Kunsthistorisches Museum

Overview

The Kunsthistorisches Museum (KHM) is one of the world's great art museums, housing the Habsburg dynasty's 700 years of collecting. Its Egyptian, Greek, and Roman antiquities rival the Louvre, and its Old Masters gallery includes Bruegel's unmatched collection.

Highlights

• Bruegel Room: 12 paintings by Pieter Bruegel the Elder—the world's largest collection, including 'Hunters in the Snow' and 'Tower of Babel'.
• Habsburg Crown Jewels: The Imperial Treasury nearby displays the Holy Roman Empire's crown, orb, and sceptre.
• Building itself: Gottfried Semper's 1891 palace with its grand staircase and Klimt-painted lunettes.

History

Emperor Franz Joseph commissioned the museum to display his family's vast collections in a purpose-built palace on the Ringstraße. It opened in 1891 as a twin to the natural history museum across Maria-Theresien-Platz.

Visitor Tips

• Focus: Pick 2–3 areas—the full collection would take days.
• Thursday evenings: Open until 21:00 with fewer crowds.
• Duration: 2–3 hours.