Kunsthalle Bremen

Located on the “Culture Mile” near the Old Town of Bremen, the Kunsthalle is a renowned art museum. It houses an extensive collection of European paintings dating back to the 14th century, together with sculptural works and a new media collection. The building in which it is located was constructed in 1849 and later enlarged by architect Eduard Gildemeister before being heritage listed in 1977.

The Kunsthalle Bremen is the only German museum housing such an extensive art collection to still be in private ownership, with the gallery managed by the non-profit Bremen Art Society. The majority of the collection is from Western Europe, with highlights including prominent pieces by Paul Cézanne, Claude Monet and Vincent van Gogh. Other artists represented include German Impressionist painter Max Liebermann and groundbreaking Expressionist artist Paula Modersohn-Becker.

The Kunsthalle Bremen also boasts a collection of early modernist works created at the nearby art colony of Worpswede, which was founded by Fritz Mackensen, Otto Modersohn and Hans am Ende in 1889. The plein art tradition was initially the most popular style of Worpswede artists, with more modern expressionist tendencies later adopted.

The print and drawing collection is one of the largest and most important of its kind in Europe, with Edgar Degas, Berthe Morisot and Albrecht Dürer all represented. It boasts more than 200,000 sheets that date from the 15th to 20th centuries.

You can grab an audio tour in a range of different languages or opt for one of the Kunsthalle’s guided tours to help you explore the collection. In addition, there’s a fine restaurant located at the museum with an alfresco dining terrace.