The Best Art Museums in Europe

Europe is never short of good things to offer – picturesque views, unique architecture, delectable dishes, and delightful art museums.The best art museums in Europe provide a safe sanctuary for the renowned works of art that the world has come to know.

Come and explore some of them, and you may even consider adding them to your travel bucket list.

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Louvre Museum in Paris, France

Europe has many beautiful museums, and the Louvre is one of them.The famous museum in Paris, France serves as home to a beguiling lady – the Mona Lisa.

The Louvre is the world’s most popular museum, and it is one of the largest museums in the world.However, the place served different purposes before it turned into what it is today. The Louvre was originally a fortress during the reign of Phillip II.

In the following years, the edifice evolved into a grand palace that served as home to the royal family. In 1682, the Sun King Louis XIV took residence in the Palace of Versailles.

Today, the Louvre has around 380,000 works of art in its collection. The museum’s glass pyramid, which is the main entrance, makes it easy for anyone visiting the Louvre to recognize the world-renowned museum.

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Vatican Museums in Vatican City

Over the centuries, the Roman Catholic Church has amassed a range of art and antiquities and has gained a fabulous museum collection.When the museum officially opened in 1506 for public viewing, Pope Julius II had decided to showcase the sculpture of Laocoon & Sons.

The Vatican added many more buildings (one at a time) to serve as home to their enormous collection.The two most famous works in the collection are the Sistine Chapel, which Michelangelo painted, and Raphael’s Stanze Della Segnatura.

Vatican City is one of the World Heritage Sites, and a visit to Vatican Museums will never be complete without exploring the quaint Bramante Staircase.

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Belvedere in Vienna, Austria

The mesmerizing baroque Belvedere is one of Europe’s most exquisite museums.Seeing the stunning architecture of the two Belvedere palaces up close is enough reason to travel to Vienna.

What makes the trip even more worthwhile is viewing Belvedere’s stunning collection, which includes works of Claude Monet, Vincent van Gogh, and Gustav Klimt.It was Johann Lucas von Hildebrandt, a Baroque architect, who built the two Belvedere palaces. It was originally built to be used as Prince Eugene of Savoy’s summer residence. Today, the Belvedere serves as a home to Austria’s greatest art collection.

It includes the masterpieces between the Middle Ages and modern times. Aside from the mentioned artists, the Belvedere also showcases the works of Max Beckmann, Oskar Kokoschka, and Egon Schiele.

Uffizi Gallery in Florence, Italy

When there are talks about the best and oldest art galleries in Europe, the majority of people will always include the Uffizi Gallery in Florence, Italy.

It is also one of Europe’s most exquisite art galleries. The Uffizi Gallery houses some of the great works of art that the world has ever known, including Botticelli's La Primavera and Birth of Venus.

It is also home to the stunning sculpture of Bandinelli, the diptych of Federico da Montefeltro by Piero Della Francesca, Paolo Uccello's Battle of San Romano, and fine works of other art masters, including Michelangelo and Leonardo da Vinci.

It was Giorgio Vasari who built the Uffizi Gallery by order of Cosimo I de Medici, the first Grand Duke of Tuscany.Vasari used mannerist-style architecture when he designed the Uffizi Gallery. The gallery is made up of a three-story u-shaped building.

It has a monumental enclosed passageway named Corridoio Vasariano or Vasari Corridor, which links the building of the gallery with the Pitti Palace.

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Musee D’Orsay in Paris, France

Musee D’Orsay or Orsay Museum is internationally recognized for its impressive art collection of impressionism. The collection includes the works of Paul Gauguin, Claude Monet, Vincent Van Gogh, and others.

The museum also showcases artistic creations from the West between the years 1848 and 1914. The artistic creations include photography, architecture, decorative arts, sculptures, and paintings.

The Musee D’Orsay was initially a railway station with a Beaux-Arts style of architecture.The museum itself appears to be a work of art with its remarkable glass barrelled ceiling with a frame structure made of steel.

It has elaborate detailing, an intricate clock face, and cream-colored stone staircases.

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Dali Theatre-Museum in Figueres, Spain

Salvador Dali was a renowned Spanish surrealist artist in the 20th century. His works remain as remarkable, intriguing, and fascinating as he was.The Dali Theatre-Museum invites you to take a peek into the celebrated artist’s mind, which is much more profound and somewhat more peculiar than that of most surrealists.

Odd or peculiar is the one word that best describes Salvador Dali. When you see the museum, you will realize that the oddness indeed starts from the exterior of the Dali Theatre-Museum, which Salvador Dali designed himself. Dali’s most famous work is The Persistence of Memory.

The masterpiece is also regarded as one of the greatest masterpieces of the 20th century. It is also the most distinguished piece in surrealism.

Salvador Dali created more than a thousand works of art in his lifetime, and most of them are in Dali Theatre Museum.

The Museum of the Second World War in Gdansk, Poland

The Museum of the Second World War is a historical museum near the post office in Gdansk, which was the area where World War II commenced. The museum is home to the most extensive artifacts and collections related to WWII.

The range extends from the eventful years before the start of the war up to several decades after the war ended when people continued to experience the aftermath and influences of the dreadful event.

Although it holds important remnants of the war, you will find the modern architecture and unique style of the museum building appealing. The building has fascinated the architectural world. 

Other European Art Museums

Other museums in Europe that are worth mentioning are the Egyptian Museum in Italy, Astrup Fearnley Museum of Modern Art in Norway, and the Art History Museum in Austria.