The Josephinum is a medical history museum at Währinger Str. 25 in Vienna, housed in a building founded as an academy for army doctors in 1785. Its collection includes carefully preserved, life-size anatomical wax models that let you examine the body part by part. Information is available in German and English, and the historic building is part of the visit. The detailed displays suit anyone curious about anatomy, though some medical terminology can help you make sense of the collection.
An academy for army doctors
The Josephinum began as a medical-surgical academy for training military doctors in the Austrian army. It opened in 1785, during a period when Vienna’s growing population and 18th-century rationalist ideas led to the creation of a modern public hospital.
Emperor Joseph II expanded an earlier home for disabled soldiers. The wider complex included the Narrenturm, a rotunda for people with mental illness that opened in 1784, and the Josephinum academy. Court architect Isidore Canevale designed both buildings in an early Neoclassical style.
Anatomy in wax
The museum’s central collection is a large group of anatomical wax models, preserved at life size. The models present body parts for close observation, with labels naming the parts. Their scale and detail make the collection relevant to medical students as well as visitors with a general interest in human anatomy.
Exhibition information is available in German and English. A basic grounding in medical terminology can help you follow what you are seeing. If the number of models becomes difficult to take in, an audio guide can help you move through the displays.
The Josephinum today
The building now houses the Institute of Medical History of the Medical University of Vienna, along with other institutes. The museum has been renovated, combining its medical collections with the historic setting of the former academy.
The detailed displays may feel extensive if you arrive without much background in anatomy. Give yourself room to focus on the models that interest you, and use the audio guide if you want support navigating the collection.
FAQ
What can you see at the Josephinum?
The museum has a large collection of life-size anatomical wax models, with labels naming the body parts. It also presents the history of medicine.
Is information available in English?
Yes. Exhibition information is available in both German and English.
Should I buy tickets in advance?
Advance ticket purchase is recommended.
What is the history of the Josephinum?
It opened in 1785 as a medical-surgical academy to train military doctors for the Austrian army. The building now houses the Institute of Medical History of the Medical University of Vienna and other institutes.
