Ambras Castle in Innsbruck Ambras Castle in Innsbruck
25.08.2016

Fun at the Museum

Austria’s museums are home to great masters and reflect the rich history of the country. It doesn’t matter if you’re on your own or with your family, if you’re having one hour or a full day to explore these temples of history - Austria offers the perfect museum for everyone.

 

With about 70 cultural facilities, the MuseumsQuarter Wien (MQ) is one of the largest culture and art complexes in the world and truly is a playground for culture seekers. Spend the entire day diving into the vibrant sprawl of renowned museums, exhibition halls and art spaces. Wander the complex to find thoughtfully placed outdoor cafes, restaurants, music venues and a calendar of events that spans all seasons. If you’re interested in modern art, make sure to stop by the Leopold Museum - home to one of the largest collections of modern Austrian art. It is an impressive treasure trove of Viennese art nouveau, the Vienna Workshop, Classical Modernism and the Expressionist period, featuring art by Gustav Klimt, Oskar Kokoschka, Richard Gerstl and the world’s largest collection of masterpieces by Egon Schiele. In autumn a special exhibition awaits you: “Foreign Gods”, an exhibition showcasing carvings of 200 rare ancestral figures, dance masks, weapons, architectural sculptures and other extraordinary works from Africa and Oceania. At the same time, it will enter into stimulating dialogues with works by eminent representatives of Modernism, including Pablo Picasso, André Derain, Amedeo Modigliani, Ernst Ludwig Kirchner, Emil Nolde and Max Ernst.

 

You cannot go to Vienna without experiencing classical music. As the world’s capital of the classical style, Vienna has a dedicated space to experiencing its formation and legacy. At Vienna’s House of Music, discover the fascinating world of sound and Viennese music in an interactive, playful way. Five-time conductor of the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra’s New Year's Concert, Maestro Zubin Mehta is the honorary president of this museum, which speaks to the quality of its installations and experiences. On four floors of the former palais of Archduke Charles, located in the historic city center, you are able to explore Vienna’s glamorous musical history, try your hand at conducting the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra and even create your very own piece of music.

 

In the heart of the majestic Alpine mountain range lies one of Austria’s most remarkable cultural treasures. Ambras Castle, built in Innsbruck predominantly in the 16th century, is the legacy of one of Austria’s foremost collectors of art and valuable curiosities. “Schloss Ambras Innsbruck” a Renaissance castle and palace, perches dramatically above the 800-year-old city of Innsbruck. Sited atop a former 10th century fortification, this architectural gem was built by Archduke Ferdinand II for his secret wife, Philippine Welser.

Ambras Castle is one of the oldest museums in the world: The Chamber of Art and Curiosities of Archduke Ferdinand II is unique in that it is the only such collection worldwide still in its original location, to be seen and admired in the way it was intended to by the original owner. You’ll find objects that were valued for their rarity, value, or scientific worth in the 16th century, which paints a wonderful picture of the Renaissance mindset. The collection includes turnery made of ivory, porcelain objects and silk paintings which belong to the oldest European collections of Asian art, as well as important works of European artists; even a portrait of Vlad Dracula can be found.

Ambras Castle in Innsbruck
Ambras Castle in Innsbruck © (C) Innsbruck Tourism
House of Music - Virtual Conductor
House of Music - Virtual Conductor © (C) Inge Prader
House of Music
House of Music © (C) Eva Kelety
Main Courtyard
Main Courtyard © (C) Hertha Hurnaus / MQ Wien Hertha Hurnaus Wien
Museumsquartier
Museumsquartier © (c) Hertha Hurnaus
Spanish Hall in Ambras Castle
Spanish Hall in Ambras Castle © (C) Austrian Tourist Office / Trumler