Official site
The Mozarthaus Vienna, located at Domgasse 5, 1010 Vienna, Austria, in the heart of the Innere Stadt (1st district), is a historic museum dedicated to the life and work of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756–1791). Housed in the only surviving Viennese residence of the composer, where he lived from 1784 to 1787, this building—known as the Figaro House—is where Mozart composed some of his most celebrated works, including the opera The Marriage of Figaro. Managed by the Wien Museum since its opening as a museum in 1941, Mozarthaus Vienna offers an immersive exploration of Mozart’s life, his music, and 18th-century Vienna through historical artifacts, multimedia exhibits, and interactive displays across four floors and a basement.
Mozart in Vienna (1781–1791)
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart moved to
Vienna in 1781 at age 25, seeking independence from his Salzburg patron,
Archbishop Colloredo, and greater opportunities as a composer and
performer. Vienna, the cultural and musical capital of the Holy Roman
Empire, was the ideal stage for his genius. From 1781 to his death in
1791, Mozart lived in 12 different apartments in the city, but the
residence at Domgasse 5 (then Schulerstraße 8) was his most significant:
1784–1787: Mozart rented a spacious first-floor apartment in the
Camesina House, a Baroque building owned by the Camesina family. This
period marked the peak of his career, with high earnings, frequent
performances, and prolific composition. He lived here with his wife,
Constanze, and their sons, Karl Thomas and Johann Thomas, hosting
musical evenings and social gatherings.
Key Works: During his time at
Domgasse 5, Mozart composed The Marriage of Figaro (1786), Piano
Concertos Nos. 17–25, the Haydn Quartets, and the Prague Symphony, among
others. The apartment’s large rooms facilitated his work as a composer,
pianist, and teacher.
The Building’s History
17th Century: The
Camesina House was constructed as a Baroque townhouse, typical of
Vienna’s aristocratic residences.
1784–1787: Mozart’s tenancy made it
a cultural landmark. The apartment, one of the grandest he occupied,
included seven rooms, a kitchen, and ample space for entertaining.
19th–20th Century: The building fell into disrepair, with the apartment
subdivided and altered. In 1906, a commemorative plaque was installed to
mark Mozart’s residence.
1941: The Salzburg Mozarteum opened a small
memorial room to mark Mozart’s 150th death anniversary, displaying
minimal artifacts due to World War II constraints.
1945–2004: The
Wien Museum managed the site, expanding it into a full museum. Limited
space restricted exhibits to one room and a neighboring apartment.
2004–2006: A major renovation, costing €8 million, transformed the
entire building into Mozarthaus Vienna, opening on January 27, 2006, for
Mozart’s 250th birthday. The project, led by Barthold & Barthold
architects, restored historical elements and introduced modern
exhibition spaces.
Key Historical Context
Mozart’s Vienna: The
city was a hub of musical innovation, with composers like Haydn and
Gluck, and institutions like the Burgtheater shaping cultural life.
Mozart’s residence at Domgasse 5 coincided with the height of Viennese
Classicism.
Post-Mozart Legacy: The house’s preservation reflects
Austria’s reverence for Mozart, paralleling efforts at Salzburg’s Mozart
Geburtshaus and Tanzmeisterhaus.
Modern Museum: The 2006 relaunch
positioned Mozarthaus Vienna as a global pilgrimage site for Mozart
enthusiasts, complementing Vienna’s musical heritage alongside the Haus
der Musik and Staatsoper.
Camesina House
The Mozarthaus Vienna is housed in the Camesina
House, a Baroque townhouse built in the 17th century. Its architecture
reflects the period’s aristocratic style, with a focus on elegance and
functionality:
Facade: The exterior is understated, with a pale
yellow finish, simple window frames, and a commemorative plaque. The
narrow Domgasse alley enhances its historic charm.
Structure: The
building spans four floors and a basement, with a central courtyard
typical of Viennese townhouses. The first floor, where Mozart lived, is
the most historically significant.
