The original National Museum was inaugurated in 1867 and was housed in the Museum of Ethnology. When it became too small Gabriel von Seidl erected a new building at the Prinzregentenstraße. The facade of the building was desigend in different styles according to the objects on display behind. The interior rooms were also decorated correspondingly by Rudolf von Seitz. In front of the museum there is an equestrian monument to Prince Regent Luitpold. Under his reign the street was laid out.
With about 18.000 items on display from 9 centuries the Bavarian National Museum is one of the most important museums for European sculptures and handicraft in Germany. On the ground floor a chronologically organized collection concerning cultural and art history of Bavaria and southern Germany from the Middle Ages to the 19th c. can be seen. Works of e.g. Erasmus Grasser, Johann Baptist Straub and Ignaz Günther are to be admired. Some of the highlights are the "Seeon Madonna", an old weaving room from Augsburg, the room with tapestries from Brussels and wooden city models of the Bavarian residence cities in the 16th. c.
The special collections on the upper floor cover e.g. porcelain from Meißen, Nymphenburg and a lot of small manufacutries, Baroque oil sketches of the Reuschel collection, ivorie, stained glass and gold- and silversmith's work, intarsia work, textiles, clocks and watches and instruments used for science. The basement presents folk art as well as one of the largest crib collection. Cribs from Bavaria, Austria, Italy and France from the 17th to the 19th c. can be admired there.
Opening hours: Tue - Sun 9.30 a.m. - 5 p.m.
U-Bahn: U4/U5 to Lehel
Tram 20 to Nationalmuseum
Bus 53 to Nationalmuseum