Literaturmuseum der Österreichischen Nationalbibliothek
National Library museum in the Grillparzerhaus with a permanent exhibition on Austrian literature from the late 18th century to the present.
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About the museum
The Literature Museum of the Austrian National Library opened on 17 April 2015. It is housed in the Grillparzerhaus at Johannesgasse 6, a building erected in 1843/44 to plans by Paul Sprenger, which counts among the oldest archive buildings in Central Europe. From 1848 it was the seat of the Imperial and Royal Court Chamber Archive until it moved out in 2006. The poet Franz Grillparzer himself once headed the archive; his surviving study on the second floor is part of the museum tour.
The building offers about 750 square metres of exhibition space on three levels. The permanent exhibition occupies two levels, and the third is reserved for temporary exhibitions. About 650 objects by around 200 authors are on show, complemented by some 60 audio and video stations, a cinema room and reading lounges.
The exhibition asks what makes Austrian literature what it is and shows its diversity, multilingualism and links to music, film and the visual arts. The objects come mainly from the National Library's Literature Archive: manuscripts, letters, drawings, photographs and media, including items from the estates of Johann Nestroy and Ingeborg Bachmann, Friederike Mayröcker's card index box and Peter Handke's walking stick. A museum tablet provides additional stories about the exhibits.
Highlights
- Grillparzer's surviving study in the Court Chamber Archive
- About 650 objects by around 200 authors
- Mayröcker's card index box, Bachmann texts, Nestroy manuscripts
- About 60 audio and video stations, cinema room, reading lounges
- Virtual Literature Museum online
- Founded
- 2015
- Operated by
- Österreichische Nationalbibliothek
- Director
- Bernhard Fetz
Admission & discounts
| Adults | €9 |
|---|---|
| Reduced | €6Students under 27 years, military and civilian service personnel, holders of a disability pass |
| Children & teens | freefree up to age 18 · Children and young people under 19 years are admitted free. |
| Seniors | €7 |
| Visitors with disabilities | €6companion free · With a disability pass; the registered companion is admitted free. |
| Students & apprentices | €6Under 27 years |
| Groups (10+ people) | €6 per personPer person from 10 people; guided tour for adults from 10 people €5 extra per person, with workshop €10. |
| Literary walk (public guided tour) | €15Young people under 19 years €3.30 |
| Universal weekly ticket (7 days, all museums of the National Library) | €21 |
| Annual museums pass incl. House of Austrian History | €37 |
| Bundesmuseen Card | €99One year of admission to all federal museums and the museums of the National Library |
Reduced with Vienna City Card €7.50, Ö1 Club and EasyCityPass €8, alumni of the University of Vienna, the Wiener Konzerthausgesellschaft and MuTh €7.50. Free admission for members of the Society of Friends of the ÖNB, ICOM members, holders of the Kulturpass (“Hunger auf Kunst und Kultur”), journalists and with the NÖ-Card.
Accessibility
- Wheelchair accessible
- Elevator
- Accessible restroom
- Accessible parking: no information
- Service dogs welcome
- Tactile models & exhibits: no information
- Sign language tours: no information
- Easy-to-read materials: no information
- Audio description: no information
The museum is accessible without barriers; accessible toilet on the ground floor, wheelchair-accessible lockers in the cloakroom, baby-changing tables in the museum. Certified assistance dogs allowed. Special tours on request via kulturvermittlung@onb.ac.at; questions at the service desk, Johannesgasse 6, +43 1 534 10 780. Inclusive tours with sign language interpretation are offered.
Kids & families
Great for kids & families
| Kids’ admission | free up to age 18 |
|---|
- Family tours & workshops
- Baby changing facilities
Family tours for children aged 6 to 12 accompanied by adults (45 minutes) with short stories, poems and creative word games; children and young people under 19 years are admitted free.
Getting there & parking
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Amenities & dining
- Coat check
- Lockers
Backpacks, bags larger than 30 × 40 cm, umbrellas and tripods must be stored in the cloakroom or lockers.
Events & venue rental
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Plan your visit
| Guided tours | yes · approx. 1.5 hrs |
|---|---|
| School programs | yes |
| Photography | Photographing and filming objects for private and non-commercial purposes is allowed without artificial lighting and without a tripod. |
| Good to know | Literary walk in German (90 minutes) on the first Sunday of every month at 11 am, meeting point service desk, Johannesgasse 6, tickets in the ticket shop. Themed tours, literary walks and school programmes; a museum tablet provides additional content. Children and young people under 14 years only when accompanied by adults. |
