kärnten.museum Klagenfurt

About the museum

The roots of the museum go back to the 19th century: in 1844 the Geschichtsverein für Kärnten (history society) was formed, and a few years later a natural science society with its own collection. Because both collections needed more space, a joint museum building in the Neo-Renaissance style was erected from 1879 to plans by the Klagenfurt architect Gustav Gugitz. Crown Prince Rudolf laid the keystone in July 1884; the building is still named the Rudolfinum after him.

In the Second World War the building was severely damaged by bombs, after which the State of Carinthia gradually took over operations and collections; later installations in the inner courtyards greatly altered the building. After water damage the museum was closed in 2014, and the depot and administration moved to temporary premises.

In 2016 the Klagenfurt firm Winkler + Ruck emerged as the winner of an architectural competition. Their concept exposed the original structure of the building again and carefully added modern elements. After the groundbreaking in 2020, the fully renovated museum reopened in November 2022 under the name kärnten.museum.

The new permanent exhibition tells the history of Carinthia through the changes in habitats, ideas and cultures – from the first traces of human settlement to the Anthropocene. On display are, among other things, the so-called Lindwurm skull, the Roman Dionysus mosaic from Virunum, the Grossglockner relief and the Siebenhirter sword. The wissens.wert.welt, a hands-on museum for children aged six and over, is located in the same building.

Highlights

• The so-called “Lindwurm skull”
• Roman Dionysus mosaic from Virunum on the panorama terrace
• Grossglockner relief and Siebenhirter sword
• Roman stone collection with the oldest written records in Carinthia
• Hands-on museum wissens.wert.welt included in the ticket
• Historicist building from 1884, fully renovated in 2022

Permanent exhibition

• Ein Haus für und über Kärnten – The permanent exhibition links the natural environment, archaeology and the regional and cultural history of Carinthia in sections such as “Habitats in Transition”, “Archaeology of Transformation”, “Transformation of Ideas”, “Exploring the Land: Contemporary History” and “Money Stories”.

Founded

1884

Operated by

Landesmuseum für Kärnten (kärnten.museum)

Director

Wolfgang Muchitsch

Admission & discounts

The ticket is also valid for the wissens.wert.welt in the same building. Free admission with the Kärnten Card, the Kulturpass “Hunger auf Kunst und Kultur” and ICOM and German Museums Association (Museumsbund) cards. Discounts with, among others, the Kultur Card Kärnten (−50%), Club Ö1 (−30%), Wörthersee Plus Card (−50% for adults), Kärntner Familienkarte (family ticket) and ÖBB Erlebnisticket (group price); show proof at the ticket desk.

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

Threshold-free entrance with automatic door, lift to all floors, accessible toilet on the ground floor. Wheelchairs and light folding stools can be borrowed at the ticket desk without advance booking; induction loop system at the ticket desk and in the seminar room. Marked disabled parking spaces in front of the museum on Mießtaler Straße. Tours for people with visual or hearing impairments by registration.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

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

At the ticket desk there are changing museum games in several levels of difficulty; the invisible goblin “Knorzl” guides children through the building via smartphone. The wissens.wert.welt in the same building is a hands-on museum for children aged 6 and over and is included in the ticket. Children under 14 only when accompanied by adults.

Getting there & parking

Satnav address: Museumgasse 2, 9020 Klagenfurt am Wörthersee. The museum recommends arriving by bus, bicycle or on foot; the cycle path on Völkermarkter Ring passes right by, bicycle racks on Museumgasse.

Amenities & dining

• Café
• Museum shop
• Coat check

Museum café “Fürstlich im Museum” on the raised ground floor with a view of the Roman stone collection; shop in the ticket area and online.

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent
• Private parties
• Corporate events
• Weddings / ceremonies

Up to 100 guests.

Event packages in the Säulenhalle (up to 100 people), seminar room, multimedia room center.stage and on the panorama terrace by the Dionysus mosaic; in each case with a tour of the museum. Weddings possible.

Plan your visit