The "Josephinum", collections of the Medical University of Vienna, was built to a design by Isidor Canevale for the medical-surgical academy between 1783 and 1785.

In 1785 Emperor Joseph II founded the medical-surgical Academy to educate physicians and midwives for civil and military service according to a new method of medical teaching.

Also the famous collection of anatomical and obstetrical wax models can be traced back to an initiative by Emperor Joseph II. These models were made under the supervision of the anatomist Paolo Mascagni in Florence between 1784 and 1788. After laborious transport, the 1,192 different wax specimens finally came to Vienna. Today the collection is housed in six rooms at the Josephinum.

Three of these rooms, divided into the anatomical areas of tendons and muscles, heart, blood and lymph vessels, intestines, brain, spinal chord and sensory organs, can be visited during normal opening hours. Also to be visited during normal opening hours are the exhibition rooms on the first floor. These house an historic and architectural introduction to the Josephinum, parts of the instrument collection as well as temporary exhibitions with reference to the Josephinum and the collections.


Opening hours

Fr - Sa, 10:00 - 18:00