The most beautiful and wonderful museums in the world. The most beautiful and wonderful museums in the world Hedmark Museum, Hamar, Norway
Some museums are valuable not only because of their collections, but are themselves real works of architectural art. It is about such buildings that our post today is about. These 10 museums look so stunning and impressive that you'll be blown away even before you step inside!
Orsay Museum, France
The museum, located on the left bank of the Seine, was opened in 1986 in the former building of the railway station and the adjacent hotel.
Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao, Spain
An amazing building, similar to an extraordinary plant or a fantastic ship, located on the banks of the Nervion River.
Oscar Niemeyer Museum, Brazil
The museum opened in 2002 and has appearance immediately received the nickname "eye".
British Museum, London
The museum was opened back in 1753, but the modern design of the building was developed by the architect Robert Smerk.
Royal Ontario Museum, Canada
This building has been called "a symbol of the new Toronto of the 21st century." More than 6 million exhibits are stored within its walls. natural history Canada.
Zumaia Museum, Mexico City
This museum is a 46-meter structure covered with 16,000 aluminum hexagons.
Hermitage, St. Petersburg, Russia
One of the largest and oldest museums in the world was opened by Empress Catherine the Great in 1764.
Museum of Islamic Art, Doha, Qatar
To design this museum, 91-year-old architect Bei Yuming traveled throughout the Arab world in search of inspiration.
Vatican Museum
This museum was opened by Pope Julius II in the 16th century. It consists of 52 galleries and is one of the largest in the world.
National Art Museum, Osaka
Most of this unique museum is underground, with the exception of the entrance and lobby.
Each museum has its own face: just look at a photograph to understand exactly where it was taken, and when and for what purposes this or that was built museum complex. It is natural that we're talking about about the most famous masterpieces, where everything is perfect and inimitable - from the first step to the ceiling rosette under the chandelier, made of plaster.
Each such museum is already a work of art. If you take out all the exhibits, then visitors will still spend several hours in a row here, looking at the walls, ceilings, doors, windows and floors, made by no less eminent masters than the paintings and other objects that make up the exhibition. Particular attention of connoisseurs of beauty is always attracted by plaster moldings, which have enormous artistic value.
Augustusburg and Falkenlust, Germany
Augustusburg Palace and Falkenlust Castle are located in the German city of Brühl. The buildings belong to early examples architectural style Rococo, which gained recognition in Germany in early XVIII. The museums are a single complex and are included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.
The castles were built at the insistence of Archbishop Clemens of Bavaria. Johan Schlaun was invited as the architect of the Augustusburg Palace. Falkenlust Castle is the work of the architect François de Cuvillier.
The decoration in the palace buildings is so beautiful that it amazed Napoleon himself. Seeing Augustusburg during the occupation in 1815, the emperor was upset because he could not take him to France. And this despite the fact that France at that time was a country where luxurious interiors could be found in any rich home. Nowadays the museum hosts state receptions and excursions the rest of the time.
Library of the University of Coimbra, Portugal
The Library of the University of Coimbra is considered the main museum of the Portuguese city of Coimbra and one of the oldest buildings in the country. The first information about the library dates back to 1513, at which time it was already functioning as a research library and contained more than 120 volumes of manuscripts. Since 1537, the Coimbra Library-Museum has received public status. During its existence, the institution underwent various changes - it was closed and opened, restored and changed names. Since 1924, the library of the University of Coimbra has been open to the public.
The museum consists of two buildings: the first is called the Joanina Library, where the most ancient books are stored (until 1800); the second, built in the 60s of the last century, is called Edifício Novo, and houses more than 1,000,000 books.
The main interest for tourists who want to admire the masterfully executed design is the Joanina Library. Molded plaster decorations, coupled with hand-painted paintings, delight any museum visitor.
Westminster Abbey, England
Westminster Abbey is one of the most popular museums in the world, better known to tourists as St. Peter's Collegiate Church. The abbey is located in English city Westminster. The ancient church was founded in the 7th century, its construction and reconstruction lasted more than 200 years.
