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Vienna is definitively the world home of museums, housing
a staggering collection of 153 museums altogether, and that's
not including the numerous palaces, monuments and statues
that there are to see. Highlights include:
Art and Natural History
Most famous are probably the Kunsthistorisches museum
(Art History) and the Naturhistorisches museum (Natural
History) - The two buildings are mirror images of each
other and are an impressive sight when seen from the gardens
separating them. In the Kunsthistorisches museum you can truly
see the incredible wealth of art amassed by the Habsburg
dynasty over the centuries. Artists range from Klimt
to Pieter Bruegel the Elder. The Naturhistorisches
museum is one of the largest museums of Natural History in
the world. Again it houses the belongings of the Habsburgs
- one of whom had a particular penchant for rare stuffed animals
and other oddities. Minerals, dinosaur models and the
world's largest collection of human skulls are all
to be found here.
Death and Crime
The Kriminalmuseum houses the documentation of all
manner of grisly crimes that have taken place in Vienna. Unfortunately
the press cuttings and explanations are all in German but
the photographs speak for themselves. Along the same theme
is the Bestattungsmuseum - the Undertakers museum!
(Goldeggasse 19, Tel - 01 501 954 227) This holds treasures
such as the reusable drop-bottom coffin and coffins fitted
with alarm bells for those with the fear of being buried alive.
Tobacco
It seems apt that a city that doesn't know the meaning of
'no smoking' should have the have an extensive Tabakmuseum.
This lies in the Museumsquarter - one of the biggest
cultural spaces in the world. The Museumsquarter is also home
to the Leopold Museum and the controversial building
of the Museum of Modern Art.
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