Freud Museum (Vienna)

Freud Museum (Vienna)

Berggasse 19
Tel. 01- 319 1596
Subway: Schottentor
Open: 9am- 5pm daily

 

Description

The Sigmund Freud Museum in Vienna, located at Berggasse 19 in the Alsergrund district (9th district), is housed in the former residence and practice of Sigmund Freud, the founder of psychoanalysis. This historic site, where Freud lived and worked from 1891 until his forced emigration in 1938 due to Nazi persecution, serves as a cultural and educational institution dedicated to preserving and exploring Freud's life, work, and the development of psychoanalysis. Established in 1971, the museum underwent a major renovation and expansion in 2020, reopening with enhanced exhibition spaces that now include the full family apartment and practices of both Sigmund and his daughter Anna Freud. As of 2025, it attracts visitors interested in psychology, history, and art, offering a blend of biographical insights, psychoanalytic concepts, and contemporary interpretations through permanent collections, temporary exhibitions, and events. The museum emphasizes Freud's revolutionary impact on understanding the human psyche, while also addressing themes of exile, injustice, and human existence.

 

History

Sigmund Freud moved into the apartment at Berggasse 19 in 1891 with his wife Martha and their growing family, establishing his medical practice there. This address became the epicenter of psychoanalysis, where Freud developed key theories, treated patients on his famous couch, and wrote seminal works amid the intellectual ferment of fin-de-siècle Vienna, including the decline of the Habsburg monarchy and the aftermath of World War I. Freud's routine involved long hours of patient sessions, writing, and cigar smoking, all within these walls. In 1938, following the Anschluss (Nazi annexation of Austria), Freud, who was Jewish, faced increasing persecution; with international intervention, he fled to London, taking most of his possessions, including his extensive antiquities collection and the iconic couch. The apartment stood largely empty until the museum's founding in 1971 by the Sigmund Freud Society, initially focusing on a few preserved rooms.
The museum expanded over the decades, incorporating Anna Freud's adjacent practice (acquired in the 1980s) and undergoing a significant 18-month renovation from 2019 to 2020. This refit modernized the space, adding new exhibition areas and integrating conceptual art to bridge psychoanalysis with contemporary culture. By 2025, the museum has evolved into a dynamic institution, hosting international collaborations, lectures, and research, while confronting historical injustices like the Nazi era's impact on the Freud family. It also maintains ties to the Freud Museum in London, where many original items reside, symbolizing the diaspora of Freud's legacy.

 

Architecture and Layout

Berggasse 19 is a typical late-19th-century Viennese apartment building, with the museum occupying the mezzanine and first floors. The architecture retains much of the original bourgeois design, including high ceilings, parquet floors, and ornate moldings, evoking the era's middle-class elegance. Freud's apartment layout includes interconnected rooms: the entrance hall, waiting room, study, consulting room, and private family quarters such as bedrooms and living areas. Due to the 1938 emigration, the spaces are sparsely furnished, intentionally left as a "monument to absence" to highlight themes of loss and exile. Original elements preserved include door fittings, a wooden table from the Herrenzimmer (men's room), waiting room furniture from Freud's earlier practice, and a small mirror from his study.
The 2020 renovation introduced modern display cases of burnished metal, glass, and wood, organized thematically across the rooms. The foyer on the ground floor houses a café, ticket office, and shop, while upper levels feature exhibition spaces. Anna Freud's practice rooms add depth, showcasing her contributions to child psychoanalysis. The overall layout encourages a narrative journey: from Freud's professional life in the front rooms to intimate family spaces in the rear, with augmented reality elements enhancing immersion.

 

Exhibits

The museum's exhibits blend historical artifacts, biographical details, and artistic interpretations, divided into permanent and temporary sections.

Permanent Exhibits: These provide an overview of Freud's life and psychoanalysis, connected to the original room functions. Key displays include personal items like Freud's glasses, manuscripts, doctor's case, and briefcase; family photos; and thematic cases on Freud as a father, translator, neurologist, cocaine researcher, traveler, refugee, and cultural pioneer. The conceptual art collection, integrated throughout, features works that dialogue with psychoanalytic ideas. A standout is the augmented reality installation "Sigmund Freud's Couch," accessible via QR code in the former consulting room, which virtually reconstructs the absent couch and fades to evoke loss. Audio stations offer interviews, including Freud's voice, and videos narrated by Anna Freud. The exhibition "Hidden Thoughts of a Visual Nature" in Freud's first practice explores links between psychoanalysis and the arts.
Temporary Exhibits and Installations (2025): The annual theme "Being Human" frames the program, addressing human existence amid uncertainty, environmental issues, and technology. Highlights include the ongoing "Analysis Interminable: Psychoanalytical Schools of Thought after Freud" (until September 22, 2025), presenting five post-Freudian schools; "Haut (Skin)" by Stephanie Pflaum (until June 1, 2025), an uncanny installation in the Showroom; and "Documents of Injustice: The Case of Freud" (October 24, 2025, to November 9, 2026), examining the Freud family's dehumanization under Nazism with new archival finds. An online exhibition "Being Human" features advisory board contributions. Installations like "Modern People" by Daniel Hafner and "Trauer und Melancholie" by Olaf Nicolai add contemporary layers.

 

Significance

The Freud Museum holds profound cultural and intellectual significance as the "birthplace of psychoanalysis," where Freud's ideas reshaped perceptions of the unconscious, sexuality, and human behavior, influencing fields from psychology to literature and art. It serves as a memorial to Freud's exile and the broader Jewish experience under Nazism, underscoring themes of resilience and loss. In 2025, its focus on "Being Human" engages with contemporary crises, positioning psychoanalysis as a tool for understanding modern challenges like the Anthropocene and AI. The museum fosters interdisciplinary dialogue through events like the Sigmund Freud Lecture (featuring J.M. Coetzee on May 6, 2025) and conferences (e.g., "What is ‘Nature’ in Human Nature?" on June 12-13, 2025), while collaborations with festivals and international scholars, such as Fulbright-Freud Lecturer Max Cavitch's research on dogs in psychoanalysis, extend its reach. It also educates younger audiences via programs like "Freud for Kids," ensuring Freud's legacy remains relevant.

 

Visitor Information

As of October 2025, the museum is open daily, with extended hours on Thursdays (10:00 AM to 7:00 PM); exact schedules should be confirmed on the official website (freud-museum.at/en/opening-hours-and-tickets). Admission includes access to all exhibitions and is around €14 for adults, with discounts for students, seniors, and children (free under 12); audio guides are available via mobile devices (bring headphones). Guided tours, lasting about an hour, are recommended for deeper insights and can be booked in advance—visitors praise knowledgeable guides for making complex topics accessible. The museum is wheelchair-accessible in most areas, though the historic building may have limitations; contact for specifics.
Practical tips from recent visitors: Allocate 2-3 hours to absorb the text-heavy exhibits; use QR codes for multilingual translations and augmented reality. The ground-floor café offers Viennese wines and refreshments, and the shop sells unique souvenirs like Freud-themed erasers and bath ducks. It's easily reachable by U2 subway to Schottentor (6-7 minute walk) or trams/buses to nearby stops. Combine with the Freudrundweg walking tour for context. Pros include the enriching historical immersion and new artifacts; cons note the sparse furnishings and reading-intensive nature, making it ideal for enthusiasts but potentially overwhelming for casual visitors or children. Events like film screenings and lectures enhance visits—check the 2025 program for details.