Westminster Abbey is decorated mainly in the Gothic style and throughout its existence it served for coronation ceremonies and funerals of local monarchs. Until 1560, the building had the status of a cathedral, then it received the status of a state church. The beauty of the interior of the museum cannot be described in words - it is luxurious, and the stucco ornaments are so sophisticated that they evoke admiration among all visitors without exception.
Hermitage, Russia
Russian Palace - Hermitage, located in St. Petersburg, one of the most beautiful and rich art museums in the world. The museum's exhibitions occupy more than 350 halls, the remaining collections are stored in storage rooms; the total number of works of art and historically significant objects has long exceeded the 3,000,000 mark.
Based palace complex in 1764 by Catherine II. The reason for this event was the queen’s purchase of a collection of paintings. Now the exhibitions include paintings, sculpture, coin collections, archaeological finds, and objects of applied art.
Particular attention of tourists is attracted by the luxurious ceremonial interiors of the palace, including artistic stucco molding, gilding, and valuable stones. Each hall has original design, and is priceless as a work of art in itself.
Prado Museum, Spain
The Prado Museum, located in the center of Madrid, is Spain's main art museum. According to experts, it houses the best collection of samples European art, created in the 12th-19th centuries. The exhibitions were formed on the basis of the Spanish Royal Collection, but then were replenished with other exhibits.
There is a lot in the museum most interesting paintings, prints, sculptures and historical documents, for which the Prado, opened to the public in 1819, is considered one of the most significant and vibrant art museums in the world. About 3 million tourists visit it annually.
The museum building was built according to the design of the most talented architect of that time, Juan de Villanueva, whose hand belonged to the Madrid City Hall and the Botanical Garden. And if the first exhibitions were dedicated only to Spanish painting, then over time they were replenished with rare masterpieces by artists from Europe.
St Paul's Cathedral, England
The construction of St. Paul's Cathedral, located in London, lasted more than 30 years (1675 - 1711). Now it is one of the largest and most beautiful cathedrals in Europe. In front of this beautiful building difficult fate: it was completed, rebuilt and reconstructed many times, sometimes literally restored from bare walls.
Architect K. Ren proposed three design options, among which one was considered too modest, the second too cumbersome, and only the third design was brought to life. Initially the building had Gothic style, but after perestroika it took on a Baroque look. Distinctive feature The cathedral has a huge illuminated dome and incredibly beautiful interior decoration.
St Paul's Cathedral has hosted many historical events For example, they said goodbye to Admiral Nelson and Winston Churchill here, and the wedding of Lady Diana and Prince Charles took place here.
Library of Congress, USA
The Library of Congress of the United States is the oldest cultural institution in USA. According to some scientists, today it can be argued that this is the largest collection of books in the world. The library was moved to Washington in 1800, before which the entire archive was located in the temporary national capitals: New York and Philadelphia.
The museum was repeatedly damaged by fires, the last of which occurred in 1851, but the library and its archives were quickly restored. In addition, museum staff began to assemble collections of the best printed publications from other European countries. As a result, we had to hastily build an additional library building, which became a real masterpiece in the art of interior decoration. Visitors can still see magnificent frescoes, plaster moldings, stained glass windows, columns and steps today.
Anyone can visit the Library of Congress as a museum, but use of rare books is available only to members of Congress.
Palace of Fontainebleau, France
The Fontainebleau Palace is located 50 kilometers from Paris. This is the largest royal castle in France, which served as the residence of several French monarchs. Today National Museum included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.
The first mention of the Fontainebleau Palace is found in chronicles for 1137, then it was a modest hunting castle. Global changes to the building were first introduced in the 15th century by Isabella of Bavaria, wife of Charles VI, who wanted to decorate the palace premises with stucco and painting. Next, Francis I took up the matter and hired the famous architect Gilles Le Breton to remodel the interior in the Renaissance style. At this time, thanks to the talent of the artist from Florence Rosso Fiorentino, new amazingly beautiful frescoes and stucco plaster decorations appeared in the palace.
The palace buildings were improved with the arrival of each new ruler, and as a result, the Fontainebleau Palace took on the appearance in which modern tourists can see it. The palace decoration is so original and magnificent that it was separated into a separate “Fontainebleau style”, called French mannerism and combining sculpture, stucco, wood and metal work, and painting.
