One of the oldest art galleries in the world, Munich’s Alte Pinakothek hosts a formidable collection of European artworks, including masterpieces from the Middle Ages, the Renaissance, and the Baroque era all the way to the late Rococo period. Built between 1826 and 1836 in the Neoclassical style of the time, the museum was commissioned by none other than Bavarian Kind Ludwig I to house his personal art collection (and that of the House of Wittelsbach). Today, it’s home to more than 700 paintings by the likes of Titian, El Greco, Rubens, Rembrandt, and Boucher. Of particular interest are world-famous works like da Vinci’s Virgin and Child, Raphael’s The Canigiani Holy Family, and Dürer’s Self-Portrait with Fur-Trimmed Robe. Also look out for some excellent temporary exhibitions and regular events.
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Alte Pinakothek
One of the oldest art galleries in the world, Munich’s Alte Pinakothek hosts a formidable collection of European artworks, including masterpieces from the Middle Ages, the Renaissance, and the Baroque era all the way to the late Rococo period. Built between 1826 and 1836 in the Neoclassical style of the time, the museum was commissioned by none other than Bavarian Kind Ludwig I to house his personal art collection (and that of the House of Wittelsbach). Today, it’s home to more than 700 paintings by the likes of Titian, El Greco, Rubens, Rembrandt, and Boucher. Of particular interest are world-famous works like da Vinci’s Virgin and Child, Raphael’s The Canigiani Holy Family, and Dürer’s Self-Portrait with Fur-Trimmed Robe. Also look out for some excellent temporary exhibitions and regular events.
Museums Abound
There are around 6,250 museums throughout Germany exposing their visitors to the ancient and the modern with everything in between. Berlin’s Museum Island is an ensemble of five museums built between 1824 and 1930 on a small island in the Spree River. A UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1999, the buildings not only hold collections of the Old Masters, but are also architectural wonders themselves. The State Gallery in Stuttgart, in a striking building designed by British architect and Pritzker Prize winner James Stirling, will take you on a journey over eight centuries including modern, pop, and conceptual art. In Munich, however, you can enjoy the “Kunstreal” or art district centered around the Königsplatz, not far from the city center. Easily walkable, the area is home to 16 museums, over 40 galleries, and cultural institutions such as the Technical University of Munich. One of the most famous buildings is the Alte Pinakothek, which was the largest gallery in the world at the time of its completion in 1836 and a model for later buildings in Rome, Brussels, and St. Petersburg. Inside, you’ll find one of the most famous collections of Old Masters. To make seeing it all even more enjoyable, there is a fine café on the ground floor while the two great lawns provide a place to admire the architecture. The building was heavily damaged by bombing in World War II, but tastefully reconstructed into its current beautiful state. Courtesy of photographer Andrew Cowin
