Oberösterreichisches Landesmuseum

The Oberösterreichische Landesmuseen form a network of cultural sites across Upper Austria, with three main venues in Linz. The Francisco Carolinum stands in the Museumsstraße, built between 1885 and 1895 by Bruno Schmitz in a grand historicist style. Its sculptural friezes were carved by Melchior zur Strassen, while Adolf Obermüllner and Franz Attorner shaped the interior. The Schlossmuseum occupies the former Linz castle, converted into a museum in the 1950s and opened in 1966. The Biologiezentrum in Linz-Dornach has housed the natural science collections since 1993. These institutions trace their origins to 1833, when Anton von Spaun founded a patriotic museum association. Erzherzog Franz Karl became its protector in 1839, and Erzherzog Rudolf later supported the natural sciences. The Francisco-Carolinum was named after Franz Karl when it opened in 1895. After the Second World War, the castle became a cultural history museum while the Francisco Carolinum turned to contemporary art. The Biologiezentrum now holds the zoological and botanical databases of ZOBODAT. Visitors to the Francisco Carolinum find changing exhibitions of national and international photography and media art. The Schlossmuseum displays archaeological finds, historical objects, paintings and sculptures from Upper Austria. Its programme includes several major temporary shows each year. The Biologiezentrum offers access to scientific collections and the regional flora and fauna data held in ZOBODAT. Together, these sites present the region’s cultural and natural heritage in Linz.