Discover the shadows of Leopoldstadt: Wiener's Criminal Museum opens its doors!

Discover the shadows of Leopoldstadt: Wiener's Criminal Museum opens its doors!

Großen Sperlgasse 24, 1020 Wien, Österreich - When historians and crime fans want to come to a common denominator, there is no way to go past Wiener Kriminalmuseum . At the Große Sperlgasse 24, in the venerable “soap song house”, this unique museum is four hundred years of crime -historical developments as a contemporary witness. The facility is committed to clarification of crimes and their fighting and illuminates the exciting but often dark history of Vienna.

The museum is not only a popular destination for those interested in history, but also for all those who are interested in the abysses of human nature. Here you can not only linger with ancient torture works and the only Viennese witch burning, but also deal with the anarchist terror and the notorious serial killer Jack Unterweger . The collection offers interesting insights into the development of the legal system and includes historical methods of the collection of evidence and the history of the death penalty.

hidden treasures and current offers

The objects on display are rich and impressive. Visitors will find everything from documents and insightful illustrations to replicas, mummified heads, to real crime weapons and crime scene photos. The moulages, i.e. three -dimensional images of body parts, are particularly remarkable that serve to illustrate the brutality of past crimes.

To use the time in the museum, a visit of at least 1 to 2 hours is recommended. If you want to take a whole day, you can also use the special tours offered and the audio guides for only 2 euros that offer a total of 60 informative stations. The museum is open from Thursday to Sunday and on public holidays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and the ticket prices are well affordable for adults and 5.90 euros for children.

Jack Unterweger - a man of contradictions

A special part of the collection is devoted to the dark story of Jack Unterweger, a man who caused a sensation in Austria's crime history. Born on August 16, 1950 in Judenburg, Styria, was not only a convicted murderer, but also a "port literate", whose life raises many questions. After his release from detention in 1990, he became a journalist and entertainer, but soon he fell into old behavioral patterns and committed seven murders of sex workers.

The fate reports of these perpetrators have triggered a persistent debate about the topics of crime rehabilitation and the role of the media in society. On June 29, 1994, his self -chosen end came in custody, a final that has many parallels to his actions and raises the question of punishment and social dealings with criminals.

The Vienna Criminal Museum not only offers a deep insight into the abysses of the human psyche, but also an exciting processing of crime history from the early modern period to the present day. With thematic tours and special events such as the "Serial Milder - Abyss of Humanity" on May 19, 2025, there is something for everyone. You can find more information on the museum website at wien.kriminalmuseum.at .