The largest and most beautiful museums in the world. The most beautiful museums in the world decorated with stucco. Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao, Spain

Butterflies, of course, know nothing about snakes. But birds that hunt butterflies know about them. Birds that do not recognize snakes well are more likely to...

Incredible facts

Everyone has their own idea of ​​beauty, and many museums fit different definitions of beauty.

Good museums become part of their environment by using natural materials or a surface 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 its 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 - the 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 much of this museum is 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 the 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 constantly changing reflection of the sky on the outer surface of the glass and the 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 visit the museum during the day, you'll be able to view more than 2,600 pieces of contemporary art, but if you pass by the museum at night, perhaps after making a reservation at a nearby café, you'll be able to admire the pavilions, which are lit up like giant 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 real work of art, being a kind of inverted ziggurat, some artists consider this museum difficult place for an exhibition of his works.

A museum is not just a room for storing art objects, but often a work of art in itself. Ideally, architecture enhances the impact of art on the viewer, and it is a great challenge for architects themselves to become the creators of such a building. As a result, museums become points of attraction for tourists and local residents and can even change the fate of the city. A flying saucer, a huge rock and a giant bird - check your next trip itineraries and add a few items from this list.

Modern Art Museum

Niteroi, Brazil

The museum was designed in 1996 by the famous Brazilian architect Oscar Niemeyer - he is considered one of the key figures in the development of modernist architecture. The saucer-shaped building appears to rise out of the rock above Guanabara Bay - visitors can enjoy not only modern art (the museum has the second largest collection of modern art in the country) but also panoramic views. This building is an example of the architect's love for curved lines: he wanted the museum to look like a flower growing from the rocks. An artificial pond surrounds the building below, and to get inside, visitors must walk along a long, spiral-shaped ramp. The diameter of the “plate” is 50 meters, and the “legs” on which it stands are only 9. Oscar Niemeyer himself described his work as follows: “Once upon a time, a flying saucer that flew over the city admired the beauty of these places and decided to stay here forever and , landing on this spot, laid the foundation for the Museum of Modern Art." A ticket to the museum costs € 1.8, free on Wednesdays.

Guggenheim Museum

Bilbao, Spain

The history of this museum is a famous case study of how modern art and architecture can transform an abandoned industrial city into a point of attraction for tourists from all over the world. The building in the deconstructivist style was designed by the American-Canadian architect Frank Gehry, and it was immediately recognized as one of the most spectacular in the world: fluid, futuristic, sheathed in titanium sheets, it looks, according to one study, at the same time like a ship, a bird, an airplane, Superman, artichoke and blooming rose. After the success of the Guggenheim Museum, which revitalized the city, many post-industrial cities dream of experiencing the “Bilbao effect”. Frank Gehry himself says about the museum that “the randomness of curves is designed to catch light.” This building is the perfect backdrop for the avant-garde kingdom inside, which will cost you €16 to enter.

Hermitage

Saint-Petersburg, Russia

We are transported to the banks of the Neva to a museum of a completely different style - to admire the luxurious green and gold Baroque facade and the same luxurious interiors. The museum, founded by Catherine II in 1754 and opened to the public in 1852, still attracts art fans - the Hermitage is one of the twenty most visited museums in the world. There are more than 2.7 million of them in the museum’s collection, for every taste: from Leonardo da Vinci to Vincent Van Gogh. Tickets €5-10.

Hanoi History Museum

Hanoi, Vietnam

The museum is built in the form of an inverted pyramid and is surrounded by a park, and the collection inside tells the 1000-year history of the city. The museum was designed by GMP's team of architects to play with the park's water bodies while being reminiscent of traditional village architecture. The building itself has three levels, and when visitors look outside, they feel as if they are floating through the air with the building. The inverted pyramid provides shade to the lower levels and contributes to the energy efficiency of the building.

Soumaya Museum

Mexico City, Mexico

The idea of ​​​​creating the museum belongs to Carlos Slim, one of the richest people in the world: his personal collection became the basis of the museum, and now it contains 66,000 works from Europe over 30 centuries, including the most large collection sculptures by Rodin outside France. The museum opened in 1994, and was designed by the Mexican architect Fernando Romero: an avant-garde, silvery asymmetrical building, whose forms themselves are reminiscent of Rodin's sculptures. The outside of the building is covered with 16,000 hexagonal aluminum tiles (all sparkling), and the roof is made translucent to allow natural light to flood the top floor. This is a special museum for Mexico City. Most of the population cannot afford to travel to Europe with its rich art collections, and this museum free entry- perhaps the only chance for them to see the originals of world masterpieces. And for some it will inspire them to pursue their own art practice.

