Europe's Hidden Museum Gems: From Female Artists in Mougins to Secret Churches
From ancient Greek bronzes to an unusual take on Donald Trump, readers recommend galleries and collections they have discovered on their travels across Europe. These unsung museums offer unique cultural experiences, often away from the bustling tourist crowds.
The Art of Women in Cannes
We visited the Female Artists of the Mougins Museum, located in Mougins, a small village on a hill near Cannes. This museum is dedicated exclusively to female artists, featuring works from Berthe Morisot in the 19th century and Frida Kahlo in the early 20th to contemporary figures such as Tracey Emin. It houses an incredible collection of often overlooked art and artists. On a rainy October day, the museum was remarkably quiet and calm, with abstract works being a particular highlight, making it well worth a trip up the hill.
Secret Church in Amsterdam's Red Light District
Ons’ Lieve Heer op Solder, or Our Lord in the Attic, is a hidden gem in the centre of Amsterdam. This clandestine church originated after the Reformation when Catholics were no longer allowed to hold public holy masses. It enabled Catholics to worship in private, creating an incredibly intimate and secretive experience. The canal house feels like a Tardis as you move through a labyrinth of rooms, all leading to what appears to be a doll's house church, offering a sliver of heaven in the middle of the red light district.
Berlin's Pioneering Socialist Artist
The Käthe-Kollwitz Museum, located just off Berlin's glamorous Ku'damm avenue, is a small, intimate building housing probably the best collection of Kollwitz's prints, drawings, posters, sculptures, and woodcuts. Her work is inspired by and illustrates her lifelong socialist beliefs with real power and poignancy, shaped by inseparable personal and political tragedies.
Turin's Mountain Museum
The Museo Nazionale della Montagna (National Museum of Mountains) in Turin is the perfect end to a hiking trip in the Italian Alps. The staff are knowledgeable, and there are excellent exhibits exploring the history of our relationship with mountains, along with displays of mountaineering gear and derring-do over the past 150 years. A rooftop terrace offers a great view of the city and mountains beyond, making it a fantastic way to spend a few hours for any mountain lover.
Captivating Artefacts from the Far East in Porto
Set in a late 18th-century palace belonging to the Porto bourgeoisie, the Museo Nacional Soares dos Reis, founded in 1833, is considered Portugal's oldest art museum. It features an absorbing collection of Portuguese painting from the 16th to 20th centuries, but particularly captivating are the rooms displaying Japanese and Chinese artefacts, which arrived in Portugal off trading ships from the far east. Don't miss the tranquil garden at the back of the museum.
Homage to Copernicus in Kraków
The Jagiellonian University Museum in Kraków has a wonderful collection for those interested in history and science. The university was founded in 1364, and a young Copernicus studied there in the 1490s. Many objects related to its most famous student and his heliocentric theory are showcased, alongside quirky objects related to the history of the university and Poland. The guides are very knowledgeable, the visit is affordable, and it's conveniently located in Kraków's beautiful historical city centre.
Quiet Contemplation and Wonder in Barcelona
In a stunningly restored mattress factory designed by Catalan modernist architect Josep Puig i Cadafach, you can find the CaixaForum in Barcelona. This museum specialises in a revolving display of exhibitions from photography to sculpture to immersive art, in an atmosphere of quiet contemplation and wonder. It is near the Miró Foundation, and many visitors pass it by without realising how great it is. Within its curvy walls, there is a cafe for a welcome cold drink.
An Airship and Trump Toddlers in Prague
The DOX Centre for Contemporary Art in Prague is an excellent art gallery within a stunning feat of architecture – a steel and wood airship seemingly floats out of a postwar factory building. In 2018, a brilliant exhibit featured a white room filled with giant toddlers with Trump faces, offering a unique take on contemporary issues.
Paris's 'Most Enchanting' Museum
The Musée National Gustave Moreau in Paris is located in the former home of the 19th-century symbolist artist. This glorious space features dizzying, gigantic paintings in elaborate, decorative detail, with classical mythology and intimate biblical scenes presented in vast gilt frames. A spiral staircase between studio floors adds to the magic, and the private apartments offer insight into a brilliant mind, making it truly inspiring.
Winning Tip: Bronze Gods in Piraeus
The Archaeological Museum of Piraeus contains a wonderful collection of artefacts spanning 2,000 years of Greek history and is generally less hectic than bigger museums in Athens. In pride of place are the Piraeus bronzes, a truly staggering collection of statues, including the Piraeus Apollo and bronze statues of Athena and Artemis. It's only 20 minutes from the centre of Athens by train and is a wonderful place to explore while waiting for a ferry connection to the islands.
Readers are encouraged to share their tips for a chance to win a £200 holiday voucher for a Coolstays break, with selections featured online and in print.
