Narrenturm

The Narrenturm stands in Vienna on the grounds of the former General Hospital, now part of the University of Vienna. Built in 1784 under Emperor Joseph II, it is a circular, fortress-like structure in classicist style. The building has five storeys and a central chamber aligned north to south. There are 28 rooms and a ring of narrow slit windows. In total it contained 139 individual cells for patients. The tower was created after the discovery of underground dungeons used by Capuchin monks to hold mentally ill brethren. Joseph II had also seen similar institutions in France during his travels. This marked a shift in how society viewed the mentally ill, separating them from the general poor. Each cell had barred doors and chains for restraint. The asylum closed in 1869 and later served as workshops, a dormitory and hospital storage before becoming university property in 1993. Today the Narrenturm houses the Pathologic-anatomical collection of the Natural History Museum. The museum began in 1796 under Emperor Francis II and was founded by Johann Peter Frank. After renovations completed in 2021 it reopened with over 50,000 items, making it the largest collection of its kind worldwide. Visitors find a circular building with thick walls and small windows, now filled with medical specimens and historical displays. The surrounding university campus provides a quiet setting for this unusual museum.