Zeitgeschichte Museum Ebensee

About the museum

The Zeitgeschichte Museum Ebensee grew out of an association initiative: in 1988 committed citizens came together to examine the history of the Ebensee concentration camp, a subcamp of Mauthausen, and the political conditions in the region. This work gave rise to the concentration camp memorial in the former tunnel system and the museum in the town centre; both are still run by the same association today.

The permanent exhibition in Kirchengasse deals with the political development of the Salzkammergut between 1918 and 1955. It begins with the First Republic and the camp culture of the political parties, moves through the Ständestaat (corporate state) and the Anschluss of 1938 to persecution, forced labour and resistance under National Socialism, and ends with the post-war period, denazification and the handling of the victim myth. Regional sources, eyewitness accounts at listening stations, photos and film material are at the centre.

The museum sees itself as an open house of history: besides the exhibition there is a library, an archive, a cafeteria and event rooms for lectures, readings and conferences. The association also publishes the journal "betrifft widerstand". One focus is educational work with school classes and young people from all over Austria, also at the concentration camp memorial about three kilometres away.

Highlights

• Permanent exhibition on the contemporary history of the Salzkammergut 1918 to 1955
• Biographies of resistance fighters at listening stations
• Room on the history of the Ebensee concentration camp with finds, model and film material
• Library, archive and cafeteria in the building
• Combination ticket with the memorial tunnel of the Ebensee concentration camp memorial

Permanent exhibition

• republik. ständestaat. nationalsozialismus. verfolgung. widerstand. – In three rooms, the permanent exhibition leads from the First Republic through the Ständestaat and Nazi rule to the post-war period, placing regional sources and eyewitness accounts at the centre.

Founded

2001

Operated by

Verein Zeitgeschichte Museum Ebensee

Director

Dr. Wolfgang Quatember

Admission & discounts

Memorial tunnel on its own: adults €7, young people €5 (with Salzkammergut-Karte €5.30 and €3.80 respectively).

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible: not available
• Elevator: no information
• Accessible restroom: no information
• Accessible parking: no information
• Service dogs welcome: no information
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

According to the website, the museum is not accessible.

Kids & families

Only partly suitable for kids

• Family tours & workshops

The museum deals with persecution and Nazi crimes and is aimed mainly at young people and adults; educational programmes are available for school classes from grade 8.

Getting there & parking

By car via the B145 to the Ebensee exit (from the West Autobahn, exit Regau).

Amenities & dining

• Café

Cafeteria in the museum building.

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent

The building has event rooms and is used for lectures, readings and conferences.

Plan your visit