Who hasn’t heard of the world-famous waxworks museum Madam Tussauds? Since it first opened its doors in the 19th century in London, it has grown to become one of the best tourist attraction franchises with branches in major cities in the United States, Asia and Europe. And in 2011, Vienna joined as one of the newest venues for such amazing lifelike wax figures.
What’s good about Madame Tussauds Vienna is that aside from displaying wax figures of international personalities, it also reflects the city’s cultural heritage. From its strategic location in Riesenradplatz in the Prater to the displays and special exhibitions that can be seen, the museum is another must-see attraction in Austria’s shining capital.
There are about 70 wax figures on display on the 3-storey, 2,000-sq.m museum building. Of course there are the well-known celebrities such as Johnny Depp, Angeline Jolie, Michael Jackson, Arnold Schwarzenegger, the Dalai Lama, Mahatma Gandhi and Nelson Mandela to name a few. There are also special sections that cover Austria and (specifically) Vienna’s icons and personalities such as Emperor Franz Joseph and the Empress Sisi, Maria Theresa and Falco among many others. There are also interactive exhibits featuring Mozart and Beethoven where visitors can help compose with the musicians; play football with sports icon Hans Krankl; or even compete with Albert Einstein in an IQ test. Part of the fun is having your picture taken beside the life-like figures and making it appear like you are mingling with the real personalities.
