Has anyone been to the Third Man Museum in Vienna and was it worth visiting? We will be on a RS Germany, Austria, Switzerland group tour in May and the Third Man Museum is included in the tour on a Sunday. I am thinking of skipping that museum tour and going to hear the Vienna Boys Choir at mass instead. Thoughts?
Posted by
Cleveland
967 posts
As part of our RS tour, we went to the third man museum. It was the highlight of our Vienna stop.
What made it extraordinary was that museum owner gave the tour. It was his journey of collecting memorabilia about the movie that led him on a journey of discovery to learn how Austria was a willing partner with hitler in the war, the genocides, and the crimes. The museum is much more about post war Vienna than the movie. Very thought provoking.
At the end of the war, there was a delicate struggle to keep Austria in the western side of the iron curtain. Part of that was not forcing the same sort of reckoning the germans experienced.
The museum, the stories, the history, the experience— an amazing and important part of our trip.
Hope you find time.
Happy travels.
Posted by
1781 posts
Our guide (the owner) for the Third Man museum was really great storyteller. He took us around the city and then we ended it at the museum. My husband was riveted and I found it interesting. Would I have chosen the opportunity to hear the Vienna Boys Choir, yes!
Posted by
W. Washington
96 posts
I'm also looking at visiting Vienna. I was searching out videos on Youtube and discovered that there is a recent Samantha Brown episode in Vienna where she goes to the Third Man museum as well as Haus Der Musik plus Naschmarkt and other places. She meets the owner and he talks about his collection and takes her on a tour. It was well done, maybe if you see the video it will pique your interest a little more.
Posted by
2775 posts
The The Third Man movie is still shown in Vienna in the Burg Kino movie theater every week.
Posted by
Washington, DC
281 posts
The museum is well worth visiting. It’s not just about the movie but mostly the historical context for the movie. I found it fascinating and learned a lot about Vienna’s history post WWII. I’m glad I went. And I understood the movie better when I saw it at Burg Kino.
Posted by
OP
15 posts
Your prompt responses have all been very helpful. Thank you!
Posted by
Utah via SF Bay Area
517 posts
I've been to the Third Man museum and it's super cool. It's hard to imagine how people had to rebuild after the war and this museum delves into WW2 stuff that we don't hear about or see as much as the actual war action.
I tried to see the Vienna Boys choir years ago-- I left before it started. It's packed and wasn't worth the misery of the sardine can.
If it works, another option, we discovered in Rick's book was going to the The Augustinerkirche. I believe the mass starts at 11, we arrived an hour before, got a great seat and listened to an orchestra and choir for the hour we waited for mass. It was glorious.
Posted by
alameda, ca, usa
2800 posts
The Third Man is hands-down my most favorite movie and I visited Vienna because of it. Highlights included riding the Riesenrad in the Prater, taking a walking tour of Third Man filming sites, seeing the movie in the Burg Kino, finding the Harry Lime Door on Schreyvogelgasse, and of course, touring the museum. It's truly a labor of love for the owners, and it's far more than a museum devoted to a movie--definitely gives you perspective on life in Vienna after WWII. If you haven't seen the movie some of the places I visited may not seem relevant, but to me it tied everything together nicely.