{"id":21657,"date":"2020-02-02T05:32:00","date_gmt":"2020-02-02T04:32:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/?p=21657"},"modified":"2026-02-12T20:17:23","modified_gmt":"2026-02-12T19:17:23","slug":"esperanto-museum","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/sights\/museums\/esperanto-museum\/","title":{"rendered":"The Esperanto Museum"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignright size-full\"><a href=\"#tickets\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"200\" src=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/globeesperantotickets.jpg\" alt=\"Museum sign\" class=\"wp-image-79658\"\/><\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>The National Library in Vienna includes a world-beating specialist section for planned languages. No wonder, then, that the same institution is home to the Esperanto Museum.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Quick multimedia introductions to the language, history, and philosophy of Esperanto (and other planned languages)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Found in the 17th-century Palais Mollard<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Display info in German, English, and Esperanto<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Entrance ticket includes the Globe museum<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Close to the famous Caf\u00e9 Central coffee house<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Book a 2-hour <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tiqets.com\/en\/vienna-walking-tours-l205287\/?partner=visitingvienna&amp;tq_campaign=LG_WalkingTours\" rel=\"sponsored\">walking tour<\/a>* of Vienna<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>See also:\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/sightseeing\/vienna-museums\/\">Vienna museums<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">La Esperanto-Muzeo<\/h2>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"500\" height=\"333\" src=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/esperantomuseum.jpg\" alt=\"Exhibition view inside the Esperanto Museum\" class=\"wp-image-55300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/esperantomuseum.jpg 500w, https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/esperantomuseum-300x200.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-small-font-size\">(Exhibition view inside the museum; press photo \u00a9 \u00d6sterreichische Nationalbibliothek\/Pichler)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Bonvenon al Vieno<\/em>, which means welcome to Vienna (I think) in Esperanto. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The city has a strong historical connection to the constructed language and has hosted the World Esperanto Congress four times.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This connection is explained by Esperanto&#8217;s origins, which go back to the late 1800s; the prospect of a shared language across borders had inherent appeal in the multilingual <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/culture\/austria-hungary\/\">Austro-Hungarian Empire<\/a> of the time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Founded in 1927, Vienna&#8217;s Esperanto Museum lives in Palais Mollard: one-time neighbour of the 19th-century police censorship office.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The core of the building dates back to the late 17th century, but numerous alterations, renovations, and refurbishments have changed the look since.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" src=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/esperantoglobemuseums.jpg\" alt=\"The Esperanto and Globe Museums\" class=\"wp-image-44466\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/esperantoglobemuseums.jpg 500w, https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/esperantoglobemuseums-300x225.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-small-font-size\">(Palais Mollard also houses the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/sights\/museums\/globe-museum\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"21661\">Globe Museum<\/a>)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Inside, the museum occupies just a couple of rooms, but enough to give you a brief insight into the relevant concepts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Videos and displays introduce you to the history of the institution and language, and also explain the linguistic principles behind the latter (with the help of a Pac-Man-like game!).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The museum also outlines the philosophy underpinning Esperanto&#8217;s development: a humanitarian vision and promotion of intercultural understanding.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>With such a raison d&#8217;\u00eatre, you can understand how the ideas enshrined within the Esperanto movement have influenced such modern-day concepts as the EU, the Euro, and even brand names.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"500\" height=\"334\" src=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/esperantomuseumA.jpg\" alt=\"Two visitors look at an exhibition screen\" class=\"wp-image-68049\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/esperantomuseumA.jpg 500w, https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/esperantomuseumA-300x200.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-small-font-size\">(Exhibition view inside the museum; press photo \u00a9 \u00d6sterreichische Nationalbibliothek\/Pichler)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Inevitably (and sadly), an ostensibly linguistic activity has sometimes enraged various authorities with little love for such concepts as &#8220;a humanitarian vision&#8221; and &#8220;intercultural understanding&#8221;.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For example, Hitler (surprise!) banned Esperanto, and the Gestapo closed the Vienna museum in March 1938. The museum&#8217;s first director &#8211; Hugo Steiner &#8211; even spent time in a Nazi concentration camp.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The museum also gives a nod to other artificial languages, from Homer&#8217;s efforts through to Klingon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Indeed, if you happen to be in town during the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/entertainment\/events\/night-of-the-museums\/\">Long Night of Museums<\/a>, you can typically attend Esperanto and Klingon classes as part of the evening entertainment put on by the National Library.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"tickets\">Tickets &amp; visitor tips<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Entry to the Esperanto Museum requires a combination ticket that also covers the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/sights\/museums\/globe-museum\/\">Globe Museum<\/a> (in the same building). An adult ticket cost \u20ac6 at the time of writing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you fancy a cup of coffee after your visit, meander further down the street to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/eatingdrinking\/cafespubsbars\/cafe-central\/\">Caf\u00e9 Central<\/a>, possibly the best-looking coffee house in all Vienna. But expect queues, so I&#8217;d recommend making a reservation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>(If you can&#8217;t get into Caf\u00e9 Central, Vienna has <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/eatingdrinking\/cafespubsbars\/coffee-houses\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"7689\">plenty of alternatives<\/a>.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Alternatively, go up the road in the other direction to reach <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/sights\/michaelerplatz-2\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"27254\">Michaelerplatz square<\/a>: a gateway to the pedestrianised part of the centre and one entrance to the imperial <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/sightseeing\/hofburg\/\" data-type=\"page\" data-id=\"2708\">Hofburg palace complex<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How to get to the Esperanto Museum<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Palais Mollard has its own subway station practically outside the front door: the aptly-named Herrengasse station on the U3 line. The 1A and 2A buses also drop you nearby at the Michaelerplatz or Herrengasse stops.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Address: Herrengasse 9, 1010 Vienna | <a href=\"https:\/\/www.onb.ac.at\/museen\/esperantomuseum\">Website<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div align=\"center\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/maps\/d\/u\/0\/embed?mid=1asmHlbVpicbQLt1557vf6l4l0zQ\" width=\"400\" height=\"300\"><\/iframe><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The National Library in Vienna includes a world-beating specialist section for planned languages. No wonder, then, that the same institution is home to the Esperanto Museum. La Esperanto-Muzeo (Exhibition view inside the museum; press photo \u00a9 \u00d6sterreichische Nationalbibliothek\/Pichler) Bonvenon al Vieno, which means welcome to Vienna (I think) in Esperanto. The city has a strong [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":21659,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[16],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-21657","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-museums","8":"entry"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/21657","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=21657"}],"version-history":[{"count":19,"href":"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/21657\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":88667,"href":"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/21657\/revisions\/88667"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/21659"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=21657"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=21657"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=21657"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}