Federal Pathologic-Anatomical Museum
Federal Pathologic-Anatomical Museum
4
10:00 AM - 1:00 PM
Wednesday
10:00 AM - 1:00 PM
Thursday
10:00 AM - 1:00 PM
Saturday
10:00 AM - 1:00 PM
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Address
Neighbourhood: Alsergrund
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- Michelbeuern-AKH • 10 min walk
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4.0
101 reviews
Excellent
44
Very good
26
Average
14
Poor
12
Terrible
5
Sid1969
New York34 contributions
Apr 2014 • Couples
Even if you have the address, you have to be clairvoyant to find this place from the street. No signs point the way. We found it by deducing from the map where it had to be, and climbing up an inviting looking path from the street. Voila! Fortunately, we arrived in time for the ESSENTIAL tour. You don't see the good stuff unless you go on the second-floor tour, so call ahead of time to make sure when the tour is offered. When we went, the museum itself was open only on Wednesdays and Saturdays.
The first floor of the museum is accessible without the tour. It's interesting: an old-time apothecary, an iron lung, documents from the history of public health. The second floor is a floor-to-ceiling treasure trove of pathology specimens: bones, lungs, brains, hearts, tuberculosis, syphilis, conjoined twins, etc. If you liked the Mutter Museum in Philadelphia, you'll love this.
The first floor of the museum is accessible without the tour. It's interesting: an old-time apothecary, an iron lung, documents from the history of public health. The second floor is a floor-to-ceiling treasure trove of pathology specimens: bones, lungs, brains, hearts, tuberculosis, syphilis, conjoined twins, etc. If you liked the Mutter Museum in Philadelphia, you'll love this.
Written 28 May 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
MDesire
Hong Kong, China19 contributions
Oct 2014 • Solo
This musuem consists of medical instruments collection plus models of oddity. Except the abnormalities which preserved in formaldehyde, there are skeletons of conjoined twins and skulls from different causes of death including diseases and accidents. The most stunning things are the waxed models which made from the corpse of patients. These models are the real body parts of human!
The first floor is only opened for guided tour. There is even more stunning than what you found in ground floor. Remember, don't eat too full before your visit.
The first floor is only opened for guided tour. There is even more stunning than what you found in ground floor. Remember, don't eat too full before your visit.
Written 10 November 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Vernon L
Leeds, UK137 contributions
Aug 2014 • Solo
This museum is difficult to find. Relying upon the address and Google maps was not enough to unearth the place until I switched on the satellite image overlay which revealed the location of doughnut shaped building within the university campus.
The building is in need of some investment as it appears to be run down. There didn't appear to be any opportunity to visit any other floors, indeed I was under the impression that everything was confined to the first floor.
There has been some dual language labelling applied to some of the exhibits but unless you have some background knowledge of medicine and/or diseases, the exhibits are downgraded into a sordid peepshow.
The institution in charge of this museum needs to have a serious think about signposting paths to it and making the information about the exhibits accessible to non German speakers. Also update the entry of the museum in the Vienna visitor guides to make the hours of the tours known if indeed they still take place.
One redeeming thing was the fact that admission was only one Euro.
The building is in need of some investment as it appears to be run down. There didn't appear to be any opportunity to visit any other floors, indeed I was under the impression that everything was confined to the first floor.
There has been some dual language labelling applied to some of the exhibits but unless you have some background knowledge of medicine and/or diseases, the exhibits are downgraded into a sordid peepshow.
The institution in charge of this museum needs to have a serious think about signposting paths to it and making the information about the exhibits accessible to non German speakers. Also update the entry of the museum in the Vienna visitor guides to make the hours of the tours known if indeed they still take place.
One redeeming thing was the fact that admission was only one Euro.
Written 19 August 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
YoshiDus
Earth, TX2,519 contributions
Aug 2013 • Family
Great Anatomic and Pathological Museum in the heart of Vienna University. The building is called "Narrenturm" or fools-tower since it was used to hospitalize mental patients in the early 18th century. The museum houses the anatomic collection of the Institute of Anatomy and is specialized in one of the largest collections of wax reproductions (called "Wachs-Moulagen") of various diseases dating back some 100 years or so. If you are an MD or otherwise interested in medicine this is a must do in Vienna. As a medical professional you will see a lot of diseases that are either exterminated or very rare these days. The museum is open to the public only on certain days (wednesdays and saturdays, check online before visiting under http://www.narrenturm.at). It is NOT suitable for younger children and if you chicken-hearted or faint easily also DO NOT visit. Otherwise this is a real gem of the beaten track and gives you a real creepy feeling.
Written 29 August 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Brian L
Chicago, IL535 contributions
Dec 2017 • Solo
Perhaps my favorite museum during my visit to Vienna. Then again, I'm weird and like weird things.. this definitely isn't for everyone. The museum has very specific and weird hours, so be sure to plan ahead of time!
