Museums in Villach
Villach is a town that combines the charm of a historic center with the modernity of a vibrant city. It is the second largest town in Carinthia and lies near the borders of Italy and Slovenia. Villach has a rich history and culture, dating back to the Roman times. It has many attractions and landmarks, such as the Main Square, the Parish Church, the City Museum, the Villach Alpine Road, and the Villach Carnival. Villach is also a hub for transportation, education, and industry, as well as a center for tourism and events.
One of the best ways to discover and appreciate Villach is to visit its museums, which showcase different aspects of its heritage, art, and nature. Villach has a variety of museums, ranging from historical and cultural to artistic and natural. These museums offer a glimpse into the past, present, and future of Villach, as well as its people, traditions, and environment.
Museum der Stadt Villach
The Museum of the City of Villach, situated in the old Palais Crusiz on Widmanngasse, was established in 1873 by Carl Andreas Picco, who donated his collection to the museum. After several relocations, the museum found its permanent residence in a historic building on Kaiser-Joseph-Platz in 1935, though it was bombed in 1945. Fortunately, the collections were evacuated in time. Since 1960, the museum has been located at its current site on Widmanngasse.
The old Palais Crusitz, a three-story, nine-axis structure with a core dating back to the second half of the 16th century, boasts lunette barrels with plastered ridges and three-story arcades on the courtyard side. AC Candoloni added the kinked, late medieval façade around 1890. Notably, the Renaissance entrance from 1530/1540 in the inner courtyard was relocated here in 1971 from the old Engelhof in Perau. The inner courtyard is capped by the old city wall, rebuilt with a battlement.
Adjacent to the museum stands the Monument of Names, a memorial to the victims of National Socialism.
Devoted to the history of Villach, the museum focuses on various archaeological findings, including Neolithic village discoveries from Kanzianiberg, Bronze-Hallstatt era artifacts from Napoleonwiese via Warmbad-Villach, Roman-period finds from the city area, and early medieval cemetery artifacts from Judendorf and Völkendorf.
The museum houses notable paintings such as “Maria with Saints James, Dorothea, Barbara and Matthias” by Master Friedrich von Villach (circa 1450), “The Tablet of the Six Saints with Saints Kunigunde and Lucia, Leonhard, Nikolaus, Bartholomäus and Briccius” by Thomas von Villach (1470/1480), landscape paintings by Jakob Canciani, paintings by the brothers Josef and Ludwig Willroider, and works of 20th-century painting.
Additionally, the museum hosts a regesta collection, a microfilm archive, and a photo archive in its library.
Villach Vehicle Museum
The Villach Vehicle Museum, situated near the main railway station in an industrial area, occupies a spacious 2000 square meter hall displaying over 260 vehicles spanning from 1927 to 1990. The museum narrates the post-war era’s mobility dreams and visions, showcasing everyday vehicles that have become today’s classics. Its collection encompasses cars, motorcycles, scooters, mopeds, bicycles, tractors, and a fire engine, featuring notable vehicles like a 1938 Mercedes-Benz 230, a 1955 Porsche 356, a 1967 Jaguar E-Type, and a 1989 Ferrari Testarossa.
Visitors can observe vehicle restoration in the museum’s workshop and explore the radio museum, housing over 1000 devices from crystal radios to modern stereo systems. Additionally, the museum boasts a new watch museum with a watchmaker’s workshop, detailing the history and mechanics of timekeeping. It holds certification as a service center for prestigious watch brands like Omega, Longines, Rado, and Tissot.
Open Tuesday to Sunday, from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM and from 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM, the museum charges admission fees of 8 euros for adults, 6 euros for seniors and students, and 4 euros for children. Guided tours for groups, special events, and exhibitions are available throughout the year. Visitors can enjoy snacks and drinks at the on-site café and purchase model cars, books, posters, and memorabilia from the souvenir shop.
The Villach Vehicle Museum appeals to enthusiasts of cars, motorcycles, radios, and watches, offering an engaging exploration of technology evolution and the 1950s culture and lifestyle. It serves as an ideal destination for rainy days, groups, and families seeking a fun and educational experience in Villach.
Relief of Carinthia
The Carinthia Relief is hailed as Europe’s largest landscape sculpture, showcasing a detailed topographical model of Carinthia and its surroundings. Created between 1891 and 1913, the relief spans 182 square meters and is scaled at 1:10,000.
Constructed using white cement and meticulously painted to cartographic specifications, the relief vividly depicts rivers, lakes, cities, and highways, offering visitors a comprehensive view of the region’s geography. The sculpture provides a captivating perspective of Carinthia’s diverse terrain from the gallery.
Located in Schillerpark, the relief is housed within a 1912 Art Nouveau structure, providing a fitting backdrop for this monumental artwork. Adjacent to the relief, a charming playground offers recreational opportunities for children, complementing the cultural and scenic experience of visiting the Carinthia Relief.
Elli Riehl Doll World
Elli Riehl Doll World is a museum in Winklern, Austria, that showcases the life and work of Elli Riehl, a famous doll-maker and artist. Elli Riehl was born in Villach in 1902 and started making dolls in 1932, using needle and thread to create expressive fabric dolls that depict scenes from rural life and the working environment. She made about 700 dolls in her lifetime, which are now displayed in her former home and workshop. The museum also tells the story of Elli Riehl’s personal and professional journey, her close contact with nature, her friendship with Dr. Kraus, and her joy of giving happiness to others through her dolls.
Families find sheer delight in exploring Elli Riehl’s Doll Museum, where an impressive array of dolls depicting various life scenarios awaits. Each doll is meticulously handcrafted, reflecting exquisite attention to detail and craftsmanship.
The museum underwent extensive renovations in 1990, followed by further remodeling in 1999, resulting in the creation of a captivating experiential universe. Alongside the doll displays, visitors can explore Elli Riehl’s personal workroom, adorned with an assortment of tools and artifacts that once fueled her creative process.
Nestled within the Berger family’s residence in Treffen, Villach, Elli Riehl’s Doll Museum continues to draw thousands of tourists annually, offering an enchanting glimpse into the world of doll making and storytelling.
Museum of Mushrooms
Situated in the quaint neighborhood of Winklern within Treffen, a picturesque market town on the shores of Lake Ossiach in Carinthia, Austria, the Treffen Mushroom Museum stands as a unique testament to fungal fascination.
Since its establishment, this museum has been a beacon for mushroom enthusiasts, housed within a converted stable building boasting approximately 500 square meters of exhibition space. Its primary mission is to immerse visitors in the intricate world of mushrooms, offering insights into their fundamental biology and natural habitats.
Step inside, and you’ll encounter a wealth of captivating exhibits, including an information hub, a whimsical “dream forest,” and a mesmerizing mountain crystal and amethyst showcase. Delve deeper to discover glimpses of primitive local forests, presented alongside engaging multimedia presentations, short films, and even a quaint theater corner.
Younger visitors are treated to a dedicated children’s craft area, where budding artists can unleash their creativity. Moreover, the museum features a special exhibition space reserved for showcasing the works of talented artists, adding a touch of cultural enrichment to the experience.
Central to the museum’s layout is its instructional pathway, meticulously crafted to guide visitors through the four seasons of mushroom growth and development. Along this journey, guests encounter a stunning array of over 130 meticulously crafted mushroom models, painstakingly sculpted from cement mass and delicately carved using precision dental tools over a remarkable twelve-year period.
