About this place
The Josephinum, with its elegant neoclassical facade, was founded in 1785 as an elite academy to train military surgeons. Today, it is famous for housing a collection of 1,192 incredibly detailed, life-sized anatomical wax models commissioned from Florence. These models represent the absolute pinnacle of 19th-century medicine: a discipline entirely focused on dissectible anatomy, muscles, and organs. For Freud to suggest to this establishment that severe physical symptoms could be caused purely by repressed *thoughts* or *traumas* was considered absolute medical heresy.
Key facts
- 1192 models — Life-sized anatomical wax models are housed in the museum's collection
- 1785 year — The academy was founded by the Emperor to improve military surgery
- 15 minutes — The short walking distance from this academy to Freud's apartment
📍 Währinger Straße, 1090, Wien