Finding a good Vienna museum to visit during your Austria trip is an easy task, as there are quite a few of them. Among the best is the Kunsthistorisches Museum Wien (Vienna). Kunsthistorisches Museum Vienna is found on the famous Ringstrasse, which is the circular avenue that envelopes the Inner Stadt, or Inner City. Its physical address is Burgring 5, and it should be easy to find. The Kunsthistorisches Museum Vienna is housed in a palace-like structure, making it easy to spot, and inside it is quite ornate. Also, facing the Kunsthistorisches Museum is the Naturhistorisches Museum, which shares the former's neo-Renaissance design. In fact, the two museums have the same exact exteriors, and both were opened in the same year.

The Kunsthistorisches Museum Vienna first opened in 1891. It was commissioned by then emperor of Austria-Hungary, Franz Joseph I. Though it was finished in 1891, work actually began on it in 1872. The purpose of this new Museum in Austria was to house the immense art collection of the almighty Habsburgs. The museum's name translates to Museum of Art History, and all Vienna visitors are encouraged to stop by and take a look at the wonderful exhibits. Also, since the interior of this fine Vienna museum is beautiful, it's worth it just to step inside for a bit. Marble and gold-leaf accents help to create a lavish appeal, and there are a myriad of glorious paintings that adorn the walls. It really is a remarkable place, and for good reason, it's also a top Vienna attraction.

Among the more notable works of art on display at the Kunsthistorisches Museum Wien is the Blue Madonna by Albrecht Durer, who also has some of his landscapes on view. Rembrandt is a name that you are perhaps familiar with, and there are a few works of his that you can see at the museum, among them the endearing painting of his mother. In addition to Durer's landscapes, you can also take in some from Pieter Bruegel the Elder, who was another reputable Renaissance artist. The list goes on when it comes to the names of the artists and their respective paintings at the Kunsthistorisches Museum Wien.

Austria Map

A little side note about the Kunsthistorisches Museum Vienna pertains to Austria's biggest art theft. In 2003, a sculpture by the Italian Renaissance artist Benvenuto Cellini was stolen. Interestingly enough, it was later found in 2006. Where was it, you might wonder? On the outskirts of Zwettl, Austria, resting in a box that was buried in the forest.

There is an admission fee to enter the Kunsthistorisches Museum in Austria, though it is a fair one. There are discounts for students, which is a customary Vienna museum procedure. The museum if open from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday, and 10 a.m. until 9 p.m. on Thursday. For those who are interested in this fine museum in Austria, you might also pass by Schonbrunn Palace, where among the many interests is the Carriage Museum, or Wagenburg. It houses imperial carriages, some of which date back to the seventeenth century. Also, since the Kunsthistorisches Museum is just across from Hofburg Palace, you'll want to drop by there as well.