Third Man Museum (Dritte Mann Museum)

Serving a triple role, the Third Man Museum shines a light on post-war Vienna at the start of the Cold War, looks at movie making in the 1940s and 50s, and features artifacts from the famous movie of the same name. The Third Man was a British film shot in Vienna and released in 1949, featuring the spy Harry Lime; it was a worldwide smash hit and made the careers of both Orson Welles – who played the lead part – and the composer of the famous theme tune, Anton Karas. The privately owned museum is the brainwave of Karin and Gerhard Strassgschwandtner, who have collected more than 2,500 relics of the film, including posters, screenplays, cameras used on set, the original zither that Karas played for the film, and stark black-and-white images depicting life in divided Austria during the Cold War. They often lead tours around the museum themselves, and regular zither concerts are held there as well.  

Practical Info

Pressgasse 25. Open Sat 2pm–6pm, some Weds at 2pm for guided tours. Admission: adults €8.50; seniors & students €6.50; children aged 10–16 €4.50.  Take metro Line U4 to Kettenbrückengasse, near the Naschmarkt.