Restoration: The 2004–2006
renovation preserved original elements like wooden beams, stucco
ceilings, and floorboards while modernizing the interior for museum use.
The architects balanced historical authenticity with contemporary
design, using glass and steel for exhibition spaces.
Museum
Layout
The museum occupies the entire building, with exhibits
organized across multiple levels:
Basement: Temporary exhibitions
and the Bösendorfer Hall, a 70-seat concert venue.
Ground Floor:
Ticket office, shop, and café (Wiener Fiaker).
First Floor: Mozart’s
apartment, with restored rooms and historical exhibits.
Second and
Third Floors: Thematic displays on Mozart’s life, music, and Vienna.
Access: Elevators and ramps ensure accessibility, with a modern
staircase connecting floors.
Key Architectural Features
Mozart’s Apartment: The first-floor apartment, comprising four rooms, a
kitchen, and two cabinets, is partially restored to its 1780s
appearance. Original features like wooden floors and stucco work are
highlighted, though furnishings are replicas due to the loss of Mozart’s
possessions.
Bösendorfer Hall: A modern addition in the basement,
this intimate venue features a Bösendorfer grand piano and hosts chamber
concerts, lectures, and workshops.
Courtyard: A small, enclosed
courtyard offers a quiet space for reflection, visible from the café.
The architecture blends Baroque authenticity with minimalist modern
design, creating an intimate yet informative setting for exploring
Mozart’s world.
Mozarthaus Vienna spans approximately 1,000 square meters of
exhibition space, offering a multifaceted look at Mozart’s life, music,
and 18th-century Vienna. The museum avoids overcrowding with artifacts,
instead using multimedia, facsimiles, and immersive installations to
evoke the era. Below is a detailed breakdown of the exhibits by floor:
Basement: Temporary Exhibitions and Bösendorfer Hall
Temporary
Exhibitions: Rotating displays explore specific aspects of Mozart’s
life, such as his operas, contemporaries, or influence on later
composers. Recent examples include focuses on Don Giovanni or Mozart’s
Freemasonry.
Bösendorfer Hall: A 70-seat venue hosting concerts
(e.g., chamber music, fortepiano recitals), lectures, and children’s
workshops. The hall’s acoustics and Bösendorfer piano make it ideal for
historically informed performances.
Significance: The basement adds
flexibility, allowing the museum to stay dynamic with fresh content and
live music.
Ground Floor: Entrance, Shop, and Café
Ticket
Office: Modern and efficient, with audio guides available in 13
languages (e.g., English, German, Spanish, Japanese).
Shop: Offers
Mozart-themed souvenirs, including CDs, scores, books, chocolates
(Mozartkugeln), and figurines. Prices range from €5–€50.
Café Wiener
Fiaker: A cozy café serving Viennese coffee, pastries, and light meals,
with views of the courtyard. Open during museum hours.
Significance:
The ground floor provides a welcoming entry, setting the tone for the
historical journey.
First Floor: Mozart’s Apartment
Focus: The
restored apartment where Mozart lived from 1784 to 1787, known as the
Figaro House due to the composition of The Marriage of Figaro.
Exhibits:
Restored Rooms: Four rooms (including a music room and
salon) feature period-appropriate decor, with wooden floors, stucco
ceilings, and replica furniture (e.g., a fortepiano, writing desk). The
kitchen and cabinets are also displayed.
Artifacts: Limited original
items survive, but facsimiles include letters, scores, and portraits. A
highlight is a reproduction of Mozart’s fortepiano, evoking his
compositional process.
Multimedia: Touchscreens and audio stations
play excerpts from Figaro, Piano Concertos, and other works composed
here, with commentary on Mozart’s daily life.
Historical Context:
Panels detail Mozart’s social circle (e.g., Lorenzo Da Ponte, Joseph
Haydn), his financial success (earning up to 10,000 florins annually),
and his role as a Freemason.
Significance: The apartment offers an
intimate connection to Mozart, though some visitors note the sparse
original artifacts can feel underwhelming compared to expectations.
