Akademie der Bildenden Künste

Vienna

LoginSave

Founded in 1692, the Akademie der Bildenden Künste is an often-underrated art space. Its gallery concentrates on Flemish, Dutch and German painters, including important figures such as Hieronymus Bosch, Rembrandt, Van Dyck, Rubens, Titian, Francesco Guardi and Lucas Cranach the Elder. The supreme highlight is Bosch’s macabre triptych of The Last Judgment altarpiece (1504–08), depicting the banishment of Adam and Eve on the left panel, and the horror of Hell in the middle and right panels. Audio guides cost €2.

The building itself has an attractive facade and was designed by Theophil Hansen (1813–91), of Parlament fame. It still operates as an art school and is famous for turning down Adolf Hitler twice and accepting Egon Schiele (though the latter was happy to leave as quickly as possible). Directly in front of the academy is a statue of Friedrich Schiller, the 18th-century German writer.

Hour-long tours (€3, in German only) take place at 10.30am every Sunday.

Transportation

  • tram: D, 1, 2 Kärntner Ring/Oper
  • ubahn: Museumsquartier, Karlsplatz

Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

  • Staatsoper (Opera House), Innere Stadt.

    Staatsoper

    0.2 MILES

    Vienna's foremost opera and ballet venue, the neo-Renaissance Staatsoper, is one of the finest concert halls in the world. Even if you can't get tickets…

  • Detail of Stephansdom Cathedral roof.

    Stephansdom

    0.62 MILES

    Vienna’s Gothic masterpiece Stephansdom – or Steffl (Little Stephan), as it’s ironically nicknamed – is Vienna's pride and joy. A church has stood here…

  • Rathaus, Vienna

    Rathaus

    0.76 MILES

    Vienna's neo-Gothic City Hall, completed in 1883 by Friedrich von Schmidt (who designed Cologne Cathedral) and modelled on Flemish city halls, with lacy…

  • Mozarthaus Vienna

    Mozarthaus Vienna

    0.66 MILES

    The great composer spent close to three happy and productive years at this residence between 1784 and 1787. Exhibits include copies of music scores and…

  • VIENNA, AUSTRIA - APRIL 19: Many people enjoy a sunny afternoon at the Museumsquartier on April 19, 2011 in Vienna. It is the eighth largest cultural area in the world and a very important for Vienna; Shutterstock ID 202273378; Your name (First / Last): Josh Vogel; Project no. or GL code: 56530; Network activity no. or Cost Centre: Online-Design; Product or Project: 65050/7529/Josh Vogel/LP.com Destination Galleries

    MuseumsQuartier

    0.33 MILES

    The MuseumsQuartier is a remarkable ensemble of museums, cafes, restaurants and bars inside former imperial stables designed by Fischer von Erlach. This…

  • Kaiserliche Schatzkammer

    Kaiserliche Schatzkammer

    0.35 MILES

    The Hofburg's Kaiserliche Schatzkammer contains secular and ecclesiastical treasures (including devotional images and altars, particularly from the…

  • Front view of the Albertina museum.

    Albertina

    0.26 MILES

    Once used as the Habsburgs' imperial apartments for guests, the Albertina is now a repository for an exceptional collection of graphic art. The permanent…

  • In 1713, one year after the last great plague epidemic, Charles VI, Holy Roman Emperor, pledged to build a church for his namesake patron saint, Charles Borromeo, who was revered as a healer for plague sufferers. .<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/worldtowalk/8108140070/in/set-72157631782023868/lightbox/"> To see my complete set of Austria, click here. </a>..Follow me on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/worldtowalk"> Facebook </a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/KAM0S"> Twitter</a>.

    Karlskirche

    0.37 MILES

    Built between 1716 and 1739, after a vow by Karl VI at the end of the 1713 plague, Vienna's finest baroque church rises at the southeast corner of…

View more attractions

Nearby Vienna attractions

1. Secession

0.07 MILES

In 1897, 19 progressive artists swam away from the mainstream Künstlerhaus artistic establishment to form the Wiener Secession (Vienna Secession). Among…

2. Kunsthalle Project Space

0.14 MILES

Once the Kunsthalle relocated to the MuseumsQuartier, this glass cube was built on its former site. Its doors were thrown open in 2001 to temporary…

3. Naschmarkt

0.15 MILES

Vienna’s famous market and eating strip began life as a farmers market in the 18th century, when the fruit market on Freyung was moved here. Interestingly…

5. Statue of Mozart

0.19 MILES

The marble statue of Mozart is the most famous tenant of the Burggarten.

6. Staatsoper

0.2 MILES

Vienna's foremost opera and ballet venue, the neo-Renaissance Staatsoper, is one of the finest concert halls in the world. Even if you can't get tickets…

7. Burggarten

0.21 MILES

Tucked behind the Hofburg, the Burggarten is a leafy oasis amid the hustle and bustle of the Ringstrasse and Innere Stadt. The marble statue of Mozart is…

8. Kunsthistorisches Museum Vienna

0.24 MILES

A highlight of any trip to Vienna is a visit to the Kunsthistorisches Museum Vienna, brimming with works by Europe’s finest painters, sculptors and…

  • placement: superzone
  • path: Destinations/POIs/superzone
  • possible size: [970, 250], [970, 90], [728, 90], [1, 1],
  • targeting: 
    {
  "url": "austria/vienna/karlsplatz-around-naschmarkt/attractions/akademie-der-bildenden-kuenste/a/poi-sig/1073382/1334250",
  "destination": "Vienna",
  "continent": "Europe",
  "country": "Austria",
  "city": "Vienna",
  "position": "superzone"
}