Palace of Versailles, France
Palace of Versailles - former royal residence and government center French monarchs. It got its name from its location in the city of Versailles, which is only 16 km from Paris. The building is now a national monument and represents one of the greatest museums Europe, decorated in the style of absolutism.
The residence of the kings was built in 1634, and included several small buildings - a hunting lodge and other buildings. However, after 100 years, Louis XIV began rebuilding the palace, eventually creating a large and extravagant complex surrounded by magnificent gardens made in English and French styles.
After this, other changes occurred to the residence, and as a result, the Palace of Versailles had to be remodeled “in the opposite direction.” Artists spent several years restoring stucco, stained glass and paintings so that our contemporaries could appreciate the real French chic and luxury of decor in palaces of that time.
Chateau de Chambord, France
Chambord Castle, located in France, is especially interesting for tourists, as it is distinguished by a unique style characteristic of French architecture created during the Renaissance. The interior of the castle combines medieval forms traditional for French palaces and classical elements.
Chambord was built in the Loire Valley as a hunting lodge for Francis I, but in fact it was a palace for the decision political issues and love affairs of kings. It is believed that Domenico da Cortona and Leonardo da Vinci worked on its design.
In 1792, during French Revolution, the castle was badly damaged. However, over time it was restored, and during the Second World War, the museum’s exhibitions were replenished with works of art from the collections of the Château de Compiegne and the Louvre. Currently, up to 7,000,000 tourists come here annually.
Catherine Palace, Russia
The Catherine Palace is located in the city of Tsarskoe Selo (now the city of Pushkin), 25 km from St. Petersburg. The palace ensemble, built in 1717, was the summer residence of Russian monarchs and was built by the architect Johann-Friedrich Braunstein, invited from Germany.
The somewhat gloomy building underwent reconstruction in 1752. Architect Bartolomeo Rastrelli decided to recreate the palace in the then fashionable Rococo style, distinguished by its brightness and luxury of decoration. The result amazed everyone - both Russians and seasoned foreign ambassadors. Gilded sculptures, an interior with rich plaster stucco, and openwork cast iron cost a huge amount for those times - one million six hundred thousand rubles.
During the Great Patriotic War The Germans managed to destroy most of the architectural ensemble, but then the Catherine Palace was mostly restored. Now it is one of the most visited museums in the world.
Alhambra, Spain
The Alhambra is a beautiful architectural and park complex in the southern Spanish town of Granada. Since the 13th century, the Alhambra was the political and aristocratic center of the Muslim West, but over time it was partially destroyed. Charles V, having visited Granada, decided to build a palace here, which existed until the end of the 18th century. Then the Alhambra was again devastated and was restored only in the 19th century.
Currently, the palace and palace parks are open to the public. Tourists can see how beautiful rectangular courtyards and numerous fountains, arched vaults intertwine with each other and decorate the Nasrid palace premises and buildings, which were once intended to house monarchs and their servants. The oldest building is the Alcazaba citadel. The decoration of the palace and other buildings is so beautiful that the complex is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.
The White house, USA
The White House (Washington) has been the residence of every previous US president since the second president, John Adams, in 1800. And now this building is the official residence and direct place of work of the current President of the United States. Nowadays, the White House serves not only political interests; the oldest public building in the United States is used as a museum of American history.
The White House houses collections of paintings, furniture, sculptures and other art objects. The interior decoration of the building deserves special attention. The design of many rooms is made in a distinctive Palladian style, including stucco, columns, gilding and rich decor with expensive fabric.
Uffizi Gallery, Italy
The Uffizi Gallery is the most visited museum in Italy. The number of tourists exceeds 1.5 million people a year, which is why incredibly long queues are inevitable here.
This Florentine palace was built at the end of the 16th century, but the formation of its collection began in the mid-15th century thanks to the love of art of the world famous Medici dynasty. Over time, the number of valuable items grew so much that there was not enough space for all the exhibitions, so some of the items were transferred to other museums.
