Theatermuseum — Attraction in Vienna

The Austrian Theater Museum in the Palais Lobkowitz emerged in 1991 from the theater collection of the Austrian National Library. Although this collection was not founded until 1922, the precursors of systematic collecting activities of various theatralia at the court library date back to the Baroque period. For example, the library hall ("Prunksaal"), built in 1726, became the so-called "festival literature" - richly illustrated reports of pompous festivities stately courtyards - already closed.

At the turn of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, when the theatrical research into a new scientific discipline, the theater science, expanded, Vienna had already taken a leading position in theatrical-musical expositions. Therefore, in 1921 the decision was made to establish its own theater collection in the National Library and the librarian, theater and musicologist Joseph Gregor (1888-1960) instructed to do the preliminary work. As a result, Gregor established the exhibition Comedy in the Prunksaal in the spring of 1922, in which he showed the Theatralia collections of the National Library. Ultimately, this event was the key to making sure that Theatralia's largest private collection at that time,

The purchase contract was concluded on June 7, 1922, and a year later the Federal Ministry of Education confirmed the founding of the collection and the term "Theater Collection." This should not be limited to literary and archival groupage, but should encompass the theater in all its diversity. Soon, the rapidly advancing development of the film was taken into account and set up in the context of the theater collection in 1929 an "Archive for Film Studies".

Inseparable from the theater collection was the plan to found a theater museum for decades. In 1931, the collection managed to provide some rooms in the Burgtheater for a "Bundestheatermuseum", but it was over in 1938. It was not until 1975 that an "Austrian Theater Museum" was created. His primary task was to organize exhibitions using the materials of the Austrian National Library. His spatial location in the Hanuschgasse next to the Vienna State Opera soon proved to be too cramped: The Republic of Austria bought the Palais Lobkowitz in the immediate vicinity and had it renovated from the ground up.

With the opening of the Austrian Theater Museum in the Lobkowitz Palace on October 26, 1991, the collection of the former theater collection of the Austrian National Library with the holdings of the Theater Museum took place. This created one of the largest and most important collections in the field of theater and the possibility of its presentation in exquisite showrooms. At the beginning of 2001, the Austrian Theater Museum became part of the...

We visited the Austrian Theatre Museum back in March. At this time they were hosting masterpieces from the Academy of Fine Arts while the picture gallery there is closed for renovations. Opening hours are 10-6pm (Closed on Tuesdays).

At this time you can see the the important 'Last Judgement' triptych by Hieronymus Bosch as well as a nice selection of works by Old Masters such as Peter Paul Rubens and Anthony Van Dyke. The Bosch work in particular is a masterpiece worth the price of admission to view.

We also enjoyed stepping into the impressive Eroica Hall to view the ceiling frescos here. These date back to 1724-29 and are the works of Dutch painter Jacob van Schuppen. Do take a few minutes to enjoy this room as well if it is open and available to be seen during your time at the Austrian...

One of those hidden gems in the city. First, it has Klimt’s Nuda Veritas which is exquisite and breathtaking. Second, the puppet collection on the first floor is truly awesome. Of course, if you are a theatre geek like me, you would appreciate the another level of joy of looking at the amazing technology and construction of these puppets. The stage and set models are very nicely built and with a lot of attention to the details. Highlights of your tour though - the building itself and a must see of the Eroica Saal on the first floor. The ceiling fresco will take your breath away. They literally comes alive. If you are not a theatre person, the Eroica Saal itself is worth the visit. Staff is super...