Steirisches Volkskundemuseum

The Steirisches Volkskundemuseum stands in Graz’s Paulustorgasse, inside a former Capuchin monastery. Founded in 1913 by Viktor Geramb, it is now part of Universalmuseum Joanneum and holds about 95 000 objects that show the material and spiritual culture of the region. The building itself dates back to the monastery period, giving the displays a historic frame. It is worth the journey because Geramb’s vision created rooms that bring rural life into the city. In the 1930s a new wing was added with help from Landeshauptmann Karl Maria Stepan, doubling the space for exhibitions and events. After a 2020–2021 renovation the museum reopened with a semi-permanent exhibition called ‘Wie es ist’, exploring how people live, change and cope with uncertainty. The exhibition is made of separate modules, each telling its own story yet forming a larger picture of life in Styria. Visitors find the Rauchstube, a smoke kitchen moved here from the Packalpe in 1914 and still in use since 1520. The Trachtensaal shows 42 life-size figures arranged by Alexander Silveri and Hans Mauracher, tracing Steiermark’s clothing from Roman times to the late 19th century. A glass bridge lets people walk through the hall, and the Heimatsaal seats 150 for talks and performances. The new displays include themes such as colour in Styria, wellbeing, togetherness and crisis management.