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The Best Museums
Varna Archaeological Museum (Bulgaria). Looking at the small gold figure of Victory -- an earring taken from the tomb of a Thracian noblewoman, the detailing so fine it must be appreciated through a magnifying glass -- one can't help wonder whether we have progressed much in the 2,400 years since the goldsmith made this exquisite piece. Bulgaria is so laden with Thracian treasure that archaeologists now posit that it the country has, along with Greece and Italy, the most ancient artifacts in Europe, with some 15,000 tombs and 400 ancient settlements scattered throughout the country. Varna's Archaeological Museum is the best place to view the world's oldest gold; Sofia's History Museum is another.
Alfons Mucha Museum (Prague, Czech Republic). Posters, decorative panels, objects, and excerpts from sketchbooks, as well as oil paintings from this well-known Art Nouveau master are displayed at the baroque Kaunický Palace near Václavské námestí.
Resistance, Sighet (Romania).This evocative memorial to people who died because of Communism in Romania, occupies a chilling former prison in Maramures, not far from the Ukraine border. Each of the cells -- including the one where former Prime Minister Iuliu Maniu died -- is an exhibition space.
Village Museum (Bucharest, Romania). There are village museums all over Romania, designed to keep the architecture of the country's rural communities within living memory. This one in the capital is so large, it might well be a village unto itself. There's a remarkable range of village houses, churches, and even a windmill, brought from across the country to this outdoor site in the north of the city.
Muzeul National de Arta (Romania). Bucharest's National Museum of Art is an exhaustive (and exhausting) collection of Romanian and European art housed in a wing of the former Royal Palace on Revolution Square. This is the best place to get acquainted with Romanian greats like world-renowned sculptor Constantin Brancusi, and treasured Impressionist Nicolae Grigorescu, among many, many others.
State Hermitage Museum (St. Petersburg, Russia). The museum holds one of the world's biggest art collections, from Egyptian carvings to Impressionist masterpieces. The museum is located in the Winter Palace, stormed in 1917 by revolutionaries.
Armory Museum (Moscow, Russia). Fabergé eggs, coronation robes, royal carriages, and jewels have filled what was once the czarist weapons storehouse.
Tretyakov Gallery (Moscow, Russia). The largest collection of Russian art. Chagall and Kandinsky share space with penetrating medieval icons.
Museum of the Warsaw Uprising (Warsaw, Poland). With all of the audiovisual displays and sound effects, it's an assault on the eyes and ears. But when you're done walking through the exhibitions and watching the startling documentaries filmed during the fighting in 1944, you'll understand a lot more about Poles' resolve to preserve their nation. Just the photos alone of Warsaw's total destruction will leave you in awe that a modern city actually exists.
Museum of Zakopane Style (Zakopane, Poland). This low-key museum is dedicated to the fine woodworking craft of the early Zakopane architects of the late 19th and early 20th century. No stunning high-tech visuals, just beautifully carved furnishings and a wonderful aesthetic feel. They took the log cabin and made it a castle.
Kobarid Museum (Slovenia). The Kobarid is Slovenia's best antiwar museum, dedicated to the memory of those who senselessly lost their lives in the fierce battle of Caporetto (Kobarid) which took place around this tiny, peaceful town that's now a center for adventure activities. If the indoor museum doesn't stir your soul, there's an outdoor "walking museum" which you explore with a map over several hours, taking in natural scenery and interesting ruins along the way.
Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without
notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before
planning your trip.
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