Museum Ludwig had its beginnings in 1976 when Peter and Irene Ludwig donated 350 works of contemporary artists. Works by artists like Warhol, Lichtenstein and Segal line the halls of this museum, which focuses primarily on 20th Century art. Visitors can study works of the Russian Avant-Garde from 1906-1930 as well as pieces on permanent loan by Pablo Picasso. Museum director Kasper König is interested in creating a dialogue with visitors; he encourages people to engage with the museum rather than being mere passing observers, so come equipped with your thinking caps! On the first Thursdays, the museum is open till 10p.
View amazing religious artwork in one of the oldest museums in Cologne. Located on the site where the St. Columba Church previously stood, Kolumba was originally established in 1853 by the Society for Christian Art and it was called the Diocesan Museum (Diözesanmuseum), today this prestigious museum is now run by the Archdiocese of Cologne. Kolumba has an impressive collection of religious artwork and artifacts, including pieces from Late Antiquity.
Bringing several diverse cultures of the world to Cologne, the Rautenstrauch-Joest-Museum is located in Innenstadt. Established in early 1900s and housed within a historic building, it boasts of one of the largest ethnological collections in Germany. This unique museum displays over 60,000 authentic objects that represent different cultures and ethnicities from across the globe. There's a library on site that has garnered prolific works on anthropological studies and findings which highlight the cultures different from European ones. Interesting displays here include the altar of Durga, the warrior Goddess of India, the funeral ritual display from Central Africa and archaeological finds from a Mayan site. As such, this museum gives a whole new perspective on different communities and cultures – a definite must visit.
The former headquarters of the Cologne Gestapo, EL-DE Haus is now the NS Documentation Center of the City of Cologne. Founded in 1979 after the city council passed a resolution, it is the biggest provincial memorial place for the victims of the Third Reich in the nation. Get a glimpse of the social and political life in Cologne during the regime of the National Socialists through their permanent exhibitions. This award-winning museum offers an in-depth insight into the physical and administrative conditions of that era.
Established in September 2005, Max Ernst Museum Brühl des LVR is a museum that focuses on the works of 20th-Century artist Max Ernst. The exhibits here narrate a story of important events in Max Ernst's life including his activities in Rhineland, time spent in the USA and his return to Europe. Moreover, many paintings here are surrealist in nature, something Max Ernst is a pioneer of.
Located inside St. Cäcilien, Museum Schnütgen showcases a collection of Christian artwork and artifacts, dating back to the early Middle Ages. Alexander Schnütgen (1843-1918), canon of Cologne Cathedral, chose this church to house his treasures and the collection has grown over time. You'll see stained glass work, sculptures, paintings, and so much more. Make sure you see the 11th-century Cross of St George's and the 9th-century Comb of St Heribert.
In the year 1929, an important discovery was made by sewage construction workers who uncovered the very well-preserved ruins of the ancient Roman Baths. Over the years when its conditions started falling into disrepair, numerous cultural and historical authorities decided to protect the ruins through a museum. Opened in the year 2008, the museum of bath culture displays the unique history of the baths from as fat as 2nd Century CE to the industrial revolution during the 19th Century. The museum's 18 exhibits also shed light on the cultural and social significance of the Roman Baths. Take a tour of the museum and see the temporary exhibitions as well.
Founded in 1987, Mahn- und Gedenkstätte honors the memory of victims in Düsseldorf during the Nazi regime. The building in the Old Town used to be a prison for political prisoners before being taken over by the German Army in 1934. Besides hosting temporary exhibitions on a variety of topics, the memorial contains a permanent exhibition, entitled Persecution & Resistance.
Spread over the area of more than 2000 square meters, the exhibits at the Museum of European Garden History all about medieval Europe. Exhibits include beautiful paintings and graphics, life like sculptures, interesting books and models about garden art. The Schloss Benrath also conducts special lectures and guided tours at regular intervals. Check website for schedules and other information.
Stadtmuseum is located in the historical Town Hall in the heart of the city. The building, erected by the electoral architect Michel Leveilly in 1737, is still impressive today, with its beautiful facade and double barreled flight of steps. The steps have lantern pillars and artistic wrought-iron handrails. The history of Bonn is presented quite realistically. In several rooms, decorated in the style of the time, furniture, porcelain, paintings and Bonn's arts and crafts from the 18th century until today are also on display. Information about special exhibitions or events can be found in the local daily press.
Located in the city of Euskirchen, the Mueller Cloth Mill and museum showcases the history of cloth mill production in the country. Started in 1801, the factory would first serve as a papermill before adopting the spin wool and yarn process decades later. It functioned and produced woolen cloth with the help of a steam machine until 1961 when it was closed down due to lack of orders. Today it is a museum with the original equipment well preserved on display.
The Haus der Geschichte (History House) of the Federal Republic of Germany is a must for all. Post 1945 German history is portrayed here in an interesting manner -with text captions, historical objects and photos illustrating historical events. The information here is not restricted to politics, the visitor also learns interesting facts about the history of society, art, culture as well as the economic situations. Technical aids such as screens, listening posts and info-drawers make the visit a relaxing journey through Germany's recent history. You can sit on one of the original seats from the plenary chamber to observe parliamentary debates from the fifties and sixties.