Museum am Dom St. Pölten

About the museum

Johannes Fahrngruber founded the museum in 1888 as Austria's first diocesan museum, at a time when interest in one's own history and in preserving church art was growing strongly. The collection was housed in the Baroque monastery library of the former Augustinian canons' foundation, whose buildings now serve as the diocesan building of the Diocese of St. Pölten. To this day, objects that are no longer needed for church use are added to the collection.

Since 2020 the former diocesan museum has borne the name Museum am Dom and sees itself as a place where sacred art is made newly accessible through contemporary forms of mediation. In 2024 the redesigned permanent exhibition opened: under the guiding themes of faith, love and hope, it shows Gothic sculptures and altars, Baroque paintings and works from parishes of the diocese up to the 21st century; two Baroque libraries are part of the tour.

In the same year the former air-raid shelter beneath the diocesan building was added, recalling the nights of bombing around the Domplatz in 1945. In 2026 the Baroque oratory was converted into a visible storage display. Annual exhibitions on sacred art, heritage conservation and liturgy complement the programme; the treasury, the visible storage and the cathedral can be visited on guided tours.

Highlights

• Permanent exhibition "Faith, Love, Hope" with Gothic sculptures and altars
• Two Baroque libraries, including the Kerens Library
• Air-raid shelter beneath the diocesan building with an exhibition on the 1945 bombings
• Treasury and vestment chamber (guided tour only)
• Visible storage in the Baroque oratory (guided tour only)

Permanent exhibitions

• Glaube, Liebe, Hoffnung – Christliche Kunst aus neun Jahrhunderten – Redesigned permanent exhibition with Gothic sculptures and altars, Baroque paintings and two Baroque libraries; it also sheds light on the history of the former foundation and the Diocese of St. Pölten.
• Wir sind Gefangene des Augenblickes – Der Luftschutzkeller – Exhibition in the former air-raid shelter beneath the diocesan building about the bombing raids on St. Pölten in 1945 and the people who sought shelter there.
• Schaudepot im barocken Oratorium – Since 2026 the former oratory has made collection holdings that are otherwise not shown visible; accessible only on guided tours.

Founded

1888

Operated by

Diözese St. Pölten

Admission & discounts

Free admission with the Niederösterreich-CARD, stp Museumscard and the cultural pass "Hunger auf Kunst und Kultur", as well as for ICOM members, Austria Guides, press and members of the IG NÖ Museen und Sammlungen (with ID), priests, deacons and members of religious orders.

Accessibility

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

All exhibition areas are accessible without barriers, except the Baroque Kerens Library (narrow door, not accessible by wheelchair). Tours in sign language or Easy Language on request at museum@dsp.at or +43 2742 324 335.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

For school classes there are workshops and rallies for children from about 6 to 8 years, for example on the work of conservators, on liturgical vestments with T-shirt painting, or following in the footsteps of Saint Hippolytus. Children up to age 6 have free admission.

Getting there & parking

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Amenities & dining

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Events & venue rental

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