Gasteiner Museum in Bad Gastein

GASTEINER MUSEUM is a museum located in the town of Bad Gastein, which tells the history of the resort, connected with thermal waters, skiing, health and customs.

Official website: gasteinermuseum.com
Museum address: Grand Hotel De L’europe, 5640 Bad Gastein, Kaiser Franz Josef 14
Phone: 06434 3488

History of the Museum Gasteiner Museum

The creation date of the museum is June 28, 1936, when Franz Karl Ginzkey opened the jubilee exhibition on the 500th anniversary of the visit to Bad Gastein, with the aim of treating Emperor Frederick III. At the opening of the exhibition were: Federal President of Austria, Mr. Wilhelm Miklas (1928 to 1938), Head of the Salzburg Province Government Franz Rehrl and Mayor of Bad Gastein, Mr. Obrutschka. The presence of such high-ranking officials at the opening of the exhibition showed the importance of this event. The first exhibition of exhibits was collected by Mr. Heinrich von Zimburg. Gradually, many families transferred valuable historical artifacts to the museum’s property. Over time, the exhibition grew and became a museum. Therefore, 1936 is usually considered the date of foundation.

In the same year in 1936, the museum has a lot of paintings by famous masters (these were the court artists of the archduke of Austria Johann):

• Tomas Ender
• Matthäus Loder

In the treatment section was exhibited a collective bath model, typical minerals, that was found in Gastein. There were also exhibited stands with commemorative pieces used in gold mining.

Closing of the Gasteiner Museum

The beginning of the Second World War led to the closure of the museum, it was a mournful period for both the Gasteiner Museum and humanity as a whole. At that time, the exhibits were returned to the owners, and the museum was disbanded. In 1946, a new start was made in the work of the Gasteiner Museum. The driving force in the revival of the museum was again Zimburg, who managed to acquire numerous objects related to the old Gastein, and thereby save the exhibits from selling abroad or total loss. An extensive collection of Zschocke and Frohnwieser was purchased, among the minerals Frohnwieser was a magnificent mountain crystal 65 cm in height and weighing 76 kg, which was found at the foot of Ankogel in 1937.

The museum was located in the so-called “Grillparzer Corner” in the old Kursaal. The place was catastrophically inadequate, and this, in turn, hampered the development of the Gasteiner Museum. In the mid-sixties again came the hard times, because the old Kursaal was closed and the museum was essentially “homeless.” There was no new premises for the museum, so all the exhibits were cleaned in boxes and were not always properly kept in the attic of the Haus Austria.

The new life of the Gasteiner Museum

A new page in the history of the Gastein Museum began with the founding of the “Verein der Freunde des Gasteiner Museums” (Association of Friends of the Gastein Museum) in 1974 by citizens of Bad Gastein:

• Dr. Hermann Greinwald
• Dr. Fritz Gruber
• Fritz Kutter
• Karl Winter

The above mentioned people became the driving force behind the revival of the Gasteiner Museum. This initiative was positively evaluated by the then mayor of the city Anton Kerschbaumer, who contributed to the provision of premises on the first floor of the Haus Austria for the first exposition of the museum.

On the 26th of December in 1974, the Gasteiner Museum opened a special exhibition of national customs around the Gastein Valley, which operates throughout the year. A special exhibition as “The History of Gastein shown in numerous illustrations”, depicted in numerous drawings, was reproduced and gradually evolved into a central extensive show about the history of the city of Bad Gastein.

The second closing of the museum and today’s days

The sale of the Haus Austria and the Congress Center to the Viennese investor not only had a fatal impact on the city center, but also made the museum “homeless” for the second time. In 2008, the Gasteiner Museum was again closed. After careful consideration, the museum’s managing committee decides to leave the museum’s location in the city center and make every possible effort to preserve the cultural heritage of the city.

Thanks to the generosity of Mrs. Rosina Tscherne, the association was able to rent storage and exhibition halls in the Grand Hotel de L’Europe. After the planning stage by the FLEUS Salzburg architects who made a significant contribution to the design and structural changes in the new rooms, the Gasteiner Museum was inaugurated on the 15th ofNovember, 2011 by a member of the provincial government of Salzburg Mrs. Tina Widmann.

Opening hours and ticket prices at Gasteiner Museum

Opening hours from the 4th of June to the 8th of October 2017
Wednesday-Sunday: 14.30-18.00
Monday and Tuesday: closed
Opening hours from the 10th of October 2017 to Christmas 2017
Every Thursday: 14.30-18: 00
Opening hours from the 27th of December 2017 to the 6th of April 2018
Wednesday-Friday: 14.30-18.00
Opening hours from the 12th of April to June 2018
Every Thursday: 14.30-18: 00

Historical tour Gasteiner Museum

Conducted every Wednesday
Meeting place: Gasteiner Museum at 15.30
Language of the tour: German
Fee with Gastein-Card: € 5, – per person
Combined ticket, including entrance to the museum: 7 euros, – per person

Children under 12 years old are free of charge.
Groups (from 20 people – registration is required!)
Museum: € 4,00 / per person
Historical tour: € 4,00 / per person