It's impossible to visit Vienna without seeing its museums. There are so many that you need to immerse yourself in art, touch art and take a break from the hustle and bustle of the city. And conveniently, the MuseumsQuartier makes it possible to visit several of these places at once, with a minimum of travel time.
The museum complex covers an area of 60,000 square metres. It is located just outside the city centre in the Neubau district. It is not only the perfect place for a sightseeing tour, but also for a family holiday: you can stroll around and explore the paintings, exhibits and cafeterias of the park, or have a bite to eat in the colourful cafeterias. Children will love the Zoom Museum, specially designed for young tourists to explore the world.
The history of the complex
Vienna's modern museum district consists of several buildings. The old Imperial Stables have been restored and now house the main building of the complex.
The stables were originally built in 1713 for the emperors of the Holy Roman Empire. The building was completed in 1725. At the end of the First World War, the stables were closed and most of the property was sold.
The current museum complex on the site of the restored buildings was opened in 2001, but an exhibition was held inside in 1921. In 1985 the Vienna Festival was held there, and in the mid-1980s the first sketches of the modern district were drawn. An architectural competition was then held, which was won by Laurids and Manfred Ortner.
Their project was controversial at the time, as the tall tower of the Reading Room was to be the symbol of the complex. They even organised a protest in 1993. In 1994, the mayor of Vienna finally changed his mind about building such an unusual tower. It was decided to reduce the height of the museum buildings and replace the glass facades with stone ones.
Today, some of the museums are housed in stables, while others have a modern glass façade. There is a courtyard with a fountain and sunbeds around it. On either side of the square are two large buildings. The white one, faced with shell, is the Leopold Museum and the black one, faced with volcanic rock, is the Museum of Modern Art.
What to see in the Museum Quarter
The complex houses several museums. These include The Leopold Museum of Art, the Museum of Modern Art, the Kunsthalle and the Zoom Children's Museum.
The Leopold Museum is housed in a white building clad in shell rock. Inside you'll find an extensive collection of paintings by Austrian masters, carefully collected by Rudolf Leopold and his wife.
There are many works by Egon Schiele, Gustav Klimt and modernist artists. This museum is sure to appeal to art lovers as well as children who love to draw. Anyone with an interest in art is sure to find something to inspire them.
The Kunsthalle is a museum housed in a former baroque riding school. Contemporary art exhibitions are held in two halls. The grounds are also used for other festivals and events.
Children will be more interested in the interactive museum Zoom, which introduces younger visitors to the world of science and art. Children are asked at the entrance if they are bringing their own children — surprisingly, the museum also has programmes for adults.
The area is interesting with interactive exhibitions. There are only four halls, but each has a different theme. It is highly recommended that you take your shoes off at the entrance, as children are allowed to crawl, run around and do whatever they like.
In one of the rooms children can draw, in another they can build bridges and buildings, in another they can walk through mirror tunnels and in an animation studio they can test their strength.
If you're hungry after enjoying the exhibitions, you can visit one of the cafés. The Leopold Museum offers a delicious strudel, while Café Halle not only has a menu but also a designer interior.
If you get bored with the art, you can always step outside and get back into the vibrant rhythm of Vienna. And when you've had enough, you can spend some time at the museums in the neighbourhood.
