Maria- Theresien- Platz
Tel. 01- 525 24-0
Subway: Babenberger Strasse, Volkstheater
Bus: 2A, 57A
Open: 10am- 6pm Tue- Sun
Closed: Jan 1, May 1, Nov 1, Dec 25
www.khm.at
The Kunsthistorisches Museum (KHM), or Museum of Art History, in Vienna is one of the world's foremost art museums, renowned for its extensive collections spanning five to seven millennia, with a particular emphasis on Renaissance and Baroque masterpieces. Located at Maria-Theresien-Platz in the Innere Stadt district, opposite the Natural History Museum, it houses the imperial Habsburg collections, including paintings, sculptures, antiquities, and decorative arts that reflect Europe's artistic heritage from ancient Egypt to the 18th century. As Austria's largest art museum, it attracts over 1.6 million visitors annually (as of 2023 figures) and serves as a cultural cornerstone, blending historical grandeur with contemporary exhibitions.
The origins of the Kunsthistorisches Museum trace back to the
Habsburg dynasty's vast art acquisitions, beginning with collections
assembled by figures like Ferdinand of Tirol, Emperor Rudolph II, and
Archduke Leopold Wilhelm in the 16th and 17th centuries. These included
portraits, armors, and Italian paintings documented in the 1659 Theatrum
Pictorium. In the 19th century, Emperor Franz Joseph I commissioned the
museum as part of Vienna's Ringstrasse development to house and
publicize the imperial treasures, countering the rise of public museums
elsewhere in Europe. Construction spanned 1871 to 1891, with the museum
opening to the public around 1891.
The 20th century brought
challenges, including World War II damage and post-war reconstructions.
In the 2010s, the museum addressed ethical issues, such as restituting
Nazi-looted artworks like two altar panels by Maerten van Heemskerck in
2010 and disputing claims over Pieter Bruegel the Elder's "The Fight
Between Carnival and Lent" in 2015. A notable theft occurred in 2003
when the Cellini Salt Cellar was stolen and recovered in 2006.
Renovations in the early 2010s, including the Kunstkammer's reopening in
2013, were documented in Johannes Holzhausen's 2014 film "The Great
Museum." The museum hosted landmark exhibitions, such as the world's
largest Bruegel show in 2018-2019. By 2025, under director Jonathan
Fine, it continues to evolve, emphasizing diverse narratives in art
history.
The Kunsthistorisches Museum's building is a masterpiece of
Renaissance Revival architecture, designed by Gottfried Semper and Baron
Karl von Hasenauer. The rectangular structure features symmetrical
sandstone façades with large arched windows, pilasters, and a crowning
octagonal dome rising 60 meters (200 feet) high, symbolizing imperial
grandeur. The interior is opulent, adorned with marble, stucco
ornamentation, gold-leaf, and elaborate murals. The grand staircase, a
highlight, features frescoes by Gustav Klimt, Ernst Klimt, Franz Matsch,
Hans Makart, and Mihály Munkácsy, depicting art history themes. The
entrance hall and dome create a breathtaking first impression,
encouraging visitors to appreciate the architecture alongside the art.
The layout spans multiple floors: the ground floor houses antiquities
and sculptures, the first floor features the Picture Gallery and
Kunstkammer, and upper levels include coins and decorative arts. The
design facilitates a narrative flow through history, with rooms
organized thematically by period and region.
The museum's core collections derive from Habsburg acquisitions,
encompassing over a million objects across departments.
Picture
Gallery: World-famous for Old Masters, including Pieter Bruegel the
Elder's "Tower of Babel" (c. 1563) and extensive Bruegel holdings;
Raphael's "Madonna of the Meadow" (1506); Diego Velázquez's "Infanta
Margarita Teresa in a Blue Dress"; Giuseppe Arcimboldo's "Summer"
(1563); works by Rubens, Dürer, Titian, Rembrandt, and Vermeer.
Kunstkammer (Chamber of Art and Wonders): Enchanting treasures like the
Cellini Salt Cellar (a golden saliera by Benvenuto Cellini) and exotic
curiosities from Renaissance cabinets.
Egyptian and Near Eastern
Collection: Ancient artifacts revealing pharaonic secrets.
Collection
of Greek and Roman Antiquities: Sculptures, vases, and myths of gods and
heroes.
Coin Collection and Library: Extensive numismatics and
historical texts.
Affiliated sites include the Imperial Treasury
(Hofburg) with crowns and the world's largest cut emerald; Imperial
Carriage Museum (Schönbrunn) featuring Maria Theresa's coach and Sisi's
items; Weltmuseum Wien (ethnographic treasures like the Aztec feathered
headdress); Theatermuseum (theater artifacts including Klimt's Nuda
Veritas); Ambras Castle (Renaissance wonders); and Theseus Temple
(contemporary art stage).
The KHM hosts permanent collections alongside rotating special
exhibitions. As of October 1, 2025, current shows include:
Michaelina Wautier: A Baroque Powerhouse: September 30, 2025 – February
22, 2026. Focuses on the 17th-century female artist Michaelina Wautier,
showcasing her works alongside Rubens and Van Dyck, offering a
post-feminist reinterpretation of Baroque art and gender roles.
Imperial Impressions: The Emperors and Their Court Artists: Ongoing
until October 26, 2025. Explores Habsburg emperors' relationships with
artists, displayed in the Kunstkammer Room XXVIII.
The Princess of
Naples – Ansichtssache #29: Ongoing until October 5, 2025. Dedicated to
Baroque masters Antonio Velázquez and Anton Mengs.
Earlier in
2025, spring featured "Arcimboldo – Bassano – Bruegel: Nature's Time,"
examining human-nature interplay. Upcoming exhibitions for late 2025 and
2026 emphasize Impressionism, the occult, and gender in Baroque art.
The Kunsthistorisches Museum holds immense cultural impact as a repository of Habsburg legacy and European art history, influencing global perceptions of Renaissance and Baroque periods through its masterpieces. It fosters dialogues between past and present, as seen in contemporary exhibitions at Theseus Temple and ethical restitutions, underscoring its role in addressing historical injustices like Nazi looting. In 2025, its programming highlights Vienna's vibrant art scene, tackling themes like gender and modernism, contributing to the city's status as a cultural hub with over 100 museums.
As of October 2025, the museum is open Monday to Sunday from 10:00 AM
to 6:00 PM, with extended hours on Thursdays until 9:00 PM. Holiday
openings include October 26 (National Holiday, 10:00 AM–6:00 PM) and
November 1–2 (All Saints' Day, same hours). Admission: Adults €22
online/€24 on-site; reduced €19/€20; free for under 19; Vienna City Card
€22. Tickets are valid indefinitely until entry and may require
timeslots for exhibitions.
Accessibility: Barrier-free via side
entrance (Burgring 5), with elevators, wheelchairs (reserve at
guestservice@khm.at), and five handicapped restrooms. Guided tours:
€3–€6 for program tours; private €90–€135 (60–90 minutes); audio guides
€6–€9 in multiple languages. On-site café (11:00 AM–4:30 PM) and shop
available. Reachable by U2/U3 to Volkstheater or trams D/1/2/71. Annual
passes offer unlimited access to all affiliated sites; check khm.at for
updates.