Museums In St. Pölten
St. Pölten, with its rich history and vibrant artistic community, boasts a diverse array of museums, offering a captivating journey through various facets of the city’s heritage and culture. One prominent institution is the Museum Niederösterreich, a comprehensive establishment comprising the House of History and the House of Nature. The former meticulously chronicles the social, political, and historical evolution of Lower Austria from the Middle Ages to the present day, while the latter explores the region’s natural diversity, showcasing its flora and fauna.
For those intrigued by St. Pölten’s local history, the Stadtmuseum St. Pölten resides in a former monastery, housing a treasure trove of artifacts that illuminate the city’s art, culture, and history. Archaeological findings, art nouveau pieces, paintings, and sculptures collectively weave a narrative that spans centuries, offering visitors a profound connection to the city’s past.
The Diözesanmuseum St. Pölten stands as a testament to the religious heritage of the Diocese, exhibiting sacred artifacts, liturgical vestments, manuscripts, paintings, and sculptures. This museum provides a comprehensive insight into the religious art spanning different periods and styles within the region.
Delving into Austria’s Jewish history and culture, the Institut für jüdische Geschichte Österreichs, housed in a meticulously restored synagogue, serves as a vital research and documentation center. It showcases historical documents, photographs, and artifacts related to St. Pölten’s Jewish community, contributing to a broader understanding of the city’s cultural tapestry.
For enthusiasts of contemporary art, the Galerie im Rathaus and Galerie Maringer stand as prominent hubs. These galleries curate a diverse range of exhibitions featuring both local and international artists, offering a dynamic exploration of modern artistic expressions. The Ausstellungsraum des St. Pöltner Künstlerbundes im Löwenhof, managed by the St. Pölten Artists’ Association, provides a platform for local artists to showcase their works, complemented by various cultural events that add vibrancy to the city’s artistic landscape.
Lastly, the Verein Wilhelmsburger Geschirr Museum pays homage to St. Pölten’s heritage through its dedication to the traditional Wilhelmsburg pottery. The museum’s exhibits, ranging from different eras and styles, provide a glimpse into the history and craftsmanship behind this unique ceramic ware.
With such a wide array of museums to choose from, St. Pölten promises an enriching and immersive cultural experience for all visitors.
St. Pölten City Museum
The Stadtmuseum St. Pölten, serving as the municipal museum of the Lower Austrian state capital, has a rich history dating back to its establishment in 1909. Initially known as the town hall museum, it underwent several relocations before finding a permanent home in the Karmeliterhof in 1976, a building erected by Jakob Prandtauer between 1707 and 1712 as a Carmelite convent. After functioning as barracks from 1787 to 1918, the structure was meticulously restored in phases from 1964 to 1985 and currently houses the St. Pölten City Council.
The museum spans three floors, each dedicated to distinct themes:
Ground Floor:
- The foyer introduces visitors to the museum.
- A comprehensive archaeology section offers insights into prehistoric and early historical artifacts from the St. Pölten area, including the Roman era when the city was known as Aelium Cetium. Notably, 3D computer models depict certain artifacts.
First Floor:
- Focuses on Art Nouveau in St. Pölten, showcasing the influence of this architectural and artistic movement. A residence designed by Joseph Maria Olbrich in 1899 stands as a prime example, featuring flowery plaster, metalwork, and stained glass windows. The period’s artistic contributions from figures like Charlotte Andri-Hampel, Ferdinand Andri, Ernst Stöhr, Hans Ofner, and Joseph Maria Olbrich are highlighted.
Second Floor:
- Houses the Lower Austrian Documentation Center for Modern Art, offering a comprehensive perspective on modern art in the region.
The museum provides a thorough exploration of St. Pölten’s urban history, emphasizing epochs like transportation and industrial history. Architectural history is meticulously covered, with a specific focus on the Baroque and Art Nouveau periods.
The collection also includes various works from prominent artists associated with the Art Nouveau movement. The architectural influence of Joseph Maria Olbrich, particularly in the design of a residence at Kremser Gasse 41, exemplifies the arrival and impact of Art Nouveau in the city. The sculptural structure, adorned with intricate details, reflects the style’s ornate nature.
Moreover, the museum goes beyond physical artifacts, incorporating interactive elements like 3D models and informative display boards. The biographies of artists featured in the collection, including recent exhibitions in international cities like Vienna, Salzburg, Milan, Montreal, Paris, and The Hague, are also presented, providing a comprehensive overview of the cultural and artistic heritage of St. Pölten.
