MuseumsQuartier

In the location's words:

The MuseumsQuartier Wien, or MQ for short, is one of the most important cultural and art centers in Europe and an indispensable part of Vienna's cultural life. It is located in the 7th district, the Neubau, and covers an area of around 60,000 square meters - making it one of the largest cultural complexes in the world. What was once built as the imperial court stables under Emperor Charles VI in the 18th century has now been transformed into a lively place of art, culture and encounters.

History and architecture

The history of the MuseumsQuartier is closely interwoven with the history of Vienna itself. The baroque court stables, designed by Johann Bernhard Fischer von Erlach and his son Joseph Emanuel Fischer von Erlach, still characterize the external appearance of the area today. After the end of the monarchy, the buildings were used for various purposes before the decision was made in the 1990s to transform the entire area into a modern cultural center. The opening of the MuseumsQuartier in its current form took place in 2001 and was a milestone in Vienna's cultural history. The successful combination of historic baroque architecture and contemporary buildings such as the striking basalt lava bar of the Leopold Museum and the mumok gives the area its unmistakable character.

The great museums

The heart of the MuseumsQuartier is formed by its renowned museums. The Leopold Museum houses one of the most important collections of 20th century Austrian art, including the world's largest collection of works by Egon Schiele as well as important works by Gustav Klimt, Oskar Kokoschka and other protagonists of Viennese Art Nouveau and Expressionism. The mumok - Museum moderner Kunst Stiftung Ludwig Wien displays a top-class collection of international modern and contemporary art, from Fluxus to Pop Art and Conceptual Art. The Kunsthalle Wien, on the other hand, is a place for contemporary art without its own collection and presents changing exhibitions that always address current social and artistic discourses.

More than just museums

What sets the MuseumsQuartier apart from other cultural institutions is its self-image as an open, lively urban space. In addition to the large institutions, the MQ is home to a large number of smaller cultural institutions, studios, off-spaces and creative offices that make the area a genuine creative ecosystem. These include the Tanzquartier Wien, an internationally renowned center for contemporary dance and performance, as well as the ZOOM Children's Museum, which is aimed specifically at young visitors and introduces children to art and creativity in a playful way.

The main courtyard - Vienna's largest open-air living room

Especially in summer, the spacious main courtyard of the MuseumsQuartier is transformed into one of the city's most popular meeting places. The famous colorful seating areas, affectionately known as "Enzis", invite you to linger, read, chat and relax. Numerous cafés, restaurants and bars around the courtyard provide food and drink, while open-air events, concerts, film screenings and markets enrich the program. The main courtyard is not an elitist art space, but a democratic place for everyone - whether art lovers, families, students or simply people who want to enjoy the sun.

Cultural diversity and program

The MQ sees itself as a place of cultural diversity and open dialog. The annual program is correspondingly wide-ranging and includes exhibitions of all genres, performances, festivals, readings, workshops and educational programs. The proximity to other cultural institutions is particularly noteworthy: The MuseumsQuartier is directly adjacent to the Kunsthistorisches Museum and the Naturhistorisches Museum, making the entire area around Maria-Theresien-Platz one of the densest cultural miles in Europe.

A place for Vienna and the world

Today, the MuseumsQuartier is far more than just a collection of museums - it is a vibrant urban building block that combines art, creativity and everyday life in a unique way. It attracts millions of visitors from all over the world every year and is also a place that the Viennese consider to be their own. In its successful combination of history and modernity, of high culture and everyday culture, the MQ reflects the spirit of Vienna: cosmopolitan, creative and always a little proud of its rich past.