Karmel Mayerling
Former hunting lodge of Crown Prince Rudolf in the Vienna Woods, now a Carmelite convent with memorial and exhibition on the 1889 tragedy.
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About the museum
Crown Prince Rudolf, son of Emperor Franz Joseph and Empress Elisabeth, expanded a small country estate in the Vienna Woods village of Mayerling into a hunting lodge; the inauguration took place in October 1887 in the presence of the imperial couple. The property was used only for a few hunts. On January 30, 1889, Rudolf and young Baroness Mary Vetsera died here. The court initially attempted to conceal the circumstances of the double suicide—the foundation for a myth that lives on to this day.
In 1889, Emperor Franz Joseph had the hunting lodge converted at his own expense into a convent of Carmelite nuns, so that the place of tragedy would become a place of prayer. The church dedicated to Saint Joseph stands where Rudolf's room was; the altar marks the spot of his bed. Carmelite nuns continue to live in Mayerling to this day.
In 2014, an architect Friedrich Pühringer-designed visitor center of glass and concrete opened, forming the beginning and end of the tour. In the same year, the tea pavilion from Rudolf's time was restored, with its 1887 ceiling paintings, and made accessible. In exhibition rooms, visitors learn about the heir to the throne and his contemporaries and see original objects such as an imperial foundation chalice and Mary Vetsera's ceremonial coffin.
Highlights
- Convent church at the spot of Rudolf's death room
- Exhibition on Crown Prince Rudolf and Mary Vetsera with original objects
- Baroness Mary Vetsera's ceremonial coffin
- Restored tea pavilion with ceiling painting from 1887
- Visitor center by architect Friedrich Pühringer (2014)
Permanent exhibition
- Kronprinz Rudolf und die Tragödie von Mayerling – Visitor center and exhibition rooms illuminate the life, environment, and death of the heir to the throne and the Mayerling myth, including original objects such as Mary Vetsera's ceremonial coffin.
- Operated by
- Karmel St. Josef Mayerling (Karmelitinnenkloster)
Admission & discounts
| Adults | €8.20 |
|---|---|
| Reduced | €7.50Seniors |
| Children & teens | €4.70free up to age 5 · Children under 6 years free, ages 6–14 EUR 4.70, over 14 adults rate. |
| Seniors | €7.50 |
| Groups (15+ people) | €7.50 per personFrom 15 people; with tour EUR 9.20 per person (registration required). |
| Combo ticket Karmel Mayerling & Stift Heiligenkreuz | €18.70 |
| Audio guide (surcharge) | €3German, English, Spanish, French, Italian |
From January 1, 2027: adults EUR 8.50, children 6–14 years EUR 5, seniors EUR 7.80, groups of 15 or more EUR 7.80 (with tour EUR 9.50). Free admission with Lower Austria Card (not for tours).
Accessibility
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Kids & families
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Getting there & parking
By public transit
Mayerling altes Jagdschloss
Post bus lines 306 and 308 from Baden near Vienna to the "Mayerling old hunting lodge" stop directly in front of the entrance.
From Vienna-Schwechat airport via A21 and S1 approximately 30 minutes by car.
Get directionsAmenities & dining
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Events & venue rental
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Plan your visit
| Guided tours | yes · approx. 45 min |
|---|---|
| Audio guide | yes (DE, EN, ES, FR, IT) |
| Good to know | Individual tour with optional audio guide (surcharge EUR 3). Tours (approximately 45 minutes) only for groups of 15 or more with timely registration. Candle chapel and convent church are part of the tour; regular masses are held in the church. |
