Landesgalerie Niederösterreich

About the museum

In April 2014 the Lower Austrian state government decided to build a dedicated museum in Krems for the state-owned art collection. In 2015, from 59 entries in an EU-wide architectural competition, the design by the Vorarlberg firm marte.marte emerged as the unanimous winner. After the ground-breaking in June 2016, construction workers came across rows of timber piles from a medieval harbour installation; the building was completed in December 2018, and in May 2019 the museum opened with five exhibitions.

The building rotates around its own axis and tapers towards the top, inspired by the Mannerist figura serpentinata, which looks different from every angle. The façade consists of around 7,200 silver-grey zinc shingles, which has earned the building the nickname “Dancer of Krems”. Across about 3,000 square metres of exhibition space, the route leads over several levels to a terrace with views of the Danube, Göttweig Abbey and the old town of Stein; on the lower level there is a connection to the Kunsthalle Krems opposite.

The Landesgalerie shows art from the Landessammlungen Niederösterreich, which now have a museum devoted solely to the visual arts for the first time. The collection comprises around 100,000 works from the Middle Ages to the present, including Baroque painting by Kremser Schmidt, Wachau landscapes, Biedermeier, atmospheric Impressionism and works by Egon Schiele and Oskar Kokoschka. The programme rests on three pillars: treasures of the state collection, appreciation of local artists and a window onto international art. Since 2022 Gerda Ridler has been the museum's artistic director.

Highlights

• Architecture by marte.marte: twisted cube with a zinc-shingle façade
• Landessammlungen Niederösterreich with works by Schiele and Kokoschka
• Wachau painting, Biedermeier and Kremser Schmidt in the collection
• Terrace with views of the Danube and Göttweig Abbey
• Multimedia guide with architecture tour
• VR station “My Exhibition” for curating your own show

Founded

2019

Operated by

Land Niederösterreich

Director

Gerda Ridler (künstlerische Direktorin)

Admission & discounts

Admission to the Forum Frohner is included in the Landesgalerie ticket. Free admission with the NÖ-CARD (once in the booked year), IAA ID, ICOM card and the Kulturpass “Hunger auf Kunst und Kultur”; two tickets for the price of one with a Stadtbücherei Krems library card. Discount when arriving by nextbike rental bicycle (proof in the app).

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible
• Elevator
• Accessible restroom
• Accessible parking
• Service dogs welcome
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

According to Kunstmeile Krems, all buildings and exhibition rooms are accessible (ramps, handrails, sliding doors, lift, low hanging, clearly legible labels, wheelchair-accessible toilets). Wheelchairs and lightweight folding stools are available free of charge at the ticket desk. Assistance dogs (noted in the ID) are permitted, please report to the ticket desk; otherwise no animals. Personal tours can be booked according to individual needs. Disabled parking: 2 spaces at the south-east part of the Landesgalerie (access via Steiner Donaulände or Ringstraße), 3 along Steiner Landstraße opposite the entrance of the Karikaturmuseum.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Activity booklet, scavenger hunt or kids’ audio guide
• Hands-on stations
• Kids’ birthday parties

The museum offers family tours and a family tour with the multimedia guide, the interactive theatre “Kunstpiratin Pia unterwegs”, the free MY MUSEUM BOX for discovering with all the senses, the open studio Family Factory, readings and the Kinder.Kunst.Klub. On National Day (26 October) the KINDER.KUNST.FEST takes place. Children's birthday parties (recommended for ages 4 to 10) with a tour and studio workshop; children up to 6 years have free admission.

Getting there & parking

By car from Vienna or Salzburg via the A1 and from St. Pölten/Ost via the S33 to Krems, alternatively from Vienna via the A22 and from Stockerau via the B3; on site, follow the Kunstmeile Krems traffic guidance system. The Stein–Mautern Danube bridge has been closed to motor vehicles since 18 May 2026 (diversion via the St. Pölten bridge). From the Krems/Stein ship landing it is about a four-minute walk; nextbike rental bikes, among other places, at Krems station (about eight minutes' ride) and in front of the Landesgalerie (south side), bicycle racks in front of the museums.

Amenities & dining

• Restaurant
• Museum shop
• Coat check
• Lockers
• Wi-Fi

Gastwirtschaft Poldi Fitzka on the ground floor (regional products), also available for hire for events outside opening hours. Museum shop with catalogues, illustrated books, children's books and design items (also online). Free cloakroom, lockers with a deposit (€1 or €2), free Wi-Fi.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit