A museum full of stories: The Rollettmuseum Baden - Lower Austria's oldest museum - shows in fascinating collections how the city, science and joie de vivre have developed over the centuries. A place where curiosity and history come alive.

Fortunately, here at the Rollettmuseum Baden even if the name has nothing to do with gambling.

The house is named after the doctor, researcher and passionate collector Anton Rollett (1778-1842), who put together one of Austria's most unusual private collections with tireless curiosity.

Today the museum is considered the oldest museum in Lower Austria and provides an impressive insight into the history of the spa town of Baden on around 350 square meters - from the Neolithic Age to modern times. The same building also houses the Baden town archive, which documents the history of the town and its citizens.

🧭 The Rollettkabinett - a cabinet of curiosities of knowledge

In the so-called Rollett Cabinet reveals the spirit of the 19th century - an era of collecting, research and amazement.

The small "cabinet of curiosities" presents bookcases with dried plants, snail kings, pharmacy crocodiles and even an ancient Egyptian mummy.

The most curious pieces include exotic souvenirs from a trip around the world, a miniature traveling pharmacy, a 24-volume collection of female handicrafts and a rose from the garden of Archduke Carl - preserved in Rollett's own rose herbarium.

💀 Uncanny realms - the Gall skull collection

A special place is occupied by the Gall's skull collection a testimony to a scientific aberration and at the same time a reflection of the fascination with the human mind.

The doctor Franz Joseph Gall (1758-1828) believed he could recognize character traits based on the shape of the skull. His theories made him a star throughout Europe - to the point of causing a "skull epidemic", as newspapers reported at the time.

In addition to over 200 skulls and busts, the Rollett Museum today houses wax replicas of human brains, Napoleon's living mask, a replica of Marie Antoinette's hand and the polar bear skull - a morbid but fascinating collection.

Rollettmuseum, Gallic skull collection © Rollettmuseum Baden

🗿 From the Neolithic Age to the Middle Ages - hands-on history

The archaeological collections take visitors back to the Neolithic culture of Baden.

Copper neck rings, bone flutes and tools tell of life 5000 years ago.

A separate area is dedicated to the Middle Ages with city walls, seals, knights' armor and the legendary "Lumpentürl", through which Baden wine lovers once secretly found their way to the Heurigen.

🔥 Crises, fires and reconstruction - stations in the city's history

Documents and artifacts from 1500 to 1800 bear witness to Baden's eventful past.

Fires, wars and epidemics left their mark on the city. The devastating fire of 1812 destroyed large parts of Baden - and at the same time gave it its Biedermeier townscape, which has been preserved to this day.

Special exhibits such as the charter of Emperor Frederick III. or an old bread roll from the Napoleonic era make history tangible.

Rollettmuseum, medieval hall © Andreas Buchberger

💧 Springs and cures - the Baden lifeline

In the 19th century, Baden became one of the most important health resorts in Europe.

In the museum, you can discover historical body scales with mirror scales, wheelchairs, old remedies and plans of the thermal springs.

These objects tell the story of how health, beauty and social standing were once inextricably linked.

🎨 Biedermeier & summer retreat - the elegant side of Baden

During the reign of Emperor Franz I, Baden experienced a glorious heyday.

The Biedermeier collection displays magnificent porcelain souvenirs, dioramas, fashion drawings and bric-a-brac from an era in which "seeing and being seen" became a way of life.

Anton Rolletts insect box and his ironing board with secret compartment bear witness to the subtle humor and passion for collecting of this era.

🍷 From viticulture to operetta - Baden in transition

A separate room is dedicated to the tradition of viticulture, with historical tools, wine utensils and a Celtic vine knife.

The second half of the 19th century finally brought cultural prosperity:

Operetta, waltzes, automobile construction - and a summer arena in which even the lifted smoking ban became an attraction.

⚔️ From the Kaiser to the Cold War - Events up to 1955

Baden's recent history shows light and shade:

From the First World War through the Soviet occupation to its rebirth as a modern city.

Particularly impressive: paintings by the artist Carl Probst, which capture the change from hope to destruction - and an original letter from 1945 describing the end of the war.

📍 Rollettmuseum Baden