Haus der Natur

Overview

The Haus der Natur (House of Nature) is one of Austria's most popular museums, spanning natural history, aquariums, a reptile zoo, space exploration, and a hands-on science centre across 7,000 m² of exhibition space.

Highlights

• Aquarium: 56 tanks with sharks, coral reef fish, and a Mediterranean display.
• Science Centre: 80 interactive stations covering physics, the human body, and technology.
• Space Hall: A 1:1 replica of a lunar lander and meteorite collection.

History

Founded in 1924 by Eduard Paul Tratz, the museum moved to its current building in 1959. A major expansion in 2009 added the Science Centre. Despite its impressive scope, the museum has a complicated wartime history — its founder collaborated with the Nazi regime.

Visitor Tips

• Great for rainy days and families — easily half a day.
• Open daily including weekends and holidays.
• Duration: 1.5–2 hours.