Second Floor: Mozart’s World
Focus: Mozart’s life, personality,
and relationships in Vienna.
Exhibits:
Biography: Displays cover
Mozart’s childhood prodigy years, his Salzburg struggles, and his
Viennese career. Key documents include facsimiles of his letters to his
father, Leopold, and wife, Constanze.
Family and Friends: Exhibits
highlight Constanze’s role as his partner, his children, and friendships
with figures like Haydn and Baron Gottfried van Swieten.
Freemasonry:
A section explores Mozart’s involvement with the Freemasons, reflected
in The Magic Flute. Artifacts include Masonic symbols and documents.
Interactive: A touchscreen “Mozart Game” lets visitors explore his
compositions, while audio stations play his chamber music and operas.
Significance: This floor humanizes Mozart, emphasizing his wit,
financial ups and downs, and social context, though some find it
text-heavy.
Third Floor: Vienna in Mozart’s Time
Focus: The
cultural, social, and musical landscape of 1780s Vienna.
Exhibits:
Viennese Society: Displays depict the Habsburg court, aristocratic
salons, and public theaters like the Burgtheater, where Mozart premiered
many works.
Musical Life: Panels explore Viennese Classicism, with
references to Haydn, Gluck, and Salieri. A model of 18th-century Vienna
shows the city’s layout.
Theater and Opera: A highlight is a diorama
of the Burgtheater, with audio excerpts from Figaro and Don Giovanni.
Facsimiles of librettos and costume designs add depth.
Immersive
Installation: A darkened room with projections and music creates an
“emotional” experience, simulating Mozart’s creative process.
Significance: This floor contextualizes Mozart’s achievements within
Vienna’s vibrant cultural scene, though some visitors find the abstract
installations less engaging than the apartment.
Additional
Features
Audio Guide: Included in admission, offering detailed
commentary in 13 languages. A children’s version in 8 languages engages
younger visitors with stories and music.
Concerts: The Bösendorfer
Hall hosts regular performances, often featuring Mozart’s chamber music
or fortepiano recitals. Check www.mozarthausvienna.at for schedules.
Educational Programs: Workshops for schools and families, including
composing exercises and guided tours, foster interactive learning.
Mozart’s Legacy
Mozarthaus Vienna is a pilgrimage site for Mozart
fans, preserving the only surviving Viennese residence where he lived
during his most productive years. The apartment’s connection to The
Marriage of Figaro and other masterpieces underscores Mozart’s role as a
cornerstone of Viennese Classicism, alongside Haydn and Beethoven.
Vienna as Music Capital
The museum reinforces Vienna’s identity
as the “City of Music,” complementing institutions like the Haus der
Musik, Sammlung alter Musikinstrumente, and Staatsoper. Its focus on
1780s Vienna highlights the city’s role as a hub for opera, chamber
music, and patronage under Emperor Joseph II.
Preservation and
Modernization
The 2006 renovation transformed a modest memorial into
a world-class museum, balancing historical authenticity with multimedia
innovation. The use of facsimiles and digital displays compensates for
the scarcity of original artifacts, though some critics argue it lacks
the “lived-in” feel of Salzburg’s Mozart Geburtshaus.
Critical
Perspective
Mozarthaus Vienna excels in contextualizing Mozart’s life
and Vienna’s cultural milieu, but its reliance on replicas and
multimedia can disappoint visitors expecting tangible relics. The
apartment’s restored rooms are a highlight, yet the upper floors’
abstract installations may feel disconnected for casual visitors.
Compared to the Haus der Musik’s interactive vibrancy, Mozarthaus is
more scholarly, appealing to music historians and dedicated fans. Its
4-star Tripadvisor rating reflects praise for its atmosphere but mixed
views on content depth.
Location and Access
Address: Domgasse 5, 1010 Vienna, Austria.
Public Transport:
Subway: U1 or U3 to Stephansplatz (3-minute walk).
