One of the most important places on the historical and architectural map of Vienna, it opens its secrets to you.
Discover the Josephinum
Come and visit the Josephinum, Vienna’s most important classical building, steeped in history and elegance. This iconic structure, one of two representative buildings dating back to the eighteenth century in Vienna, originally served as a medical and surgical academy for military purposes when it opened in 1784. Since 1782, the Academy has been showcasing remarkable wax figures, which continue to captivate visitors today. The Josephinum is currently home to the Medical University of Vienna, which is doing a great job of preserving its rich heritage and continuing its legacy of medical education and innovation.
Highlights of the Josephinum
- The Josephinum is Vienna’s most important classical building, constructed in the eighteenth century.
- It opened in 1784 as a military medical and surgical academy.
- Giovanni Alessandro Brambilla, Joseph II’s personal surgeon, was the academy’s first director. He invented the portable enema machine.
- Established alongside the academy, the library has operated for 230 years. It is open to the public and contains collections even from the 15th century.
- Since 1782, the academy has displayed 1,192 wax models ordered by Emperor Joseph II, inspired by Michelangelo and Baroque art.
- A statue of Hygieia, the Greek deity of health, stands at the entrance.
- The museum, opened in 2019, displays the world’s first endoscope, Sigmund Freud’s handwritten CV, and the file used to assassinate Princess Sisi.
- During the Nazi era, many scientists were dismissed, reducing the staff by one-third.
- The Vienna Medical University boasts several Nobel winners, including Karl Landsteiner, who discovered blood types.
- Architect Isidore Canevale designed the Josephinum, Augarten entrance.
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Josephinum Name
To understand the Josephinum history, we should know more about its name. The name comes from the former Military Surgical Academy, which was set up by Emperor Joseph II.
Tips
Before visiting Josephinum, be sure to purchase the Niederösterreich Card. This card grants you access to top local attractions in Austria.
There is a lot of nudity in the museum – of course, related to medical matters. If you do not feel comfortable, do not come with children or families.
The museum is located in a very student area, if you get hungry you can visit one of the affordable fast food bars. The UNI-ECK, which specialises in serving schnitzel, is worth a visit. They have 4.7 stars on Google Maps out of 170 reviews. Worth a try!
Josephinum History
Origins and Founding
The Josephinum, established in the eighteenth century, stands as Vienna’s most significant classical building. It opened in 1784 as a military medical and surgical academy, under the direction of Giovanni Alessandro Brambilla, Joseph II’s personal surgeon. Brambilla was known for his numerous inventions, including the portable enema machine.
Educational Contributions
Joseph II, renowned for his progressive reforms, emphasized the training of academy staff, even arranging sightseeing trips for their education. The academy also houses a medical library, which has been in operation for 230 years. This library, open to the public, contains books dating back to the 15th century.
Remarkable Collections and Exhibits
The museum also has a medical library, which has been operating for 230 years. It’s open to anyone who wants to learn in a more traditional way. The Josephine’s biggest attraction is its wax models collection, which Emperor Joseph of Habsburg ordered 1,192 . Modellers from that time were inspired by the sources available to them. Some of the models were based on Michelangelo’s sketches, while others have distinct Baroque features, like church representations. It is said to be one of the most outstanding exhibitions on the history of medicine in this form in the world, and next to the museum in Florence, one of the largest in the world. The Josephinum history and it’s current exhibitions, mark it a very important point in Vienna.
The Josephinum also showcases intriguing artifacts such as the world’s first endoscope, Sigmund Freud’s handwritten CV, and the file used in the assassination of Princess Sisi.
One particularly noteworthy aspect of the museum is its dedication to raising awareness about the atrocities committed during the Nazi era. As part of their medical research and experiments, the Nazis killed people with disabilities, preserving their brains in jars. These jars are now part of the museum’s exhibition, offering a stark reminder of the period’s inhumanity.
Architectural Significance
The building was erected in the then suburbs of Vienna, in a town called Alservorstadt. Parts of the building are finished in Kaiserstein stone, which is a prized material in Austria. In front of the main entrance to the building is a statue of Hygieia, the Greek deity of health.
On the first floor of the Josephineum, you’ll find the lecture hall. There’s also the largest library in Austria dealing with the history of medicine, which has collections dating back to the 15th century.
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Closure and Transformation
The academy functioned until 1874, when it was closed. The reason for the closure was substantial, including the relatively low number of military doctors who could receive a degree at such an institution, as well as the reality that medical studies were sufficient for providing successful assistance to soldiers.
In 2019, the Museum of the History of Medicine opened here. They adapted the interiors and demolished a few walls to create an exhibition area where you can see wax figures from the 17th century.
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We have prepared for you a list of places you can easily visit by public transport, together with a description of the most important information and our recommendations. Check out what we have prepared for you!