Lower Austria Museum
The Lower Austria Museum, situated in St. Pölten, serves as the state museum encompassing history, art, and nature. Established in 1902 by the Association for Cultural Studies, it underwent several relocations in Vienna before settling in St. Pölten in 2002. Originally known as the Landesmuseum Niederösterreich, the museum has evolved, uniting the House of History and the House of Nature into a single entity in 2016.
The House of History, developed by Stefan Karner and later directed by Christian Rapp from January 1, 2018, delves into the turbulent past of Lower Austria and Central Europe. Exhibitions cover diverse themes like the First Republic, youth, espionage, young Hitler, sports, resistance art, and more. Notably, the art collection moved to the Landesgalerie Niederösterreich in Krems in 2019.
The museum, a blend of Lower Austrian history, art, and nature, underwent architectural modifications by Hans Hollein (2002) and RATA PLAN (2009). Its responsibilities encompass collection preservation, expansion, scientific development, exhibition, and administration, positioning itself as an educational institution bridging science and the public.
Key Areas:
History Area:
- The museum provides a 300 m2 space for special exhibits on regional history, utilizing multimedia to explore the country’s history and habitats from various perspectives.
- A museum laboratory allows visitors to navigate history through virtual workstations.
Art Collection Area:
- Illuminating Austrian art from the Middle Ages to the present, with a focus on Lower Austria, the collection spans the nineteenth and twentieth centuries.
- Notable artists in the collection include Waldmüller, Gauermann, Schiele, Kokoschka, Hauer, Frohner, Rainer, Krystufek, Cibulka, and Nitsch.
Collection Database:
- The museum houses extensive collections in fine arts, natural history, folklore, archaeology, and regional history. The ongoing database development aims to provide comprehensive insights into these holdings.
Nature Area:
- Geographical contexts underpin scientific claims, with a focus on a river connecting high alpine glaciers to lowland waters.
- Live animal exhibits, including fish, amphibians, and reptiles, categorize the museum within the zoo domain.
- Thematic emphasis on water as a habitat is evident in aquariums, showcasing species like pike, catfish, carp, waxy dick, and sterlet.
- The museum garden hosts various creatures, and in-depth information is available on the museum blog, “On the Trail of Nature.”
Museum am Dom St. Pölten
The Museum am Dom, established in 1888, stands as the oldest diocesan museum in Austria, situated adjacent to the cathedral within the historic chambers of the former Augustinian monastery in St. Pölten.
Currently housed on the first floor of the decommissioned Augustinian monastery, the museum shares space with the monastery library. The extensive collection comprises altars, sculptures, paintings, liturgical fabrics (paraments), and liturgical objects like chalices and monstrances, showcased in the treasury and parament chamber.
The museum’s focus extends across a diverse array of spiritual art subjects, addressing and presenting them in a contemporary manner through annual exhibitions. This approach ensures a dynamic engagement with the audience, offering insights into the rich cultural and religious heritage encapsulated within the historical walls of the Augustinian monastery.
With its strategic location next to the cathedral, the Museum am Dom serves as a cultural and educational hub, providing visitors with a glimpse into Austria’s religious history and artistic expressions. The inclusion of liturgical fabrics and objects adds depth to the exhibits, offering a comprehensive view of the material and spiritual aspects of the Catholic tradition.
The utilization of the monastery’s chambers for this purpose not only preserves the historical significance of the space but also creates a unique setting for the presentation of religious artifacts. The coexistence of the museum and the monastery library further enriches the cultural landscape, fostering an environment where art, history, and spirituality converge.
Lower Austrian State Library
The Lower Austrian State Library (NLB) stands as a prominent scientific library in Austria, serving the public from its location in St. Pölten. Functioning as the state library for Lower Austria, it also holds the status of the central and regional library for the state. As a public general library, the NLB houses scientific literature across various disciplines, with a particular emphasis on works related to Lower Austrian regional studies and provincial administration.
Founded in 1813, the library has undergone several relocations, including periods in the old Niederösterreichische Landhaus (now Palais Niederösterreich) in Vienna and a building on Teinfaltstraße in Vienna from 1967 to 1996. In 1997, the NLB found its current home in St. Pölten’s government quarter, marking a new chapter in its history. Since 1861, it has held the title of State Library.
The NLB’s collection is expansive, comprising over 365,000 printed books, approximately 100,000 historical images of locations and structures, and around 20,000 maps. The library’s dual focus on regional studies and provincial administration reflects its commitment to serving both scholarly and administrative needs.
The construction of the new library facility in St. Pölten involved an expenditure of 5.76 million euros. In 2001, the NLB allocated approximately 929,000 euros and received around 8,000 euros in funding. The library operated with a staff of 21 employees at the beginning of 2002, further reinforcing its significance as a comprehensive resource for research, regional studies, and administrative information within the state of Lower Austria.
