Wasserleitungsmuseum Kaiserbrunn
Museum at the source of the First Vienna Mountain Spring Water Pipeline on the history and technology of Vienna's drinking water supply, free admission.
No sound? Check your device’s silent switch.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
The First Vienna Mountain Spring Water Pipeline (I. Wiener Hochquellenleitung) brings spring water from the Alps to Vienna. Its origin lies at Kaiserbrunn at the foot of the Schneeberg, where Emperor Charles VI already had water brought to Vienna in barrels. The pipeline, roughly 112 kilometres long, has supplied the city with drinking water since the 1870s.
The museum's main building served from 1873 to 1973 as the residence and service post of the water pipeline supervisor and is now a listed monument. It was converted into a museum in 1973 for the pipeline's 100th anniversary. Four rooms tell of ancient water supply, the journey of Viennese water, karst and spring protection, and the tunnel systems, including a full-size model of the Schneealpe tunnel.
For the 125th anniversary, a second, new museum building was created in 1998. It offers a multimedia room for lectures and films, photographs and sketches of the drinking water power plants along the pipeline, spiral turbines in the outdoor area and a model of Vienna's pipe network, which is more than 3,000 kilometres long. Guided tours include the Kaiserbrunn spring, the historic starting point of Vienna's water supply.
Highlights
- Historical museum in the former water supervisor's house
- New museum with multimedia room and pipe network model
- Full-size model of the Schneealpe tunnel
- Kaiserbrunn spring as the origin of the Vienna Mountain Spring Water Pipeline
- Free admission
Permanent exhibitions
- Historisches Museum – Four rooms in the former water supervisor's house on ancient water supply, Viennese water, geology and tunnel construction.
- Neues Museum – Multimedia room, drinking water power plants along the pipeline and a model of Vienna's pipe network.
- Founded
- 1973
- Operated by
- Stadt Wien – Wiener Wasser (MA 31)
Admission & discounts
Admission is free.
| Groups (10+ people) | –Tours for 10 or more people by prior appointment, flat rate of €50. |
|---|---|
| Tour for groups of 10 or more people (flat rate) | €50€25 with the NÖ Family Pass or NÖ-Card; free of charge for public educational institutions (e.g. schools). |
Admission is free; only the group tour is charged.
Accessibility
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Kids & families
- Stroller-friendly
Getting there & parking
By public transit
Kaiserbrunn (RUFbus)
RUFbus Semmering-Rax with stop Kaiserbrunn (RE27).
By car
Parking available
On foot, the Wasserleitungsweg (water pipeline trail), just under 4 km long, leads through the Höllental valley from Hirschwang to Kaiserbrunn.
Get directionsAmenities & dining
- Museum shop
Souvenirs available for sale.
Events & venue rental
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Plan your visit
| Guided tours | yes |
|---|---|
| School programs | yes |
| Good to know | Tours for 10 or more people by prior appointment only, by telephone or email; booking is completed by online payment. The tour includes the Historical Museum, the New Museum and the Kaiserbrunn spring. |
