History

A new museum with many original objects, dedicated entirely to the eventful life of Archduke Johann, opened its doors on 11 May 2024. 

Greater museum space in Schloss Stainz brings with it a cultural centre of excellence unique to Styria, showcasing the achievements of Archduke (ger: Erzherzog) Johann and the resulting impact on Styria.

Visitors experience an exciting tour through a cultural history of Styria, featuring as yet unpublished original documents, paintings and watercolours, as well as digital copies and the most up-to-date methods of presentation.

On the basis of the provincial exhibition, The Styrian Peasant, Achievement and Fate from the Stone Age to the Present Day shown in Graz in 1966, the Styrian Provincial Government decided to create a museum with the focus on the economy, work and nutrition. This museum was operated in 1974, initially as a branch of the Folk Life Museum.

In particular, Anni Gamerith, who was prominent in the field of nutrition research, was crucially involved in establishing the Agricultural Collection, which became a department of the Joanneum in 1986.

After two years’ preparation time, the new Agriculture Museum was finally opened in Schloss Stainz in September 2009. 

The history of the Hunting Collection began in 1941, when the ‘Museum for Biotechnology and Hunting’ was founded. In 1949 the collections of this museum were transferred to Schloss Eggenberg as part of the 25th Styrian Hunting Exhibition. The department for hunting at the Joanneum was eventually founded in 1951, its first head was Wilhelm Hoffer. At the initiative of his successor, Philipp Meran, the Hunting Museum was at last opened in Schloss Eggenberg in 1953, remaining at this location until 1998.

In 2003 the Hunting Collection was finally moved to Schloss Stainz, where the new Hunting Museum was opened in 2006.