Funeral Museum Vienna, Funeral museum in Simmering, Vienna, Austria
The Funeral Museum Vienna is a folk museum in the Simmering district of Vienna, dedicated to burial customs and mourning rituals from across the city's history. It brings together hearses, coffins, pallbearer clothing, mourning wreaths, and other objects from the funeral trade across different periods.
The museum was founded in 1967 and first occupied the former funeral service headquarters at Goldeggasse 4 in Wieden, in the 4th district. It remained there until September 2013, when it closed ahead of the move to the Central Cemetery. Since 13 October 2014 it has occupied the lower floor of Hall 2 by the cemetery's main entrance in Simmering, redesigned by ARGE OMS and checkpointmedia with architect Gustav Pichelmann.
The collection shows how death in Vienna was once a public and social event, with rituals that varied depending on a person's standing in society. Items like coffin decorations and mourning attire make those differences visible in a direct and concrete way.
The museum occupies the lower floor of Aufbahrungshalle 2, the hall by the main entrance of the Zentralfriedhof in Simmering. It has been open at this site since 13 October 2014, after moving from Goldeggasse in the 4th district. Visitors reach it via the main cemetery entrance.
The museum holds a folding coffin from 1784 that Emperor Joseph II introduced to cut costs, but the idea was abandoned after just six months. The coffin has a hinged base that opens to drop the body into the grave, allowing the coffin itself to be reused.
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