The Naturhistorisches Museum

Home of Venus of Willendorf

The basis stock for the collections at the Naturhistorisches Museum is provided in the 18th century by Emperor Francis I, spouse to Maria Theresa, and comprises a collection of coral, mussels and rare precious stones.

In the 19th century a great expedition to Brazil provides additions to the imperial collection. When Francis II’s daughter Leopoldina marries the Brazilian heir to the throne, Dom Pedro, the Emperor sends precious woods, animals, minerals and plants. This includes 12,000 birds and 24,000 insects, transported to Vienna by the imperial explorers from the rainforests of South America.

In 1871 the architects Carl von Hasenauer and Gottfried Semper begin simultaneous construction of the Naturhistorisches Museum and the Kunsthistorisches Museum opposite. The Naturhistorisches Museum opens in 1889 and today, with over 30,000 artefacts including the famous Stone Age statue “Venus of Willendorf”, it can be counted as one of the largest museums of its kind worldwide.