It is impossible not to note the interior decoration of the gallery; it is a work of art in itself. Despite various disasters: floods, rainstorms and even explosions that periodically damaged the museum, after restoration the gallery only became more beautiful and attractive to tourists.
Buckingham Palace, England
Buckingham Palace was built in 1705, and since then has been the official residence of English monarchs, including Queen Elizabeth. All significant political and ceremonial events take place in the palace, so in addition to the main premises there are several State Rooms, as well as Ballroom and Banquet Halls. Reception of visitors wishing to view the palace usually takes place in August-September, when the Queen goes on visits.
The state rooms of Buckingham Palace have amazingly skillful decoration; in addition, the main treasures of the royal family are located here - authentic paintings famous artists and antique furniture. IN royal gallery, which is essentially exhibition hall, there is a regularly updated collection of treasures: books, manuscripts, jewelry, weapons, textiles, prints and other valuable items.
Everyone has their own idea of beauty, and many museums fit different definitions of beauty. Good museums become part of their environment using natural materials or surfaces with changing light. Many beautiful museums themselves beautify the area where they are located, attracting tourists from all over the world.
Here are some of the most beautiful museums in the world:
MAS Museum, Antwerp, Belgium
Architects Neutelings(Neutelings) and Ridijk(Riedijk) have given this riverside museum a distinctive modern look using red sandstone brought from India and window glass. The design of the museum is reminiscent of the warehouses used in the old port of Antwerp. Also, if you take a closer look at the 60-meter building of the museum, you will see 3185 silver hands- symbol of Antwerp. The vertical "boulevard" - several elevators that follow the glass spiral of the building, offers stunning views of the harbor and rooftop from all levels and leads to the roof, open until midnight.
Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, Kansas City, USA
The original limestone building, with its bulky neoclassical design, dates back to the 1930s. In 2007, this museum was renovated with a modern extension in the form of five cubes or "lenses" made of clear glass. These "lenses" developed Stephen Hall(Steven Holl), form a single whole with the surrounding landscape, repeating the curves of the lawn.
Museum of Islamic Art, Doha, Qatar
The Museum of Islamic Art is beautiful with its simple yet dynamic design that echoes traditional Islamic architecture. Pale sand-colored stone blocks form a five-story tower that casts long shadows as night falls. The entrance of the museum, which was built in the harbor on a private artificial island, is led by a row of palm trees and a waterfall.
National Museum of Art, Osaka, Japan
While most of This museum is located underground, the visible glass and steel exterior makes a lasting impression, curving 50m into the air. Recognized Architect Cesar Pelli(César Pelli) wanted to depict bamboo canes swaying in the wind, although his creation is still compared to wings. The play of light flows into the lobby, creating an ever-changing gallery space, isolated by a concrete wall approximately 3 meters thick.
Royal Ontario Museum, Toronto, Canada
Local architects Darling(Darling) and Pearson(Pearson) presented original museum in the style of Italian neo-romanticism in 1914. It has undergone several renovations and additions, but it wasn't until 2007 that a new design debuted" The Crystal". Collection precious stones museum inspired Daniel Libeskind(Daniel Libeskind) on a deconstructivist design of five interlocking prisms made from steel beams, aluminum and glass. Some were shocked by the innovation, while others welcomed the bold decision.
Geggenheim Museum in Bilbao, Spain
When the museum opened in 1997, designed Frank Gehry(Frank Gehry), which attracts attention with its swirling and reflective walls, it immediately became one of Spain's most popular attractions. The building is made of glass, limestone and titanium panels that look like fish scales. Their organic curves were designed to catch light, and the 15-meter atrium is partially illuminated by light coming from a “metal flower” located on the roof of the building.
Hedmark Museum, Hamar, Norway
The Hedmark Museum is located on 1.6 square meters. kilometers near the lake Miesa and features an open-air exhibition, a restored 18th-century house and herb garden. But the real highlight of the museum are the ruins of the cathedral, built in 1150, which were partially destroyed in 1567. The four large arches that remain today sit beneath a soaring triangle of glass and steel. This place has become popular for weddings and other events, so you may have to wait a while before going inside.
