2 . S I S I
M U S E U M
MICHAELERPLATZ
Since 2004, the Sisi Museum has been located in
the apartments of Stefan, named after Archduke
Stefan Victor. All exhibited personal items belonged
to the Empress Elizabeth. Sensitive artefacts
created by the famous designer Rolf Langenfas are
inspired by the poetry of the monarch.
September 10, 1898, Europe was shocked by the
news of the murder of Empress Elizabeth of Austria.
The tragic death of Elizabeth became the end of the
restless, unhappy and often misunderstood life of
an extraordinary person. After all, Elizabeth lived
because of her unconventional way of life.
The newspapers of the monarchy expressed their
sympathy to the emperor, who soon came up with
the idea that the status of a lonely emperor and,
above all, this beautiful, unhappy, murdered
empress can be used for the purposes of
monarchical propaganda. Memorable images and
coins, postcards, all sorts of items for everyday use,
having the likeness of the Empress, along with a
number of other memorabilia, invaded souvenir
shops in Austria and abroad. In the countries that
Elizabeth often visited in recent years, committees
were created to oversee the erection of monuments
to the last Empress. A life-size statue of Elizabeth
designed by Herman Klotz, made for St. Matthew's
Cathedral in Budapest, and two copies belonged to
Idea Ferenci, the companion and confidante of the
Empress, and her daughter, Archduke Marie Valerie.