Across from the Hofburg, a magnificent square stretches out, framed by the Museum of Art History and the Natural History Museum. The two museums, built in the Neo-Renaissance style, face each other symmetrically. 

The Natural History Museum is one of the most important natural history museums in the world and houses treasures such as the Venus of Willendorf, which is about 25,000 to 30,000 years old—one of the most famous artifacts of prehistoric art.

For art lovers, a visit to the Museum of Art History is an absolute must. With its extraordinary Picture Gallery, it ranks among the most important art museums in the world. In the Picture Gallery, you can admire works by Raphael, Vermeer, Velázquez, Rubens, Rembrandt, Dürer, Titian, and Tintoretto.

Did you know...?

In the Museum of Art History, an impressive marble staircase leads up to the paintings. In the middle of the staircase stands the famous Theseus Group, created between 1805 and 1819 by Antonio Canova. Napoleon had commissioned this leading sculptor of his time to create the marble sculpture to glorify his victory over Austria in the Battle of Marengo. However, Napoleon's era ended before the artwork was completed. Canova sought a new buyer and found one in Emperor Franz II/I. Since the group was of a general nature, it was eventually reinterpreted as a national monument for the victory over Napoleon.

Did you know that the Theseus Group was originally placed in the Volksgarten, in the specially built Theseus Temple, before being transferred to the Kunsthistorisches Museum? The relocation was challenging and led to an incident, the details of which I am happy to share with you on one of my private guided tours.

Photos: (1) © Gertrud Putz; (2) © Victoria Scheer Photography