Hermitage, St. Petersburg, Russia
One of the oldest museums in the world, founded by Catherine the Great in 1764, is a complex of six buildings located between the Neva River and Palace Square. Winter Palace appears in its grandeur, occupying an entire block, where, according to some calculations, there are about 1945 windows. The former imperial residence is decorated with two tiers of columns, golden domes and luxurious galleries in Baroque and Rococo styles.
Milwaukee Art Museum, Milwaukee, USA
Abstract object Memorial Center for the Struggle of Modernists, which later became Milwaukee Art Museum, was created by a famous architect Eero Saarinen(Eero Saarinen). It is made in the shape of a cross of concrete and steel and appears to float on a pedestal. One of distinctive features the museum is Cuadracci Pavilion, a post-modern architectural creation with supports and a vaulted ceiling, on which is mounted a movable sunshade in the form of wings, the span of which reaches 66 meters. At certain times of the day the wings open, and at night or in inclement weather they fold.
Oscar Niemeyer Museum, Curitiba, Brazil
The official name of the museum was given in honor of the Brazilian architect Oscar Niemeyer(Oscar Niemeyer), who is already 95 years old, but is most often called Eye Museum thanks to its shape. The glass extension "The Eye", completed in 2002, rests on an 18-meter yellow pillar, and the "Eye" itself can be reached along a long curved ramp. The ever-changing reflection of the sky on outer surface glass and a reflecting body of water create an indescribable view. A curved tunnel under the pond connects the addition to the original Niemeyer building, built in 1967.
Orsay Museum, Paris
This elegant building on the Left Bank of the Seine, which originally opened as a train station in 1900, only officially became a museum in 1986. Fortunately, the station's original architectural decoration and majestic Beaux Arts arches still remain. Inside, curved barrel glass ceilings allow natural light to flood the sculptures in the main room. Here you can stop at a café to see the Seine through a huge metal clock, a legacy of the railway museum.
Fort Worth Contemporary Art Museum, USA
Five pavilions surrounding a tranquil reflecting pond were created by a Japanese architect Tadao Ando(Tadao Ando). The flat-roofed building is made of glass panels that reach a height of 12 meters. They allow natural light for the exhibits and also provide great views of the city. If you decide to visit this museum during the day, you will have the opportunity to view more than 2,600 works contemporary art, but if you pass by the museum at night, for example, having reserved a table at a nearby cafe, you will be able to admire the pavilions, which are illuminated like huge floating lanterns.
National Museum of Australia, Canberra, Australia
This colorful museum, which was created by the architect Howard Raggatt(Howard Raggatt) resembles a knotted rope that symbolically connects several different nations and the history of the country. The entrance to the museum is located in the center of the knot, and one of its back ropes is Uluru line- 29-meter sculpture in the form of a loop. The exterior of the museum, which has a semicircular shape, is covered with aluminum panels on which words are written in Braille.
Solomon Guggenheim Museum, New York, USA
Museum in the form of reinforced concrete spirals, created Frank Lloyd Wright(Frank Lloyd Wright), is a real triumph modern architecture. However, in the 1950s, its design was so alien that it was assigned to a builder experienced in garage construction. Smooth spirals are platforms in the interior of the museum and lead visitors from one exhibition to another, allowing them to admire unique exhibits of art. Although the building itself is considered a true work of art, being a sort of inverted ziggurat, some artists find the museum a challenging place to exhibit their work.
The Rijksmuseum is a national art museum located on Museum Square in the city of Amsterdam, the Netherlands. It is one of the main attractions of the city. It was founded in The Hague in 1800, but by order of the King of Holland Louis Bonaparte (brother of Napoleon I Bonaparte) in 1808 it was transported to Amsterdam. The museum exhibits 8 thousand objects of art and history, including famous paintings by Jan Wermeer, Frans Hals, Rembrandt and his students. The main place in the exhibition is given to one of the most famous paintings in the world - “ The night Watch» Rembrandt. It also contains a small Asian collection.
