Museums and Exhibitions

Container

In Southwest Germany, you are never far from a museum. And, not just any museum, but some of Europe’s best. From medieval paintings to cuckoo clocks and from contemporary art to jewelry, the range is astonishing.

Ein Mann und eine Frau laufen in einem Museum an einer Wand vorbei. An der Wand hängen unterschiedliche Bilder mit einem Rahmen aus Gold.
Ein Mann und eine Frau laufen in einem Museum an einer Wand vorbei. An der Wand hängen unterschiedliche Bilder mit einem Rahmen aus Gold.
Im Innenraum des Museums stehen zwei kleine runde Tische mit bunten Stühlen.
Im Innenraum des Museums stehen zwei kleine runde Tische mit bunten Stühlen.

Stuttgart

Old Masters and giants of the 20th century make the State Art Gallery(Staatsgalerie) one of the finest collections in Europe. Contrast Canaletto, Rembrandt and Rubens with Cézanne, Monet and Matisse. Add in American stars, such as Roy Lichtenstein and Andy Warhol, and this is a must for any art lover. Nearby, in a futuristic building that looks like a giant glass box, the Stuttgart Art Museum (Kunstmuseum Stuttgart) is devoted to contemporary art. Works by Otto Dix are focus of the permanent collection. 

Karlsruhe

One of Germany’s best and oldest museums, the State Art Gallery (Staatliche Kunsthalle) provides an overview of European art, from works by Dürer and Cranach to French super-stars of the 19th century, such as Manet and Monet, Cézanne and Gauguin. 

Baden-Baden

In a striking modern building designed by New York architect Richard Meier, the Museum Frieder Burda focuses on Classical Modernism, encompassing late works by Picasso, as well as Jackson Pollock, Mark Rothko and more.

Mannheim

The Mannheim Art Gallery (Kunsthalle Mannheim) is devoted to modern and contemporary art, ranging from Courbet and Chagall to Henry Moore and Richard Long. 

Tübingen

A cutting-edge gallery set against the backdrop of this medieval city, the glass and steel Tübingen Art Gallery (Kunsthalle Tübingen) puts on exhibitions that surprise and even shock. 

Vitra Design Museum

In the very south of SouthWest Germany is the Vitra Design Museum in Weil am Rhein, dedicated to design, both past and present. 

Southwest Germany’s lively open air museums

Nicknamed the "Seven in the South" (Sieben im Süden), Southwest Germany’s open-air museums are more like seven historic villages, each recounting the region’s rich heritage in its own special way. In pretty countryside, these seven “living history” museums take you back to the rural life of yesteryear. There are centuries-old buildings, original farm equipment, heritage breeds of animals, crafts and special demonstrations. Regular theme days, colorful museum festivals and markets provide entertainment for families, groups and individual visitors.