Medical University of Vienna

The Medical University of Vienna stands in the heart of Vienna, Austria. It traces its origins to 1365, when Rudolf IV founded the University of Vienna. The medical faculty became independent in 2004, creating a dedicated university for medicine. It occupies the historic Josephinum building, designed in the late 18th century for medical training. The university works closely with the Vienna General Hospital, one of Europe’s largest hospitals. Together they form a major centre for medical research and patient care. The Josephinum houses a unique collection of wax anatomical models. The university has produced seven Nobel laureates in medicine. Robert Bárány, Julius Wagner-Jauregg and Karl Landsteiner all trained or worked here. Sigmund Freud began his medical career at the university and the General Hospital. The institution ranks among the top fifteen medical schools in Europe. It performs around 48,000 operations each year and treats over 700,000 patients annually. The Vienna School of Medicine pioneered bedside teaching and modern specialties such as dermatology and otolaryngology. Visitors to the Josephinum find six rooms filled with 1,192 wax models. These anatomical and obstetric models were made in Florence between 1784 and 1788. The building itself is an early-classicist structure from 1785. Nearby, the university clinics and research centres continue the tradition of innovation. The museum offers a quiet space to reflect on centuries of medical progress. The surrounding city provides cafés, parks and historic streets for further exploration.