Sigmund Freud Museum

Sigmund Freud was a neurologist who is most famously known as the founding father of the revolutionary psychological and psychotherapeutic theory of psychoanalysis. He has written many books on the subject, many of which have become famous throughout the world and influenced many people, including writers of fiction and literary critics. At university there were occasions when we were told to entirely avoid Freud as he was just too popular a topic, both with students and critics, leaving little new to say.

Freud moved into his apartment at Berggasse 19 in the Alsergrund district of Vienna in 1891. At this time the apartment was newly built and would become his home, practice and the place in which he wrote many of his seminal works, including his Interpretation of Dreams. Of course, many will be aware of the appropriation of and amendment to this title by writer Jed Rubenfeld in his prize-winning historical thriller, Interpretation of Murder, which featured Freud and his theories of psychoanalysis in the context of a murder in Manhattan in 1909. You can read my review of this book here.

Freud lived in this apartment until 1938 when his Jewish background meant he was forced to flee the city for London in the lead-up to the Second World War. The house is now home to The Sigmund Freud Foundation and has been transformed into a museum, consisting of the rooms of his original practice and some of Freud's own private rooms.

A number of Freud's original furnishings and belongings have been donated and reinstated to recreate his famous practice, with the all-important couch very much a feature. There is an impressive exhibition with an incredible number of articles, books and photographs documenting Freud's life and work, including the 47 years he spent in this specific house.

The aim of the foundation is to expand the museum and its library so that it may become "an active research institute and thereby taking initiative toward providing an adequate home for the furtherance of knowledge once exiled from Austria".

It's really worth a look and the time you spend is entirely flexible. There is a lot to see but by no means do you have to read every single piece of paper on display. You could spend anywhere between half an hour and 2 hours here and really is a must-see if you are going to Vienna.

Sigmund Freud Museum
Berggasse 19
Vienna 1090  
Open daily
July 1 – September 30, 9 a.m. – 6 p.m.
October 1 - June 30, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.  
T +43-1-319 15 96
F +43-1-3170279
office@freud-museum.at