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Karlsplatz Museum

A Picture of Vienna’s Development from Neolithic Times to the Current Day

A trip to Vienna is incomplete without visiting the Wien Museum Karlsplatz, located in the heart of Karlsplatz, right next to Karlskirche. The museum's building, which opened in 1959, was designed by the famous architect Oswald Haerdtl, a former employee of Josef Hoffmann.

The museum's permanent exhibition spans three floors. The main museum on the Karlsplatz gives a detailed picture of Vienna’s development from Neolithic times to the current day.

The Karlsplatz museum is loaded with important and impressive 19th century exhibits. One of the most prominent exhibits includes paintings by Gustav Klimt, including the famous portrait of his companion Emilie Flöge. There are also paintings by Egon Schiele, Richard Gerstl and Arnold Schönberg, works by the Wiener Werkstätte and two large city models from around 1900.

Hertha Hurnaus © Wien Museum

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There are exhibits that demonstrate the beauty and give a peak into life for this modern historical era, such as the reconstructed living room and fireplace from the apartment of the architect Adolf Loos, as well as the apartment of the Austrian poet Franz Grillparzers, complete with its original furnishings.

Exhibits about the earliest periods include archaeological finds from the Roman legion camp Vindobona and glass windows and sculptures from St. Stephen's Cathedral. The Baroque exhibit includes paintings by Franz Anton Maulbertsch, Johann Michael Rottmayr and Paul Troger. Finally, the time of Biedermeier is well represented with the works of Ferdinand Georg Waldmüller, Josef Danhauser and Friedrich Amerling.

In addition to the main branch of the museum, there are small chapters for specialist topics, including museums and archaeological excavation sites.