Papyrussammlung und Papyrusmuseum Wien

About the museum

The foundation of the Vienna Papyrus Collection is a large find from the Egyptian Fayum oasis: in the early 1880s, the orientalist Josef Karabacek and the art dealer Theodor Graf brought around 10,000 papyri to Vienna. Archduke Rainer acquired the holdings in 1883, expanded them through further purchases and in 1899 gave them to Emperor Franz Joseph I, who incorporated them as a separate collection into the Court Library, today's Austrian National Library.

In the 20th century the collection moved premises several times, including to the palace of today's Albertina, which was damaged by a bomb hit in 1945; the most valuable pieces had been moved to safety beforehand. In 1998 the collection, specialist library and exhibition relocated to the Neue Burg on Heldenplatz. Since 2001 the holdings that go back to Archduke Rainer have been part of the UNESCO Memory of the World register.

With about 180,000 objects in languages ranging from hieroglyphic through Greek and Coptic to Arabic, the collection is among the most significant of its kind. The associated museum shows around 400 originals in 13 thematic areas – from school, medicine and magic to music and literature, death and the afterlife. Media stations, an interactive presentation of a Book of the Dead and "wall newspapers" with news from everyday life in antiquity make the often very personal texts accessible; once a year a special exhibition with pieces from the storeroom complements the display.

Highlights

• Book of the Dead of Sesostris from the 15th century BC, the oldest object in the National Library
• Fragment of Euripides' "Orestes" with ancient musical notation
• Mummy portraits and 73 mummy labels
• Coptic amulet against scorpion stings
• Interactive media station on a 14-metre-long Book of the Dead
• Archduke Rainer Collection as UNESCO Memory of the World

Permanent exhibition

• Dauerausstellung des Papyrusmuseums – Around 400 originals from three millennia of Egyptian history, arranged in 13 thematic areas from everyday life to the afterlife, complemented by media stations.

Operated by

Österreichische Nationalbibliothek

Admission & discounts

Free admission: On National Day (26 October) open day with free admission.

€5.50 with Vienna City Card, Ö1 Club and EasyCityPass. Free admission for members of the Society of Friends of the Austrian National Library, ICOM members, holders of the Kulturpass ("Hunger auf Kunst und Kultur") and journalists; NÖ-Card and Vienna Pass/Flexi Pass free once. Tickets at the Heldenplatz service desk or in the online ticket shop.

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

Step-free entrance at the central gate of the Neue Burg via the left ramp (right gate leaf by special key or intercom), advance notice by phone at +43 1 534 10-511. The lift to the museum is suitable for standard wheelchairs. Accessible toilets on the ground floor and in the book stacks, lockers that can be accessed from a wheelchair in the cloakroom. Certified assistance dogs permitted. Special tours on request via kulturvermittlung@onb.ac.at; questions about accessibility: barrierefreiheit@onb.ac.at.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Hands-on stations

Public children's tours and workshops (about 90 minutes), also with wienXtra and in the Vienna Holiday Games; offerings for children aged 3 and up around Kleo the crocodile, Egyptian tales, mythology and writing. The exhibition has tactile and multimedia stations.

Getting there & parking

Entrance Heldenplatz, Neue Burg, central gate; tickets at the Heldenplatz service desk.

Amenities & dining

• Coat check
• Lockers

Umbrellas, backpacks and bags larger than 30 × 40 cm must be stored in lockers (€2 coin).

Events & venue rental

As far as we know, the museum does not rent out spaces for external events.

Plan your visit