Hello! I was wondering what other people's favorite art gallery/museums were in Europe and why. For me, I found that the Centre Georges Pompideau in Paris was an absolute delight, especially since I wasn't expecting to really enjoy it. I have finally got a bit of an appreciation for Modern Art (SOME, not all!!!)
What have you found you liked and why?

Favorites (not necessarily in order)
1. Liechenstein Museum, Vienna. An surprising delight. As this is a new museum (in an old building), didn't know what to expect, but it was wonderful in every way.
2. Kunsthistoriche Museum, also Vienna. An incredible collection of art and equally incredible lack of crowds.
3. Musee d'Orsay, Paris. Fabulousness defined.
4. Jacquemart-Andre, Paris. Another pleasant surprise. Also, has a good percentage of paintings by women artists, a nice bonus.
5. Museum of Art, Bern. A small gem. I like the Anker paintings and the portraits in the basement.
6. Guimet museum, Paris. Great Asian art collection. Love the Korean piece that shows Buddha judging who's going to heaven. Based on his expression, few souls are getting past THAT velvet rope.
7. Chateau Montresor, Montresor, France. Technically, not a museum, but so interesting and the hostess/guide so gracious and warm. Plus she adored our spaniel and insisted we bring her along on the private tour.

We have done all of the biggies in most of Europe but my favorite is the Galleria Borghese in Rome. Why? In a word BERNINI--the man was a genius.

I haven't been to nearly as many of the biggies as I'd like, but I loved....
the Vatican Museum
Florence's Accademia--for David!
and Athens' National Archeological Museum

Thanks for a great thread, nospam!
Dina

The Orsay for its amazing building and art collection. The Benaki Collection in Athens for its tasteful wide range of everything Greek.

ttt

in athens,.. the Benaki.
great private collection.
nice restaurant/café.
gifts and cards were beautiful.

haven't thought of the others yet.

I'd have to agree with several others that the Orsay is my favorite. Since I'm a big fan of the period and the styles represented, that may not be a surprise. However, I too like the building. I particularly enjoyed looking out through the clock in the cafeteria!

A close second is a museum of a very different kind: The Viking Ship Museum in Oslo. The museum is small, and it exhibits very little beyond the three viking ships that were unearthed around the Oslo fjord. These were burial ships, and the spiritual feel of the museum heightens your appreciation of that fact. I've visited the museum whenever I've been in Oslo just for the feel of the place, and I continue to marvel at these boats, over 1000 years old, starkly presented in their white halls. I understand that the museum will be rebuilt in the near future; I hope they can get it right a second time.

I really love the V&A in London. Reasons: the variety of what you see, the building itself, the gift shop is fabulous.

A close second though would have to be the D'Orsay since I love that period and again, the building is wonderful.

The Kunsthistorisches in Vienna--as much for the building as the art.

The Ashmolean in Oxford--there's a wonderfully Edwardian feel to this place.

The Bargello in Florence. It is small and intimate, and I love the Renaissance atmosphere. The sculptures by Michelangelo and Donatello are wonderful.

Musee d'Orsay, for many reasons. The building really appeals to me. The art is just plain pretty, easy to look at. It probably holds a special place in my heart because my husband and I went when we were still way hot for each other and it was so romantic! A couple of years ago we were in Paris on my birthday and we ate lunch in the restaurant right by the clock. How wonderful! (Just no longer romantic, as we had our three kids with us.)

"Florence's Accademia--for David!"

This is really a laugh. They charge you $15 to see a statue that is identical to the one you can see for free in Plaza Vecchio. I'll bet not one person in 500 could tell the difference if he didn't know in advance.

The Vatican museum is #1.

La Musée national du Moyen-Âge in Paris, better known as Cluny. I don't know why, but the Heads of the Kings of Judah draw me there every time I visit Paris. I'm going back next week, and it will doubtless be one of the first places I visit.

My second choice is the Groeninge Museum in Brugge.

Anselm

Anselm

The Musée d'Orsay is probably my all-time favorite, but I loved the Kröller-Müller Museum in the Netherlands, and back in the early 80s was really struck by the main arts museum in Prague (think it was called the Beaux Arts back then - not sure about today).
Love the Jacquemart-André and the Marmottan.

And my favorite "discovery" - the Château de Mauriac (www.bistes.com).

The National Gallery, London.

Try the British Library, for their collection including a Magna Carta, Shakespeare originals, and a Guttenberg bible!

The best, most coherent (and not overwhelming) collection of art over a wide range of eras/movements is on display at the Kunsthistorische in Vienna. (Particularly now that they have recovered Cellini's salt cellar!)
The Orsay is best for French Impressionists, and the Pompidou for more modern stuff. The French consider Lille to be their best provincial gallery: Could be.

Impressionist Art- Courtauld Gallery, London and the Orsay
Uffizzi: the Botticelli's among many other favorites; Bronzino, and Titian
Borghese Gallery: Rome (yes Bernini)
Prado- Madrid for the Bosch, Goya, Velasquez, and many more.
Terezin Museum and Pinkas Synagogue in Prague for the art collection of children and adults that were made during the Shoah.
Had the good fortune to see wonderful exhibits in galleries during visits to Rome including an excellent Carravaggio and Valesquez exhibit.
I am going to Paris in a few months and looking forward to visiting the Pompideau, Cluny, and Jaquemart-Andre.
In the US I love the Nat'l Gallery in Washington (and just saw the wonderful Van Gogh drawings at the MET in NYC).

If I may "cheat" a bit.....the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in Boston...though technically it is in the US, when you step inside the doors, you are transported to a palazzo in Venice...beautiful artwork in the most spectacular setting...