What was cool about this museum is the building it is housed in is old and decaying, so it fits the objects on display extremely well. That which is on display are a myriad of pretty disgusting facsimiles and in some cases the real deal in glass jars. Everything you ever wanted to know about diseases you never hope to experience!
There are also a lot of cool setups that show what an old pharmacy might look like, what an operating room looked like, iron lungs.. I suppose it goes without saying, but this is not for the weak stomached.
It is relatively short in comparison to most of the Vienna museums, but well worth a visit! There's lots to read and take in, so you could easily spend a long time in there. A note on that: most of the information is written in German, but there is a bizarre mix of the occasional English info here and there. You definitely won't be able to read everything if you don't know any German.
What was cool about this museum is the building it is housed in is old and decaying, so it fits the objects on display extremely well. That which is on display are a myriad of pretty disgusting facsimiles and in some cases the real deal in glass jars. Everything you ever wanted to know about diseases you never hope to experience!
There are also a lot of cool setups that show what an old pharmacy might look like, what an operating room looked like, iron lungs.. I suppose it goes without saying, but this is not for the weak stomached.
It is relatively short in comparison to most of the Vienna museums, but well worth a visit! There's lots to read and take in, so you could easily spend a long time in there. A note on that: most of the information is written in German, but there is a bizarre mix of the occasional English info here and there. You definitely won't be able to read everything if you don't know any German.
Written 30 December 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
David P
Surbiton, null, United Kingdom62 contributions
May 2015 • Friends
The museum is located in a circular former madhouse, to the north of "Hof 4" in what appears to be University buildings and accommodation. We wandered off Spitalgasse into the courtyard, and there was a map of the campus showing the location of the Museum also.
As other commentators have noted, it is unusual, not professionally presented, mainly in German, but somehow fascinating (and somewhat disturbing) all the same.
We didn't do the "upstairs" tour, and instead looked round the exhibits in what were presumably the cells for the poor unfortunates of its original purpose.
As other commentators have noted, it is unusual, not professionally presented, mainly in German, but somehow fascinating (and somewhat disturbing) all the same.
We didn't do the "upstairs" tour, and instead looked round the exhibits in what were presumably the cells for the poor unfortunates of its original purpose.
Written 31 May 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hajnalka
Budapest51 contributions
Apr 2019 • Couples
Please do not be surprised! This is not a traditional museum just a collection of memories of medicine hundred or more yyear ago.
Written 13 April 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Vtrixxen2018B
Singapore, Singapore95 contributions
July 2018 • Solo
THE GOOD:
1. EASY TO FIND: I am not sure why there are many reviews on here about how hard it is to find the place but it was the easiest and most straightforward direction I have received on Google and got there with no problems whatsoever. I even walked there from my place in the Innere Stadt area and it only took around 30 mins. Google map is most trustworthy in Vienna as Vienna is a high-tourist destination and it's well updated.
2. ENGLISH TOUR GUIDE: Although the tours are in German, an English tour guide can be arranged. You just have to call in advance and ask as to when you can have the tour in English as they have to round up a staff member who is able to do it. I arrived there on Wednesday at 10 am and managed to get an English tour arranged for me on Saturday morning, 10 am.
3. BOOK WITH SPECIMEN PHOTOGRAPHS: The museum is VERY STRICT about not having photographs taken inside the museum. There is a small book of a collection of photographs of the specimen for 10 Euros. It is hard cover and a great one with a history of the museum. It is well worth the purchase as a souvenir of the macabre.
4. VERY CHEAP: It is now set at 4 Euros instead of 1-2 Euros from previous comments. They set it so cheap bc the museum is undergoing through major renovations where they are making the museum newer, more up-to-date and of course, organised.
4. THE PROMISE OF A GREAT MUSEUM: If the govt or museum society invests a fair bit of money on the renovations that are underway, this museum could possibly be one of the best ones. It has interesting materials and specimen that can be better explained so that it doesn't become a "freak show" type of a museum. For now, with the lack of English translations and bad curatorship, it becomes more of a forgotten, old "freak show". However, the museum is VERY CLEAR that they are going through renovations and that in the next few years, there is opportunity for this place to shine with a breadth of interesting information.
THE VERY BAD:
1. WITHOUT THE TOUR, ONLY THE GROUND FLOOR IS ACCESSIBLE: The ground floor is very paltry. It has the worst specimens that are not taken care of to showcase. The specimens range from diseased inner organs, wax displays of diseases or skeletons. This is not the floor where you see deformed babies, animals or strange curiosities. Those are in the 2nd - 3rd floor and they are only accessible with a guide (which I will be able to see on Saturday as I planned to return back). The ground floor specimens or artefacts are not displayed well. They are in dusty cupboards. Each room looks like it is being renovated and so, there is not much to see. Some rooms are closed. The ones that are open have lights turned off with planks of wood and artefacts in cases that are NOT organised. I understand that there are serious renovations going on but at least close off the rooms with planks, cement material and building materials for renovations mixed with artefacts.