Tram: 1, 2, D, 71 to Kärntner Ring or Opernring (7–10 minutes walk).
Bus: 1A, 2A to Stephansplatz.
Walking Directions:
From St.
Stephen’s Cathedral: 3 minutes via Domgasse.
From Hofburg Palace: 7
minutes via Graben and Stephansplatz.
Parking: Kärntnerstraße Garage
or Operngarage (limited).
Hours and Admission (2025, Subject to
Change)
Hours: Daily, 10 a.m.–6 p.m. (last entry 5:30 p.m.). Closed
on select holidays (e.g., December 24–25). Extended hours during peak
seasons possible; check www.mozarthausvienna.at.
Admission:
Adults: €12.
Students/Seniors: €10.
Children (under 14): €5.
Children (under 6): Free.
Family Ticket: €25 (2 adults, up to 3
children under 14).
Combined Ticket: €18 with Haus der Musik (valid
for one visit each within one year).
Vienna Pass: Free entry; audio
guide included.
Audio Guide: Free, available in 13 languages (adult)
and 8 languages (children).
Guided Tours: €50–€80 for groups (book
via office@mozarthausvienna.at). Public tours in English/German on
select days.
Tickets: Purchase online (www.mozarthausvienna.at,
GetYourGuide, Viator) or at the entrance. Online booking recommended
during peak seasons (summer, December).
Visiting Tips
Duration: 1–1.5 hours for a full visit; 2 hours with a concert or
workshop.
Best Time: Morning or late afternoon to avoid crowds.
Weekdays are quieter than weekends.
Photography: Non-flash
photography permitted; no tripods or video recording.
Accessibility:
Fully accessible via elevators and ramps. Wheelchair-friendly toilets
and audio guides for visually impaired visitors available.
Family-Friendly: Children’s audio guide and workshops make it engaging
for ages 6+. The Figaro Game (interactive composing) appeals to younger
visitors.
Combined Visits: Pair with Haus der Musik (5 minutes away,
combined ticket), St. Stephen’s Cathedral (3 minutes), or Sammlung alter
Musikinstrumente (10 minutes) for a music-focused itinerary.
Concerts: Book Bösendorfer Hall performances in advance (online or at
the ticket office). Arrive early for prime seats.
Dining: Café Wiener
Fiaker on-site offers coffee and pastries. Nearby Café Frauenhuber
(Himmelpfortgasse 6) is Vienna’s oldest coffeehouse, frequented by
Mozart.
Etiquette: Use headphones for audio guides; maintain silence
in the apartment to respect the historical ambiance.
Nearby
Attractions
St. Stephen’s Cathedral: Gothic landmark, 3 minutes away.
Dom Museum Wien: Art and history museum, 3 minutes away.
Haas Haus:
Postmodernist building, 3 minutes away.
Haus der Musik: Interactive
music museum, 5 minutes away.
Hofburg Palace: Kaiserappartements and
Sisi Museum, 7 minutes away.
Mozarthaus Vienna is a testament to Mozart’s enduring legacy and
Vienna’s status as a global music capital. The apartment at Domgasse 5
captures a pivotal moment in his career, when he was at the height of
his creative and financial success, shaping the course of Western
classical music. The museum’s focus on 1780s Vienna illuminates the
city’s role as a crucible for opera, chamber music, and patronage,
connecting Mozart to contemporaries like Haydn and Salieri.
The
2006 renovation reflects Vienna’s commitment to preserving its musical
heritage while embracing modern museology. Unlike Salzburg’s Mozart
museums, which focus on his early life, Mozarthaus Vienna emphasizes his
mature years, offering a complementary perspective. Critically, the
museum’s reliance on facsimiles and multimedia, while necessary due to
lost artifacts, can feel less visceral than sites with original objects,
like the Sammlung alter Musikinstrumente’s Mozart clavichord. However,
its atmospheric apartment and engaging concerts make it a “must-visit”
for music lovers, earning a 4-star Tripadvisor rating and Travelers’
Choice status.