Description of the attraction
The Military History Museum of Vienna is located in the Arsenal near the Belvedere Palace. The museum was built over 6 years (1850-1856) by order of the Austrian Emperor Franz Joseph as a new city garrison. The building of the museum was designed by the architect Theophil von Hansen in a mixed architectural style.
Many important exhibits have been collected for the museum thanks to the efforts of the board of trustees. With the outbreak of the First World War, in 1914, the museum was closed, however, the collections continued to replenish.
Currently, the Vienna Military History Museum is one of the most important museums of military history in the world. The following exhibitions can be found in the museum: The Thirty Years War, Maria Theresa, Napoleon's Wars, War with the Turks, Prince Eugene, Joseph Radetzky, Franz Joseph, Sarajevo, World War I, Austrian Naval Force. In addition, the artillery hall displays collections of weapons and combat vehicles.
The most interesting exhibits include the car in which in 1914 the heir to the Austrian throne, Franz Ferdinand, was shot and killed, which was the reason for the outbreak of the First World War. In addition to the car itself, in the Sarajevo sector you can see the bloody tunic of the Archduke and the couch on which he died.
Two halls are dedicated to the First World War, which was of great importance for Austria-Hungary. Here you can see canvases depicting the chronology of events, uniforms and weapons of the army, samples of weapons. The visitor can learn about things such as the treatment of the wounded and killed during hostilities.
The Hall of the Naval Forces impresses with the world's largest mock-up of the flagship of the First World War, which allows you to get acquainted with the design and functional features of the ship. The conning tower of the U-20 submarine, which sank in 1918, completes the exposition.
