Josef Lex (El buen soldado Švejk)
Wien, 6. Bezirk, Esterhazypark/Schadekgasse (Foltermuseum - The Torture Museum) - Museo della Tortura - El Museo de la Tortura - Le Musée de la Torture
The Torture Museum
The picture is not exactly to inspire confidence: a relatively inconspicuous, easy to be overlooked, leaving in Esterhazy Park, above it huge great "torture" is written - a look down the stairs ends in semi-darkness. Do you really want there down? This one who really dares and overcomes his primal fears finds in Torture Museum a bizarre piece of edutainment.
Horror Cabinet
In an old bunker built from the Second World War, the "Museum of Medieval legal history", also known as torture museum, offers more than 100 exhibits: the issue is about instruments of torture from the Middle Ages to the early modern era - but also the present is not spared out, as the chapter of torture is unfortunately not a completed one. However, the special feature of the museum of torture is not only the brute topic, but also the presentation of the methods of torture: these are illustrated in fact - Madame Tussaud sends her regards -, based on more or less lifelike dolls which, however, have all seen better days.
The bunker
The entrance area of 800 square meters of the small museum is dedicated the information about the bunker - a specially equipped bomb attack simulation space -, a small chamber into which sirens are played in provides initial thrill. We continue to the small counter where in addition to the tickets (€ 6, - or € 4.50 reduced) also chocolate bars and chewing gums are sold. Then we will start off into the dim and gloomy half-light of another bunker premises which have been adapted and remodeled for the museum.
The history of torture
In several bunks here so the history of torture is worked up station by station and vividly. From Maria Theresa's first ordinance in which the torture still was an important part, until their abolition: the main focus in the exhibition is always on Vienna and Austria. What at the beginning looks harmless - the replica of a court chamber with the dolls of the judge and plaintiff or the puppets of Maria Theresa and Joseph II seem almost unintentionally funny - becomes later on hair-raising, especially in the representations of the single methods of torture. Even if the dolls partly just don't look lifelike, things like the Schandflöte (flute of shame), the oral pear, various torture chairs or the famous Iron Maiden still inspire the imagination. The museum soon it becomes clear: humanity is really incredibly creative when it comes to the pain inflicting. Stretching rack, bathing in boiling water, Bäckerschupfen (cucking stool), from the pillory to the guillotine, nothing is missed out in the museum.
Torture today ...
While commuting in this part of the museum between laughing and disgusting, at the end of the exhibition one is brought back to the ground of reality: the history of torture is still relevant today - especially in war zones is being tortured as before. This section is also devoted to a small area in the museum, which was created in collaboration with Amnesty International.
Conclusion: A serious issue mixed with bizarre 'edutainment' and odd charm in a bunker of World War II - a visit is worth it.
www.stadtbekannt.at/de/magazin/skurriles/das-foltermuseum...
Wien, 6. Bezirk, Esterhazypark/Schadekgasse (Foltermuseum - The Torture Museum) - Museo della Tortura - El Museo de la Tortura - Le Musée de la Torture
The Torture Museum
The picture is not exactly to inspire confidence: a relatively inconspicuous, easy to be overlooked, leaving in Esterhazy Park, above it huge great "torture" is written - a look down the stairs ends in semi-darkness. Do you really want there down? This one who really dares and overcomes his primal fears finds in Torture Museum a bizarre piece of edutainment.
Horror Cabinet
In an old bunker built from the Second World War, the "Museum of Medieval legal history", also known as torture museum, offers more than 100 exhibits: the issue is about instruments of torture from the Middle Ages to the early modern era - but also the present is not spared out, as the chapter of torture is unfortunately not a completed one. However, the special feature of the museum of torture is not only the brute topic, but also the presentation of the methods of torture: these are illustrated in fact - Madame Tussaud sends her regards -, based on more or less lifelike dolls which, however, have all seen better days.
The bunker
The entrance area of 800 square meters of the small museum is dedicated the information about the bunker - a specially equipped bomb attack simulation space -, a small chamber into which sirens are played in provides initial thrill. We continue to the small counter where in addition to the tickets (€ 6, - or € 4.50 reduced) also chocolate bars and chewing gums are sold. Then we will start off into the dim and gloomy half-light of another bunker premises which have been adapted and remodeled for the museum.
The history of torture
In several bunks here so the history of torture is worked up station by station and vividly. From Maria Theresa's first ordinance in which the torture still was an important part, until their abolition: the main focus in the exhibition is always on Vienna and Austria. What at the beginning looks harmless - the replica of a court chamber with the dolls of the judge and plaintiff or the puppets of Maria Theresa and Joseph II seem almost unintentionally funny - becomes later on hair-raising, especially in the representations of the single methods of torture. Even if the dolls partly just don't look lifelike, things like the Schandflöte (flute of shame), the oral pear, various torture chairs or the famous Iron Maiden still inspire the imagination. The museum soon it becomes clear: humanity is really incredibly creative when it comes to the pain inflicting. Stretching rack, bathing in boiling water, Bäckerschupfen (cucking stool), from the pillory to the guillotine, nothing is missed out in the museum.
Torture today ...
While commuting in this part of the museum between laughing and disgusting, at the end of the exhibition one is brought back to the ground of reality: the history of torture is still relevant today - especially in war zones is being tortured as before. This section is also devoted to a small area in the museum, which was created in collaboration with Amnesty International.
Conclusion: A serious issue mixed with bizarre 'edutainment' and odd charm in a bunker of World War II - a visit is worth it.
www.stadtbekannt.at/de/magazin/skurriles/das-foltermuseum...