Museum of Mushrooms

The Museum of Mushrooms in Villach was founded by Professor Romano Bozac, a renowned mycologist who dedicated his life to the study and collection of mushrooms. Bozac was born in 1939 in Croatia, and he developed a passion for mushrooms at an early age. He studied biology and chemistry at the University of Zagreb, and later became a professor of mycology at the same university. He also worked as a researcher at the Croatian Academy of Sciences and Arts, and published several books and papers on mushrooms.

Bozac started collecting mushrooms in the 1960s, and soon amassed a large and diverse collection of specimens from all over the world. He used a special technique of freeze-drying to preserve the mushrooms in their natural shape and color, without the use of chemicals or additives. He also collected and cataloged information about the mushrooms, such as their scientific names, habitats, edibility, toxicity, and medicinal properties.

In 1992, Bozac moved to Austria with his family, and settled in Villach, a city in the southern state of Carinthia. He brought his mushroom collection with him, and decided to open a museum to display it to the public. He rented a space on the second floor of an office building overlooking the main square of the city, and transformed it into a museum of mushrooms. He also added other attractions, such as a crystal show, a primeval forest, and a gift shop.

The Museum of Mushrooms in Villach opened its doors in 1994, and soon became a popular destination for tourists and locals alike. The museum has over 1,500 freeze-dried mushrooms on display, arranged in thematic sections according to their characteristics and uses. Some of the highlights include:

• The Hall of Edible Mushrooms, where visitors can see and learn about the most common and delicious mushrooms that can be eaten, such as chanterelles, porcini, morels, truffles, and shiitake.
• The Hall of Poisonous Mushrooms, where visitors can see and learn about the most dangerous and deadly mushrooms that can cause severe illness or death, such as amanitas, false morels, destroying angels, and death caps.
• The Hall of Medicinal Mushrooms, where visitors can see and learn about the mushrooms that have been used for centuries in traditional medicine and modern pharmacology, such as reishi, cordyceps, turkey tail, and chaga.
• The Hall of Psychedelic Mushrooms, where visitors can see and learn about the mushrooms that have psychoactive effects and can induce altered states of consciousness, such as psilocybe, amanita muscaria, and peyote.
• The Hall of Rare and Exotic Mushrooms, where visitors can see and learn about the mushrooms that are very rare, unusual, or endemic to certain regions, such as the giant puffball, the devil’s cigar, the bleeding tooth, and the bioluminescent mushrooms.

The museum also has a section dedicated to the history and culture of mushrooms, where visitors can see and learn about the role of mushrooms in art, literature, religion, folklore, and cuisine. The museum has a collection of paintings, sculptures, books, stamps, coins, and other artifacts related to mushrooms. The museum also has a section dedicated to the ecology and conservation of mushrooms, where visitors can see and learn about the importance of mushrooms for the environment, the biodiversity, and the sustainability of life on Earth.

The museum also offers guided tours, workshops, lectures, and exhibitions on various topics related to mushrooms. The museum has a staff of experts and enthusiasts who can answer any questions and provide any information about mushrooms. The museum also has a library and a laboratory where visitors can access and use books, journals, microscopes, and other equipment for further research and study of mushrooms.

The Museum of Mushrooms in Villach is not only a museum, but also a place of entertainment and education. The museum has a crystal show, where visitors can enjoy a spectacular presentation of light and sound featuring crystals of different shapes, sizes, and colors. The museum also has a primeval forest, where visitors can experience a realistic simulation of a prehistoric forest, complete with plants, animals, and sounds. The museum also has a gift shop, where visitors can buy souvenirs, books, posters, postcards, and other items related to mushrooms.

The Museum of Mushrooms in Villach is open from Friday to Tuesday, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., including Sundays and holidays. The museum is closed on Wednesday and Thursday. The admission fee is 9.50 euros for adults, 4 euros for students, and 5.50 euros for groups. Families can get a discount depending on the number of children. The guided tour costs an extra 1.50 euros per person, and requires a minimum of six people and a prior appointment. The museum also offers free entry with the Kärnten Card, a tourist card that grants access to over 100 attractions in the region.

The Museum of Mushrooms in Villach is located at Steinhauserweg 1, 9541 Treffen Am Ossiacher See, Austria. The museum can be reached by car, bus, train, or bike. The museum has a parking lot and a bike rack for visitors. The museum is also close to the Ossiacher See, a beautiful lake that offers many recreational activities, such as swimming, boating, fishing, and hiking.