Bayerisches Nationalmuseum (Bavarian National Museum), Munich

The Bavarian National Museum, also known as Bayerisches Nationalmuseum, located in Munich, is a significant institution for decorative arts in Europe and one of the largest art museums in Germany. Its collection is primarily divided into two main categories: the art historical collection and the folklore collection.

King Maximilian II of Bavaria established the museum in 1855. It holds an extensive array of European artifacts spanning from late antiquity to the early 20th century, with a strong focus on the medieval to early modern periods. The museum building, designed in the historicist style by Gabriel von Seidl between 1894 and 1900, is a notable architectural gem of its era. It stands on Prinzregentenstraße, one of Munich's prominent royal avenues.

The main building of the Bavarian National Museum encompasses exhibition rooms spread across three floors, totaling approximately 13,000 square meters of exhibition space. The core of its collection originates from the art collection of the Wittelsbach family. Over time, the museum collections have grown, and a new building was added to house the Bavarian State Archaeological Collection, featuring artifacts from Paleolithic to early Middle Ages.

The art collection spans over 40 rooms, encompassing a wide range of art styles from late antiquity to Neoclassicism. It includes the Bollert Collection in the western wing, known for its late medieval sculptures. The museum is famous for its ivory carvings, goldsmith works, textiles, glass paintings, tapestries, shrines, and courtly culture items like musical instruments, furniture, paintings, clocks, stoneware, porcelain, and statues. Notably, it holds one of the world's best collections of Nymphenburg porcelain figures by Franz Anton Bustelli (1723–63).

In addition to its art holdings, the museum's folklore collection showcases traditional Bavarian furniture, rural pottery, crockery, and religious folklore. This collection also includes an outstanding array of wood carvings from Neapolitan, Sicilian, Tyrolean, and Bavarian origins, featuring street scenes and Nativity Scenes.

Why You Should Visit:
Extensive and eclectic high-quality collections wherein everyday life and trade, commerce and industry are well-represented.

Tip:
€1 admission on Sundays (normally €7 for adults).
Most captions are not in English so take the audio guide.