The Museum of Fine Arts in Strasbourg is a place to go if you basically like museums. It is really good and interesting, and its high quality is based on the history of its appearance.

The museum appeared in 1801 . as a result of the Great French Revolution - the new government organized throughout the country such that it was where to store works of art collected in the dwellings of the executed aristocracy and selected from the church . Both there was a lot of everything . The museum burned twice and every time anew bought linens to supplement its collection . Also donations were added here (the museum received a gift somewhat pain their private collections) and part of the museum's funds in the Louvre - the same, Paris . So it turned out that in the outlying regional center a collection of art objects is kept, which you can not find in any capital .

In the last century, this part was divided into two parts, which became independent museums - modern art and the old art of the Upper Rhine. Now here are exhibited mainly paintings, in the collection of about 900 works covering the period from the 14th to the 19th century

Exposition

The largest part of the collection is a collection of works by Italian painters. The earliest works belong to the 14th century, there are works by Raphael, Tintoretto, Veronese, Canaletto and many other artists. This is a large, impressive exhibition, in which there are many works of early painting (and there are very few in the world at all). The most famous work here is probably the "Portrait of a Young Woman" by Raphael.

The second part of the collection is canvases of Dutch and Flemish artists. The oldest works here are written by Memling and belong to the end of the 15th century. The collection covers five centuries, including the so-called golden age of Flemish painting. Here you can see the paintings of Van Dyck, Gerard David and many other works

The Spanish collection is small, but there is one picture of El Greco and one picture Francisco Goya. There is also a small collection of sculptures, as well as German and Alsatian paintings. But it is very interesting and extensive collection of French. Previously, it was even larger, and it included the work of the Impressionists, but after the collection was divided, these pictures were moved to the Museum of Modern Art. But here, without them, there is something to see: the works of Corot, Delacroix, Courbet, Degas and much more - from the 16th to the 19th century.

Only one third of the collection is exhibited constantly - the rest is in the storehouse, so the paintings in the exposition change periodically, but the most famous exhibits are usually exhibited constantly. In addition to the permanent exhibition, there are also temporary ones. Some of them are from own funds, some are imported, from the best museums in France, but they are always good.

In general - a wonderful museum, there is an extensive and interesting collection, in which there are many things rare in Russia (for example, from early painting )

Building

The museum is located in a curious and beautiful building - the palace of Rogan, built in the early 18th century. An interesting example of the classical style, there is a good preserved interior decoration, the building is included in the List of Historical Monuments of France. The Museum of Fine Arts occupies only part of the building, the rest of the space is shared by the Museum of Decorative Arts and the Archaeological Museum.

Practical information

Address: Strasbourg, place du Chateau, Palais Rohan, 2, Le musee des beaux-arts de Strasbourg. It is located in the center of the Old Town not far from the cathedral, the easiest way to get there is by foot - there is not enough transport here, this part of the city is too old, the streets are narrow.

The museum is open only on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday from 10:00 until 18:00.

Ticket price - 6, 5 EUR. In the palace of Rogan there are two more museums, it is convenient to buy a general one-day ticket (12 EUR for entrance to all museums) and see them all in one day (all prices are given for January 2015)

Museum of Fine Arts in Strasbourg

one of the halls, the Museum of Fine Arts in Strasbourg

Raphael Portrait of a young woman, Museum of Fine Arts in Strasbourg

El Greco Mourning, Museum of Fine Arts in StrasbourgDanvegan