The New York Museum of Modern Art is an art museum founded in 1929. Located in Midtown Manhattan in New York City. Many people consider the museum's collection to be the world's best collection of modern masterpieces. Western art- the museum has more than 150,000 individual works, as well as 22,000 films, 4 million photographs, 300,000 copies of books and periodicals, 70,000 artist files. The collection includes works without which it is impossible to imagine the art of the 20th century - “ Starlight Night"Van Gogh, "Dance" by Henri Matisse, "Les Demoiselles d'Avignon" by Picasso, "The Persistence of Memory" by Salvador Dali, "Bird in Space" by Constantin Brâncuşi. It is one of New York's top attractions and welcomes 2.67 million visitors annually.
The Smithsonian Institution is a complex of museums and research centers located primarily in Washington, DC, USA. It was founded in 1846 by the will of the English chemist and mineralogist James Smithson, who bequeathed his fortune to the “increase and dissemination of knowledge.” The Smithsonian Institution includes 19 museums, a zoological park and 9 research centers, containing more than 140 million objects (art, artifacts and specimens).
The Natural History Museum is ranked seventh in the list of the best museums in the world. It is one of three major museums located in South Kensington, London. Its collection includes more than 70 million artifacts, sorted into 5 main sections: botany, entomology, mineralogy, paleontology and zoology. It is best known for its collections of dinosaur skeletons, in particular the famous Diplodocus skeleton (26 meters long) in the central hall, as well as an interesting mechanical model of a Tyrannosaurus rex.
The Prado is an art museum and gallery located in Madrid, the capital of Spain. With over 1.8 million visitors a year, the museum is one of the most visited tourist sites in Madrid. It was founded in 1819. Its collection currently includes about 7,600 paintings, 1,000 sculptures, 4,800 prints, as well as about 8,000 other works of art and historical documents. Here is one of the best and most complete collections of paintings in the world by European masters of the period XVI-XIX, such as Bosch, Velazquez, Goya, Murillo, Zurbaran, El Greco and others.
The Uffizi Gallery is a world famous art gallery located in Florence, near Piazza della Signoria, Italy. It is one of the oldest museums in Europe, as well as one of the largest and most important museums in Europe. visual arts. Hundreds of masterpieces by such masters as Giotto, Botticelli, Leonardo da Vinci, Raphael, Giorgione, Titian, Fra Filippo Lippi and many others are presented here. The collection is dominated by paintings by Italian and Flemish schools. There is also a gallery of self-portraits of famous artists (1600 works) and ancient sculptures.
State Hermitage Museum- one of the world's largest art and cultural-historical museums, located in St. Petersburg, Russia. It was founded in 1764 by Catherine II the Great and opened to the public in 1852. The total area of the museum is 127,478 m². The collections occupy a large complex of six historical buildings located along the Palace Embankment. The Hermitage holds more than 2.7 million works of art different eras, countries and peoples representing the world culture of several millennia. It also contains the most large collection paintings in the world. About 4 million people visit the museum every year.
The British Museum is the main historical and archaeological museum of Great Britain, located in Bloomsbury, London. It was founded in 1753, from the collection of the physician and scientist Sir Hans Sloane, and opened to the public on January 15, 1759. Its permanent collection contains approximately 8 million items that document cultural history humanity from ancient times to the present day, including numerous drawings, engravings, medals, coins and books from different eras. Extensive ethnographic collections British Museum contains monuments from Africa, America, Oceania, etc. The most famous exhibits are: Egyptian mummies, sculptures from the Athens Parthenon, the Rosetta Stone, the Portland Vase, the Sutton Hoo treasure and many others.
The Louvre is an art museum, the main attraction of the city, located in the very center of Paris on the right bank of the Seine. It is one of the largest and most visited museums in the world (9.26 million visitors in 2014). It was opened on August 10, 1793. It is a complex of buildings with total area 60 600 square meters, which displays 35 thousand works of art from ancient times to the mid-19th century. All exhibits are divided into eight categories Ancient Egypt, Ancient Near East, Ancient Greece, Ancient Rome, Islamic art, Sculpture, Painting, Crafts, Drawing and graphics. In total, the Louvre collection contains about 300,000 exhibits.
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Museums are more than just storage facilities greatest works art and science, and also, often, independent art objects. Here are twenty of the most beautiful museums in the world for your consideration.
