Further out of the city center is the headquarters of Bayerische Motoren Werke AG, along with the BMW Museum, which exhibits motorcycles and cars. In 1917, BMW began producing airplane engines, expanded to motorbikes in 1923 and cars in 1928. The aluminum-clad main office building was designed after a four-cylinder engine. It was completed right […]
Tag Archives | museum
Palais des Beaux-Arts de Lille
Palais des Beaux-Arts is Lille’s main art museum. It’s housed in an impressive 19th-century monument with interesting design touches. Napoleon, um, encouraged the museum’s initial collection by obtaining the pieces from churches and other monument throughout Europe. An assortment of art is here: 15th-20th century European paintings, prints and drawings, antiquities, 17th- and 18th-century ceramics […]
Musée Jacquemart-André, Paris
That this small Parisian museum is grossly overshadowed by the larger, more flamboyant art institutions is no reason to omit it from your to-see list. On the contrary, the quiet Boulevard Haussmann location and the lack of enormous crowds makes it a bit of a respite from the giants. Musée Jacquemart-André was the private residence […]
Musée Photo, Vevey
If you’re at all interested in photography, the Musée Photo is a must-see. This is the most comprehensive photography museum I’ve seen, covering equipment, techniques and inventors through the annals of photography. Every type of equipment is displayed, from camera obscura to the magic lantern to incarnations of modern digital cameras. Seeing cameras from your […]
Villa Vauban
This small but important museum is housed in a 19th century urban villa in the middle of a lush, landscaped park. The museum’s peaceful, timeless setting is ideal for showcasing its collection of 17th-19th century European paintings, sculptures and drawings. The current exhibit, “Treasures from the Burkenthal Collection: Brueghel, Cranach, Titian, van Eyck”, features 15th-18th […]
Musée des Beaux-Arts
The Musée des Beaux-Arts is one of France’s oldest museums. Within its ornate galleries, it has impressive collections ranging from Egyptian art to the 20th century. Most notable is the late 18th century European collection and the 15th century Burgundian collection. The centerpiece is the former great hall, now called the Salles des Gardes, where […]
Musée d’Art Sacré
The only reasons to visit this museum are if you are already next door at the Musée de la Vie Bourguignonne or if you are religious. Since I fell into the former category, it’s no surprise that I was more interested in the architecture than the museum’s dusty contents. The Musée d’Art Sacré occupies the […]
Musée de la Vie Bourguignonne
Although navigating quaint Dijon evokes the past, a visit to Musée de la Vie Bourguignonne really shows what everyday life was like. The museum, which occupies a 17th century Cistercian convent, is well worth a visit. It is spread over three levels: 19th century rural and Burgundian ethnographical heritage displays are on the ground floor, […]
Hamburger Kunsthalle
This is considered one of the best art museums in Germany. I think it’s one of the best in Europe! Why? Well, it’s really big (certainly no Louvre, but much larger than many other cities’ museums) and heavy on what I most enjoy: 17th-19th century European paintings, sculptures and modern art. It also gives a […]
Mauritshuis, Den Haag
If I were a dead Dutch artist, I would want my masterpiece displayed in Mauritshuis. The small galleries with tall windows, high ceilings and thoughtfully painted walls is an ideal environment in which to spend some time. Mauritshuis is an intimate yet comprehensive museum located in a 17th century mansion on Hofvijver, the city’s main […]
