Museum Lauriacum

About the museum

The Museum Lauriacum was founded in 1892 and is considered the third-oldest scientific museum institution in Upper Austria. The first exhibition rooms were in the farmstead of Schloss Ennsegg; as early as 1898 the collection moved into the historic council chamber of what was then Enns town hall. It has been housed there ever since. In 1988 the museum received the Austrian Museum Prize, and it also holds the Austrian Museum Seal of Quality.

The building on the Hauptplatz was originally the town's town hall: in 1489 Emperor Frederick III gave the citizens of Enns the “Münzhaus” (mint house) for this purpose. After the district court, the Red Cross and the fire brigade had moved out, the rooms could be converted for the museum from 1971. The renovation that began in 2011 produced, among other things, a new entrance and ticket area shared with the tourist information office, new toilets, a lift and largely barrier-free access to the permanent exhibition. During work in 2012, granite blocks from the Roman legionary fortress were uncovered next to the portal.

In 2018 the exhibition was completely redesigned as part of the Upper Austrian State Exhibition. It tells of the legionaries of the Legio II Italica, their everyday life and the civilian settlement around the Lauriacum fortress. Since 2019 the museum has been managed by Tourismus und Stadtmarketing Enns GmbH. The building also houses a Limes Info Point for the UNESCO World Heritage Site Danube Limes, which includes several sites in Enns.

Highlights

• Roman permanent exhibition on the legionary fortress of Lauriacum
• Everyday life of the legionaries of the Legio II Italica and of the civilian settlement
• Hands-on stations on Roman equipment, writing, games and clothing, among other things
• Limes Info Point for the UNESCO World Heritage Site Danube Limes
• Housed in the historic former town hall on the Hauptplatz

Permanent exhibition

• Römische Dauerausstellung zum Legionslager Lauriacum – The exhibition, redesigned in 2018, shows finds, models and interactive stations on the legionaries of the Legio II Italica and on everyday life in the fortress and the civilian settlement.

Founded

1892

Operated by

Tourismus und Stadtmarketing Enns GmbH

Director

Dr. Reinhardt Harreither (wissenschaftlicher Leiter)

Admission & discounts

Guided tours must be booked at least two days in advance and are only confirmed once the museum has replied.

Accessibility

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

According to its website, the museum is barrier-free and has a lift. Dogs are welcome (dog water station, waste bags at the ticket desk). The compact tour can also be booked in plain language.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

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

Family and adventure tours with hands-on stations, the child-friendly tour “Everyday Life in Lauriacum”, workshops with a researcher's assignment and crafts, as well as children's birthday parties (15 euros per child, March to October).

Getting there & parking

The museum is in the former town hall at Hauptplatz 19 in the centre of Enns.

Amenities & dining

• Museum shop

Museum shop on site.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit