Admire dinosaur skeletons from millions of years ago and immortal gemstones in this magnificent palace museum.
Vienna's Museum of Natural History (Naturhistorischesmuseum) was founded towards the end of the 19th century. Its collection stretches back even further, beginning some 250 years ago. As well as being one of the longest-existing museums in the world, it also holds one of the largest collections, with a total of over 30 million relics held here.
Everything from the evolution of plant and animal species to the makeup of the earth’s crust and core is explored across almost 40 different galleries and exhibition halls throughout the palace. Those with an interest in ancient prehistory should head straight for the upper floor, which is dominated by the soaring Diplodocus and Iguanodon skeletons which peer down on visitors. Check out the high-tech interactive displays exploring how these primeval giants lived, from their eating habits to how they would have moved and looked.
Don’t miss the world-famous Venus of Willendorf statue, one of the highlights of the museum. While little is known about this 24,000-year-old statue or the society which produced it, its exaggeratedly feminine form has lead experts to speculate that it functioned as a fertility symbol.
Take in one of the largest meteorite collections in the world, along with halls full of glittering minerals including a huge 117-kilogramme topaz crystal and a dazzling bouquet of diamonds and gemstones – a breathtaking gift from Empress Maria Theresa to her husband. The extent of the collections held here is huge, and time spent admiring the fabulous flora and fauna, some of which has been extinct for a very long time, is certain to prove fascinating.
The Museum of Natural History (Naturhistorischesmuseum) is found on Maria-Theriesen-Platz, very close to the Ringstraße in central Vienna. There is a reasonable fee charged for entry to the museum, which is closed on Tuesdays. English-language tours of the exhibits are offered on selected days and no booking is required.
