Burial Museum
Simmeringer Hauptstraße 230–244
1110 Wien
Austria
They seem to like the cliche of the morbid Vienna, therefore they boost it with joy. And the Burial Museum tops that all just with its existence. The Museum was founded in 1967. Back then it was the first Museum in the world which was exclusively devoted to death cult and burial rituals. To be „a beautiful dead body‟ („a schene Leich‟) in the end was very important in Vienna in the past. Today an individual funeral is en vogue – Falco knew how to do it and let some rocker carry his coffin.
The probably funniest exhibit in the Museum is the so called flap-coffin. The bottom side of this coffin has a flap that would be opened to drop the dead body into the grave – the coffin could be reused afterwards. Emperor Franz Joseph II. had the idea for this object which was used for a very short period. Another strange object is the „Leichentram‟ (corpse tramway) which was in use during both World Wars and could transport up to twelve coffins at a time. „Next stop Zentralfriedhof?‟ Well … As bizarre is the alarm clock for seemingly dead people. It was fixed on the wrist and rang if the person moved. To visit the Museum you have to book one of the very good guided tours (daily offered). Don‛t forget to bring your black humor!
