Österreichisches Staatsarchiv

The Austrian State Archives stands in Vienna as the central archive of the republic. It holds the federal government’s records under the Austrian Federal Archives Act. The archives preserve and organise documents for historical research, legislation and administration. Some holdings remain blocked for up to 110 years. Researchers use the material for both history and current concerns of citizens. The archives keep records from the Habsburg monarchy and the First Republic. They also hold files from the Second Republic after 1945. Staff repair damaged documents and develop finding aids for access. The institution serves historians, lawmakers and public administration alike. Its work supports research into the past and present. Visitors find reading rooms with original documents and microfilm readers. Guided tours explain how archives preserve fragile paper. The building houses conservation laboratories where specialists restore items. Nearby, the Austrian National Library shares related collections. Together they form a major resource for Austrian history.