Narrenturm

About the museum

The Narrenturm was built in 1784 at the request of Emperor Joseph II as the first institution in Europe dedicated exclusively to housing people with mental illness. The five-story circular building by Josef Gerl with 28 cells per floor is considered a testament to Josephine Classicism. Within a few decades it was considered unsuitable; it was used as an institution until 1866, then as an economic building and staff residence of the General Hospital.

The collection itself is older than its current location: In 1796, AKH director Johann Peter Frank founded a pathological-anatomical museum, which grew greatly under physicians like Carl von Rokitansky and for a long time served teaching and research. In 1971, the collection moved to the Narrenturm, and a few years later it became an independent federal museum.

Since 2012, the collection has belonged to the Natural History Museum Vienna. After the renovation of the listed building, which is owned by the University of Vienna, the exhibition collection was newly arranged in 2020: In 19 former cells on the ground floor, pathology is taught systematically and without sensationalism.

With around 50,000 objects – including wet preparations, skeletons and over 3,000 moulagen – it is one of the most comprehensive pathological collections worldwide.

Highlights

• Circular building of 1784 – first pure psychiatric institution in Europe
• 19 exhibition rooms on general and special pathology
• Over 3,000 moulagen, one of Europe's largest collections
• Interactive stations and augmented reality station
• Preserved historic smithy

Permanent exhibitions

• Pathologisch-anatomische Schausammlung – In 19 rooms on the ground floor, the exhibition leads from the history of pathology through general disease processes to diseases of individual organs – with preparations, moulagen and wall graphics.
• Geschichte des Narrenturms – Further rooms illuminate the area before construction, use as a mental hospital and the later history of the circular building, supplemented by interactive stations and the old smithy.

Founded

1796

Operated by

Naturhistorisches Museum Wien

Admission & discounts

Free admission with Culture Pass ("Hunger for Art & Culture").

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible
• Elevator: no information
• 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

Level-free access; exhibition collection and path through study collection barrier-free. Upon request, special tours for visually or hearing-impaired people. Service dogs allowed in exhibition area (according to Vienna Tourism).

Kids & families

Only partly suitable for kidsRecommended for ages 14+

Human preparations are shown; the museum recommends visits from age 14 and notes that the study collection is not suitable for all students.

Getting there & parking

The Narrenturm is located on the university campus in the Old AKH (Court 6), access via Spitalgasse 2.

Amenities & dining

• Museum shop

Small museum shop in the exhibition collection.

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent

The exhibition collection area can be rented separately for events (inquiry via pas@nhm.at).

Plan your visit