A collection of roughly one thousand timepieces spanning five centuries of clock technology, housed in the Palais Obizzi, one of Vienna’s oldest surviving buildings.
At a glance
The Vienna Clock Museum occupies three floors and nineteen rooms within the Palais Obizzi (also known as the Harfenhaus) in Vienna’s inner district. The collection documents the evolution of horological craft from the 15th century onward, displaying examples from major European clockmaking centers including French and Swiss workshops.
History
The museum is installed in the Palais Obizzi, counted among Vienna’s oldest houses. Its collection traces the development of timekeeping technology across five centuries, beginning with pieces from the early Renaissance and extending through the 18th century.
What you see
Among the oldest exhibits is a tower clock from the first half of the 15th century. The museum displays the ornate clock tower from St. Stephen’s Cathedral, created by Joachim Oberkircher in 1699, alongside the cathedral’s astronomical and astrological floor clock. An 18th-century astronomical art clock represents later horological sophistication.
Pocket watches from renowned makers—Ferdinand Berthoud, Abraham Louis Breguet, and Bordier—illustrate French and Swiss craftsmanship. A distinctive cannon clock features the cannon as its housing with the movement housed in the wheel. A grandfather clock once owned by Katharina Schratt, actress and confidante of Emperor Franz Joseph I, recalls the imperial era.
Cultural significance
The collection reveals how clock technology advanced across the Renaissance, Baroque, and Enlightenment periods. Display of pieces associated with Vienna’s imperial court—including those linked to Katharina Schratt—connects timekeeping craft to the city’s cultural history.
Key facts
- Address: Schulhof 2, 1010 Vienna
- Coordinates: 48.21082930958965, 16.369323134422302
- Phone: +43 1 5332265
- Website: http://www.wienmuseum.at/de/standorte/uhrenmuseum.html
- Approximately 1,000 clocks on display; 3,000–4,000 additional timepieces in storage
Practical information
The museum occupies three floors across nineteen rooms. Opening hours and admission fees are available on the official website. An additional 3,000 to 4,000 watches are held in the museum’s collection but not currently displayed.
Getting there
The Vienna Clock Museum is located at Schulhof 2 in Vienna’s 1st district. You can reach the museum by public transport; the Stephansplatz U-Bahn station is nearby. Check the official website for current visiting information and directions.
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