including the famous "Lemonade with the Baroness" scene and the children's tumble into the neighbouring lake. The Venetian room, though not used for filming, was reproduced in the studio and became a significant set for various drawing-room scenes. Today, Schloss Leopoldskron is a hotel, and visitors can enjoy stunning views of the palace and its lake.

Hellbrunn Castle Gazebo

The gazebo at Hellbrunn Castle is featured in two romantic moments in the film. Firstly, it is where young Rolf courts Liesl to the tune of "Sixteen Going on Seventeen." Later, it reappears when Maria and Georg teach the children to waltz to the song "Something Good." The gazebo at Hellbrunn is a reconstruction, as the original gazebo is located in the gardens of Schloss Leopoldskron. However, the Hellbrunn gazebo is a popular spot for visitors due to its accessibility.

Mirabell Palace and Garden

Mirabell Palace, built in the 18th century by architect Fischer von Erlach, is a grand house with gardens rife with allusions to Greek mythology. The Pegasus fountain in the garden is a memorable location for the song "Do-Re-Mi," with Maria and the children singing and dancing around the winged horse. The palace and its gardens are a popular tourist attraction and a must-visit for fans of the film.

Mehlweg Mountain

Mehlweg Mountain, located approximately six miles from Salzburg, is the mountain backdrop for Maria's famous entrance into the musical. While the brook and birch trees in the opening scenes were added by production, the stunning scenery is authentic.

Nonnberg Abbey

Nonnberg Abbey, founded in 714, is the oldest women's convent in the region. The abbey has a rich history, surviving fires and shifting religious politics. While the interior scenes of the abbey were recreated in the studio, several pivotal moments in the film were shot on location, including the children's visit to Maria at the convent and the escape sequence involving the Von Trapps and Nazis.

Mondsee Abbey

Mondsee Abbey, built in 748, is a stunning religious building with a remarkable interior. While the film depicts Maria marrying Captain Von Trapp at Nonnberg Abbey, the actual wedding scene was filmed at Mondsee Abbey's basilica. This location is slightly outside Salzburg but is definitely worth a visit for its architectural beauty and cinematic significance.

The Austrian Open-Air Museum

The museum features over 100 original farm buildings from different regions of Austria, displaying the rural life and work of the past. Visitors can explore a variety of dwellings, stable buildings, mills, alpine huts, and more, dating from the past six centuries. The oldest building is a grain box, or "treasure box" of the farmers, which dates back to 1452.

The museum offers insights into traditional tools, construction techniques, and lifestyles of yesteryear. It also hosts interactive adventure days and special events related to festivities in the farmer's year. Visitors can participate in traditional rural activities and learn about old handicrafts.

The museum is set in a 60-hectare wooded valley, providing a picturesque setting for the diverse collection of buildings. The grounds include a stream, pastures, and a variety of plant and animal species, as it is located within a nature conservation and Natura 2000 area.

Vienna's Sigmund Freud Museum

Yes, museums are open in Austria. Now, here's some detailed information on Vienna's Sigmund Freud Museum.

Location and History

The Sigmund Freud Museum is located in Vienna's Alsergrund district at Berggasse 19. This was Freud's home and workplace for 47 years, from 1891 until 1938, when he was forced to flee to London due to his Jewish ancestry. The building has been a museum since 1971, with extensive renovations and expansions in 1996 and 2020.

Exhibits and Collections

The museum showcases the life and work of Sigmund Freud, covering the development of psychoanalysis, Freud family life, and the history of the house. Visitors can explore Freud's private rooms, his practices, and a permanent exhibition, "Hidden Thoughts of a Visual Nature," which references psychoanalysis and art. The museum also features a conceptual art collection and special exhibitions.

Library and Research Institute

Attached to the museum are Europe's largest psychoanalytic research library, with 35,000 volumes, and the research institute of the Sigmund Freud Foundation. The library is known as the "Library of Psychoanalysis" and offers a vast collection of works related to the field.

Events and Activities

The Sigmund Freud Museum hosts various events, such as psychoanalytic lectures, dialogues, and art installations. The museum's café and shop offer refreshments, exclusive wines, and souvenirs.

Visiting Information

The Sigmund Freud Museum is open from Wednesday to Monday, including holidays, from 10 am to 6 pm, and remains closed on Tuesdays. The standard ticket price is €15.

Frequently asked questions