Innsbruck Archaeological Museum

The Archaeological Museum of Innsbruck, which is part of the University of Innsbruck, houses a remarkable collection of casts and originals from various periods and regions of the ancient world.

The History of the Museum

The Archaeological Museum of Innsbruck was founded in 1869 by the classical philologist and archaeologist Karl Schenkl, who wanted to create a teaching and research facility for his students and colleagues. The museum is Austria’s second oldest archaeological university collection, after the one in Vienna.

The museum started with a small number of plaster casts of famous Greek and Roman sculptures, which were acquired from various sources, such as the Louvre, the Vatican, and the British Museum. Over the years, the collection expanded with more casts, as well as original artifacts, such as pottery, coins, inscriptions, and jewelry. Some of these originals were donated by private collectors, while others were excavated by the university’s archaeologists in Tyrol and abroad.

Today, the museum consists of approximately 1000 artifacts in total, making it the largest collection of classical antiquities in western Austria. The museum also has a unique place within the Tyrolean museum scene, as it is the only one that focuses on ancient art and culture.

The Exhibits of the Museum

The museum’s collection covers a wide range of ancient art and culture, from the Bronze Age to the early Middle Ages. The exhibits are divided into two locations: the original site in the main university building (Innrain 52, 3rd floor), and the new Centre for Ancient Cultures (Langer Weg 11, 1st floor).

The original site showcases the evolution of Greek and Roman sculpture, from the Minoan-Mycenaean era to the Archaic, Classical, and Hellenistic periods, as well as Etruscan and Roman art, and Late Antiquity. Here, you can admire the casts of some of the most famous and influential works of ancient art, such as the Venus de Milo, the Discobolus, the Laocoön group, the Augustus of Prima Porta, and the Column of Trajan. You can also see some original sculptures, such as a Roman portrait bust, a marble sarcophagus, and a bronze statuette of Hercules.

The new Centre for Ancient Cultures displays other aspects of ancient art and culture, such as architecture, religion, daily life, and funerary customs. Here, you can see original artifacts from prehistoric, Near Eastern, and Roman times in Tyrol, such as pottery, metalwork, glass, and bone. You can also learn about the history and archaeology of Tyrol in antiquity, such as the Roman settlement of Veldidena, the cult of Mithras, and the migration of the Lombards.

The Services of the Museum

The museum is not only a place of exhibition, but also a place of education and research. The museum offers guided tours, workshops, lectures, and publications for various audiences, such as school groups, university students, researchers, and the general public. The museum also cooperates with other institutions, such as the Tyrolean State Museum, the Tyrolean Archaeological Society, and the Institute of Archaeologies of the University of Innsbruck.

The museum is open from Monday to Friday, from 9:00 to 12:00 and from 14:00 to 16:00. The admission is free, but donations are welcome. You can contact the museum by phone (+43 512 / 50 73 75 68) or by email (archaeologie-museum@uibk.ac.at) for more information or to book a tour.

Innsbruck, Austria