Extravagant, bizarre, surreal – this unique Vienna hidden gem has it all!

The Otto Wagner villa looks like straight out of a fairytale with a magnificent stair case, splendid stain glass windows and an enchanted garden with a colorful well house. Art Nouveau and Fantastic Realism meet here as nowadays it houses the Ernst Fuchs museum.

History of the Otto Wagner Villa

This masterpiece of art and design by Otto Wagner lies tucked away and surrounded by nature in a residential area in Penzing, the 14th district. The famous architect designed and built the villa in the late 1880s for his family. As his children grew older and left the family home, Wagner built a smaller villa on the neighboring ground and sold the first one to the businessman Ben Tiber.
During the second world war the new owner had to flee from the Nazis and left the villa which fell into disrepair until it almost got teared down.
Years later in 1972 the painter Ernst Fuchs bought and renovated it respecting the original elements while adding his own touch to it too. For many years he lived in the house and worked in his atelier there. To celebrate its 100 year anniversary in 1988, the villa was opened to the public as a museum.
Inside the villa you’ll find paintings, sculptures, furniture and wallpapers by Ernst Fuchs. But you’ll also find interesting pieces around the garden like the well house made of glass mosaic pieces.

About Ernst Fuchs

There’s a story about young Ernst Fuchs who promised his mother that one day he’ll buy the villa when he’s a successful painter. Well they always say that if you believe in your dreams and work hard you can achieve them!

Ernst Fuchs is a representative of Vienna’s Phantastic Realists. His art is best described as an extravagant mix of the fantastic, visionary, spiritual, mystical, psychedelic, and erotic. Before visiting the museum I wasn’t familiar with Ernst Fuchs and his artwork. We mainly came to admire the architecture by Otto Wagner and let ourselves surprise. At the museum’s entrance you’ll receive a small guide with information on the artist and the house. There’s also a short video on him that you can watch but it’s only available in German.

During our visit we learned a bit more about the Ernst Fuchs. However, I’d suggest familiarizing with the artist and his art before to make the most out of your visit. There are no description or explanations about the artwork displayed there. It’ll leave you room for your own interpretation but you might not fully understand it.

Impressions from inside the Ernst Fuchs Museum

Party like Otto Wagner

Here’s a little fun fact: The Otto Wagner Villa can be rented for events or weddings. Back in former times the villa had been a meeting place for the Viennese artistic society. Famous personalities like Gustav Klimt, Adolf Loos or Gustav Mahler already came to receptions and summer parties here.

Free entry with the Niederösterreich Card

If you are living in Vienna or Lower Austria, or planning to stay for a longer period in this region, then it might be worth getting the Niederösterreich Card. With this card you’ll receive free entrance to more than 300 popular attractions mainly in the region of Lower Austria, but also in Vienna. Since a few months we’re proud owners of the Niederösterreich Card and can’t wait to tick more sights of our list.

Want more of Otto Wagner? Take a detour to Church at Steinhof

Since we were already close by and had time after our visit at the museum, we decided to combine our visit with seeing Otto Wagner’s church at Steinhof. Detailed blog post coming soon.

Location: Hüttelbergstraße 26, 1140 Wien
Take the train to Hütteldorf to get there. From the station you have a roughly 20-30 min walk to get to the villa, or you take the bus and get off at Campingplatz Wien-West 1.

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Entrance fee:
Full price: 11€
Reduced price: 8€ for Vienna City Card holders, 6€ for students & seniors
Free admission with the Niederösterreich Card

Opening Times: Tuesday to Sunday from 10:00 – 16:00. Please refer to the website of the Ernst Fuchs Museum for detailed information.
Guided tours daily, special guided tours by appointment

Perfect for: Fans of Fantastic and Visionary Art & Jugendstil Architecture Lovers

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