Vienna’s museums have found a number of ingenious ways to make their exhibitions more accessible to visually impaired and deaf visitors.
As far as accessibility and inclusion is concerned, the newly renovated Wien Museum is absolutely cutting-edge. Tactile objects, braille and large print text and information in simple language are used throughout the building and in the exhibitions. Induction loops have been installed and guided tours in sign language and simple language are also available.
The Kunsthistorisches Museum offers a globally unique service for the blind and visually impaired. Three masterpieces of the Renaissance collection belonging to the Picture Gallery at the Academy of Fine Arts have been turned into 3D reliefs for touching. High-resolution photos of Raffael's Madonna in Green, Albrecht Dürer's Madonna and Child, and Jean Fouquet's Gonella the Ferrera Court Jester were the starting point for the milled reliefs which provide an accurate portrayal of the masterpieces' construction and numerous details. A braille brochure and tour guides supply additional information on the pictures. Registration is required for the tactile tours. Further information
The Upper Belvedere organizes special guided tours for blind and visually impaired people. Tactile reproductions of Gustav Klimt’s “The Kiss”, a model of Egon Schiele’s painting “Crouching Human Couple (The Family)” and a bust of Franz Xaver Messerschmidt offer a hands-on art experience. The Belvedere also offers video guides in Austrian and international sign language.
The Roman Museum in the first district is another place where visually impaired visitors are treated to a hands-on experience. The Dom Museum Wien also offers touch tours. The highlight is a relief of Rudolf IV, known as "The Founder".
A 1:2000 scale bronze model of the summer residence of the Habsburgers has been set up at the main entrance to Schönbrunn Palace. This gives visually impaired and blind people the possibility to get a better idea of the size and scale of the palace and the Ehrenhof in front of it. Blind and visually impaired people are also offered special tours, on which visitors can touch selected objects.
Video guides in Austrian Sign Language (ÖGS) and International Sign have been installed in numerous museums in Vienna and can be viewed on special devices or downloaded to your own smartphone. Most of Vienna’s museums also offer guided tours in sign language. Most of Vienna's museums also offer guided tours in sign language on request.
The Museum Guide provides a well-structured overview of the wide range of accessibility and inclusion services available in Viennese and Austrian museums.
The permanent exhibition is accessible free of charge. Free admission to the special exhibitions on the upper floor for all under 19 and every first Sunday of the month.
5 Steps
(Double swinging doors 300 cm wide)
on Maria-Theresien-Platz, no ramp
Side entrance
Barrier-free entrance: Burgring 5 via porter, visitor service accompanies you to the elevator and into the building
Car parks Main entrance
5
Parking spaces for people with disabilities
on Heldenplatz
Elevator available
Door 99 cm wide
Further information
Wheelchair accessible restroom available.
Special offers for people with disabilities
Wheelchair rental possible (please reserve one day in advance).
Special tours for visitors with dementia, in easy language, in sign language as well as guided touch tours (Tel. +41 1 525 24-5202 or email: kunstvermittlung@khm.at),
Three masterpieces of the Renaissance collection of the painting gallery, selected objects of the Kunstkammer, the Egyptian-Oriental collection and the collection of antiquities are available to the blind and visually impaired as castings for touching. A brochure with image descriptions of this in Braille is available.
Comments
Wheelchair users who visit the museum via Burgring 5 can purchase their tickets at the shop in the lobby. Induction loop available at the audio guide stand.
Please note: If visiting the Upper Belvedere, you must make a free reservation for a time slot for group travelers (from 10 people). https://www.belvedere.at/en/tourism-b2b Monday to Sunday, 9.00 am - 6.00 pm Email: booking@belvedere.at Telephone: +43 1 795 57-333
Parking spaces for people with disabilities
Parking space for visitors with disabilities in front of the entrance at Prinz-Eugen-Strasse 27, Parking: 10 am – 6 pm
Elevator available
Door 150 cm wide
Further information
Seeing eye dogs allowed
Wheelchair accessible restroom available.
Special offers for people with disabilities
Reduced admission for people with disabilities and assistants.
"See differently" guided tours (tactile tours) in the Upper Belvedere for blind and visually impaired visitors.
Video guides in Austrian Sign Language (OGS) and International Sign are available for deaf visitors.
Comments
2 elevators reachable via a ramp (staff will provide assistance), wheelchairs available at the cloakroom. Shop/café: a few steps (staff will provide assistance).
Wheelchair rental available, Hands-on objects for partially-sighted visitors. Multimedia guide in sign language available. Guided tours through the permanent exhibition for blind and partially-sighted are available by prior arrangement (Tel. +43 1 505 87 47–85 180).
Comments
Main entrance and shop area: no steps. Rear exhibition area only accessible via 8 steps, excavations below street level Exhibition area on the first floor accessible by use of a stair-climbing device.
no steps
(Door 154 cm wide)
wheelchair-accessible motorized revolving door
Elevator available
Door 102 cm wide
Further information
Seeing eye dogs allowed
Special offers for people with disabilities
The “Dom Museum Wien” app (free download) with detailed descriptions of the permanent exhibition can be used in talk-back or voice-over mode for blind and visually impaired people. The language selection also includes Austrian Sign Language (ÖGS).
Portrait of Rudolf IV and a section of his precious grave cover have been turned into relief presentations with aid of computers and make ideal touching objects.
Accompanying booklets “Simply explained”, designed in large print, are available for free.
Inclusive art education programs are aimed at people with different biographical backgrounds and combine art experience with creative activity in the cathedral studio. The workshop series “So Close to the Center” was developed in cooperation with day centers that care for people with dementia. It evokes memories, discovers newness in art and combines both with the here and now.
Comments
Access to the exhibition rooms on the second floor by elevator.
Parking spaces for people with disabilities
at main entrance portal (Schönbrunner Schlossstrasse, 3 parking spaces), Meidlinger Tor (2 parking spaces), close to Kavalierstrakt as well as Valerietrakt (2 parking spaces) and Fürstenstöckl (1 parking space)
Elevator available
Door 90 cm wide
Further information
Seeing eye dogs allowed
Wheelchair accessible restroom available.
Special offers for people with disabilities
Free wheelchair rental – contact attendant at main portal (3 wheelchairs) or at Hietzinger Tor and at Meidlinger Tor (1 wheelchair each).
Supplemental devices available for the visually impaired. Tours for visitors with with disabilities or special needs on request.
Museum Sign Language Guide available in ÖGS and IS for the Imperial or Grand Tour, prior reservation recommended, further information:
https://www.schoenbrunn.at/en/visitor-information/barrier-free-access
Comments
Access to all exhibition rooms: no steps. Freight elevator for extra wide wheelchairs: door width: 160 cm, cabin depth: 220 cm, cabin width: 156 cm.
Ticket Center in the Gardetrakt by the main gate, stepless access, door width: approx. 144 cm, wheelchair-accessible restroom can be reached by wheelchair platform lift – platform 110/140 cm, door width: 90 cm in the corridor area and 94 cm to the outdoors, accessible from outside with a Euro-Key.
