Gasteiner Museum

The main themes of the museum are the thermal water, the history of the spa, local folklore and the picture gallery.

History

The Gasteiner Museum opened on 28 June 1936 with the Gasteiner Jubiläumsausstellung, on the occasion of 500 years since the spa stay of Emperor Friedrich III. The federal president, Landeshauptmann and mayor of the time attended the opening, which shows how highly the first Gasteiner collection of spa director Heinrich von Zimburg was regarded. Gasteiner families soon expanded the collection with donations and loans, among them a collection of paintings by the chamber painter of Archduke Johann, a section on the spa, typical Gasteiner minerals and a niche with mementoes from gold mining.

In 1939, after the outbreak of the Second World War, the museum closed and the loans were returned. In 1946 the rebuilding began and a mineral collection from collectors in Böckstein came into the museum's possession. In the so-called Grillparzer corner of the old Kursaal the museum could not develop. In the winter season of 1974/75 a new phase began in the Haus Austria, which made space available. After that building was sold, a move became necessary in October 2008. Because the museum had to stay in the centre of Bad Gastein, it opened in the Grand Hotel de l'Europe on 15 November 2011.

Permanent exhibitions

A walk through history; the springs and the Gasteiner thermal water; the treasure in the Radhausberg, from Tauern gold to the Heilstollen; Gasteiner folklore with Krampusse and Perchten; paintings alongside the folklore; paintings around Nikolaus and Krampus. Karl Heinrich Waggerl and a picture gallery close the tour.

Temporary exhibitions

Malerisches Biedermeier in Gastein; famous guests of Bad Gastein; Bad Gastein as a source of eternal youth, 100 years of tourism advertising.

A free audio guide in English and Italian is available in the museum.