Museum of Islamic Art, Doha, Qatar
The museum building in the style of ancient Islamic architecture has unique design. It is also the first museum of its kind in the Arab states of the Persian Gulf - the largest collection of Islamic art is stored inside.
State Hermitage Museum, St. Petersburg, Russia
Founded by decree of Catherine the Great in 1794, the luxurious museum complex contains about three million works of art and monuments of world culture, from the Stone Age to the present century.
Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, Kansas City, USA
The first building of the museum dates back to 1930. Subsequently, snow-white outside and inside, with the exception of the floors, the complex was significantly expanded. 
Hanoi Museums, Hanoi, Vietnam
Built in 2010, the museum building is located in a park with numerous water features. What is most impressive about the square building is the circular atrium that connects the three floors of exhibition halls. 
Guggenheim Museum, Bilbao, Spain
The Museum of Contemporary Art on the banks of the Nervión River was built in 1997 according to the designs of an American-Canadian architect. The building embodies the abstract idea of a futuristic ship, but the central atrium, 55 meters high, made of metal, paints other pictures for people: a bird, an airplane, Superman, an artichoke or even a blooming rose. 
Orsay Museum, Paris, France
The Museum of Fine and Applied Arts is located on the left bank of the Seine, and inside is one of the world's largest collections of European painting and sculpture from the period 1850-1910. 
Kimbell Museum of Contemporary Art, Fort Worth, USA
Building modern museum was designed by a Japanese architect and opened in 2002. The complex consists of five amazing long pavilions with glass walls, surrounded by a pond. The museum currently contains more than 2,600 works, including works by Picasso and Warhol.
Louisiana Museum of Contemporary Art, Humlebaek, Denmark
The museum in a small town 35 kilometers north of Copenhagen houses a huge collection of sculpture and painting from the 20th century. Opened in 1958, the museum is located on a mid-19th century estate, the owner of which named the house in honor of his three wives, who, by an amazing coincidence, were named Louise. This is the very first museum of contemporary art in Denmark, and it consists of three buildings connected by glass corridors. Beauty is in simplicity! The surroundings of the building are beautiful landscaped garden sculptures, located in a valley with huge old trees and amazing views of the sea.
Royal Ontario Museum, Toronto, Canada
The museum dates back to 1857, when a small collection of works of art appeared at the Toronto Normal School. But what is most impressive is new part building, which consists of glass and metal and looks like a giant fantastic crystal soaring upward. By the way, the museum’s collections are amazing: the remains of ancient dinosaurs, Asian carpets, paintings by famous European artists, and valuable statues.
Museum aan de Strom, Antwerp, Belgium
The museum complex opened to the public in 2011. High building impresses with its design: the construction project was chosen within the framework international competition, and the building itself was eventually erected on the site of the old port docks, made of red sandstone various shades, brought from India. The beauty of the complex lies in its spiral staircases, enclosed by thick wavy glass without metal fittings.
Louvre Museum, Paris, France
Probably absolutely everyone knows about the Louvre, and the queues at the museum ticket office are impressively long at any time of the year. The Louvre is one of the largest art museums in the world, and it is located in the building of an ancient royal palace. One of the most recognizable parts of the complex is the glass pyramid, erected in 1989 in the center of the Napoleonic courtyard.
Natural History Museum, Vienna, Austria
This is one of largest museums Austria and one of the most important museums in the world. Opened in 1889, the museum was built to house huge collections natural exhibits of the Habsburgs. The building itself is surprisingly rich: luxurious decorative ornaments, luxurious furniture, painted ceilings - a real palace!
Salvador Dali Museum, St. Petersburg, USA
The unique architecture of the museum building would clearly have pleased the great Dali. The outside of the museum is surreal and unique: the building is cubic in shape, but its atrium is lined with mirrored triangles, creating a convex figure of unclear shape. The two spiral staircases inside resemble a DNA molecule and pass through the three floors of the museum, which house a rich collection of the artist’s works.
State Historical Museum, Moscow, Russia
Founded in 1872, the museum is located on the northern side of Red Square in the Russian capital. By decree of the President of Russia in 1991, the museum was classified as a particularly valuable object of cultural heritage of the Russian Federation. 