2. NO PHOTOGRAPHS: If you want photographs, you have to purchase the 10 Euro mini book or the 43 Euro big book.
1. EASY TO FIND: I am not sure why there are many reviews on here about how hard it is to find the place but it was the easiest and most straightforward direction I have received on Google and got there with no problems whatsoever. I even walked there from my place in the Innere Stadt area and it only took around 30 mins. Google map is most trustworthy in Vienna as Vienna is a high-tourist destination and it's well updated.
2. ENGLISH TOUR GUIDE: Although the tours are in German, an English tour guide can be arranged. You just have to call in advance and ask as to when you can have the tour in English as they have to round up a staff member who is able to do it. I arrived there on Wednesday at 10 am and managed to get an English tour arranged for me on Saturday morning, 10 am.
3. BOOK WITH SPECIMEN PHOTOGRAPHS: The museum is VERY STRICT about not having photographs taken inside the museum. There is a small book of a collection of photographs of the specimen for 10 Euros. It is hard cover and a great one with a history of the museum. It is well worth the purchase as a souvenir of the macabre.
4. VERY CHEAP: It is now set at 4 Euros instead of 1-2 Euros from previous comments. They set it so cheap bc the museum is undergoing through major renovations where they are making the museum newer, more up-to-date and of course, organised.
4. THE PROMISE OF A GREAT MUSEUM: If the govt or museum society invests a fair bit of money on the renovations that are underway, this museum could possibly be one of the best ones. It has interesting materials and specimen that can be better explained so that it doesn't become a "freak show" type of a museum. For now, with the lack of English translations and bad curatorship, it becomes more of a forgotten, old "freak show". However, the museum is VERY CLEAR that they are going through renovations and that in the next few years, there is opportunity for this place to shine with a breadth of interesting information.
THE VERY BAD:
1. WITHOUT THE TOUR, ONLY THE GROUND FLOOR IS ACCESSIBLE: The ground floor is very paltry. It has the worst specimens that are not taken care of to showcase. The specimens range from diseased inner organs, wax displays of diseases or skeletons. This is not the floor where you see deformed babies, animals or strange curiosities. Those are in the 2nd - 3rd floor and they are only accessible with a guide (which I will be able to see on Saturday as I planned to return back). The ground floor specimens or artefacts are not displayed well. They are in dusty cupboards. Each room looks like it is being renovated and so, there is not much to see. Some rooms are closed. The ones that are open have lights turned off with planks of wood and artefacts in cases that are NOT organised. I understand that there are serious renovations going on but at least close off the rooms with planks, cement material and building materials for renovations mixed with artefacts.
2. NO PHOTOGRAPHS: If you want photographs, you have to purchase the 10 Euro mini book or the 43 Euro big book.
Written 4 July 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Lance L
Denver, CO95 contributions
Sept 2017 • Couples
First of all some misinformation from a previous reviewer needs to be corrected.......there are tours In both German AND English (not just German). The price is very reasonable, and taking the guided tour gives you access to an entire floor not offered for the self-guided first floor. This is very much a niche museum, so this is not someplace to bring the children or adolescents, unless they are really interested in the history of medicine and pathology.
With the above said, there are several very frustrating issues. The tour is only one hour long, and they move you through like cattle because they are trying to push too many people through too many really fascinating specimens. One could literally spend hours on one floor examining all of the specimens in the exhibit.
This building dates from the 1700s and it shows. Currently the entire outside is wrapped in scaffolding, so I'm cautiously assuming they will be restoring both the inside and outside. The first floor is really in disarray and many of the rooms have very poor lighting.
This museum could potentially be stunning (not withstanding its niche appeal), but it needs a lot of work, and if they fully restore it, organize it, display it, light it correctly, allow for adequate time AND provide English explanations in concert with the current German only explanations, I would happily return. I would give them at least two years to complete the restoration, and then double check before going.
With the above said, there are several very frustrating issues. The tour is only one hour long, and they move you through like cattle because they are trying to push too many people through too many really fascinating specimens. One could literally spend hours on one floor examining all of the specimens in the exhibit.
This building dates from the 1700s and it shows. Currently the entire outside is wrapped in scaffolding, so I'm cautiously assuming they will be restoring both the inside and outside. The first floor is really in disarray and many of the rooms have very poor lighting.
This museum could potentially be stunning (not withstanding its niche appeal), but it needs a lot of work, and if they fully restore it, organize it, display it, light it correctly, allow for adequate time AND provide English explanations in concert with the current German only explanations, I would happily return. I would give them at least two years to complete the restoration, and then double check before going.
Written 23 September 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
FactotumDellaCitta
London, UK3,980 contributions
Dec 2015 • Couples
The museum, housed in a former mental asylum built in the 18th century, contains exhibits that show us what it was like to study and practice medicine in the 19th and early 20th centuries. Fascinating exhibits! Note that the museum is open for limited hours and days (at the time of writing: Wed 10:00-18:00, Thu 10:00-13:00, Sat 10:00-13:00).
Written 3 April 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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