Jewish Museum

Berlin, Germany

The museum complex was opened in 2001 and combines an old building in the Baroque style and a new one - the brainchild of the Polish-American architect Daniel Libeskind in the deconstructivist style. From the outside it is impossible to understand how many floors there are in the museum. Inside, zigzag corridors, empty concrete spaces without air conditioning, and sloping walls and floors are specially created, so that visitors immediately lose their balance and are forced to make an effort to move forward. The purpose of this is to recreate the history of Jews during the Holocaust, to evoke in visitors the same sense of insecurity and disorientation that people who were persecuted experienced. The architect himself called his project “Between the Lines.” A ticket to the museum costs €8.

Ordos Museum

Ordos, China

The museum is located in Ordos, a city in the Gobi Desert that has been called a modern ghost town, a stillborn city, and an unfulfilled utopia. Ordos was founded in 2001, when deposits of coal and minerals were discovered here. According to plans, about a million people were supposed to live in the new areas, but they remained empty, built up with office skyscrapers and mansions. It is unknown whether the Ordos Museum will repeat the success of the Guggenheim Museum, but it looks impressive. The design belongs to the group MAD Architects and departs from the usual modern world geometric glass architecture in favor of giant spherical forms. The museum building is covered in oblong metal tiles that can withstand the region's frequent sandstorms and harsh winters, and inside there is a garden growing in natural light.

Pompidou Center

Paris, France

Over the past 40 years, the Pompidou Center has been called many things: an architectural King Kong and an oil refinery. However, the building gradually gained the love of the residents, who now treat it as a treasure for its colorful, inside-out design. The architects of the project, Richard Rogers, Renzo Piano and Gianfranco Franchini, came up with this building in the form of a giant parallelepiped (parameters - 166 m, 60 m and 42 m) with technical structures located outside (reinforcement connections, pipelines, elevators and escalators). This made it possible to organize a column-free space inside, free for exhibitions. Now the Pompidou Center includes the Museum of Modern Art, a library, an Industrial Design Center and several concert halls. It is one of the most popular tourist attractions - in third place after the Louvre and Eiffel Tower. To enter here you need to pay € 14.

Military History Museum

Dresden, Germany

Another creation of the architect Daniel Libeskind, again combining two completely different parts. The older Arsenal building was built in the 1870s and was used as the main arsenal for the Dresden garrison until the end of the First World War. Libeskind designed a new extension in 2011. It's a great example of how modern and historic can be combined: a five-story wedge-shaped addition of steel and glass cuts into the old building. The observation deck allows you to look at areas that were destroyed by bombing and fire in 1945. main topic the museum itself - violence as a historical, cultural and anthropological phenomenon and the potential for aggression in every person. Ticket costs €5.

City of Art and Science

Valencia, Spain

This massive cultural and architectural complex has become a popular tourist destination since its opening in 1998. Architect Santiago Calatrava created a semicircular building that has been compared to a giant eye. The entire complex includes a cinema, a planetarium and an interactive science museum that looks like a huge whale skeleton, an oceanographic park, concert hall, opera and sculpture garden. The complex has its own criticism: the final cost exceeded 1 billion euros - this is almost four times more than the original one, and since the complex opened, visitors have already complained about leaking roofs. If you decide to check it out for yourself, a ticket costs from €8.

Based on a Curbed.com article

Photo - official pages museums

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 and Riedijk gave this riverside museum a distinctive modern look with red sandstone imported 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 - the symbol of Antwerp. The vertical "boulevard" - several elevators that follow the building's glass spiral, offers stunning views of the harbor and rooftop from all levels and leads to the rooftop, 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, designed by Steven Holl, blend in with the surrounding landscape, following 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 much of this museum is underground, the visible glass and steel exterior makes a lasting impression, curving 50m into the air. Acclaimed architect César Pelli wanted to depict bamboo canes swaying in the wind, although his creation has been 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 and Pearson presented the original museum in the Italian neo-Romantic style in 1914. It has undergone several renovations and additions, but it wasn't until 2007 that it debuted a new design, "The Crystal." The museum's collection of gemstones inspired Daniel Libeskind's 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 Frank Gehry-designed museum, with its swirling and reflective walls, opened in 1997, 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 Lake Mjösa 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. The Winter Palace appears in its grandeur, occupying an entire block where, according to some estimates, 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

The abstract object Modernist Struggle Memorial Center, which later became the Milwaukee Art Museum, was created by the famous architect Eero Saarinen. It is made in the shape of a cross of concrete and steel and appears to float on a pedestal. One of the hallmarks of the museum is the Cuadracci Pavilion, a post-modern architectural creation with supports and a vaulted ceiling, on which there is 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 95-year-old Brazilian architect Oscar Niemeyer, but it is most often called the Museum of the Eye due 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 constantly changing reflection of the sky on the outer surface of the glass and the 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 the huge metal clock, a legacy of the railway museum.

Fort Worth Contemporary Art Museum, USA

The five pavilions surrounding the tranquil reflecting pond were designed by Japanese architect 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 visit the museum during the day, you'll be able to view more than 2,600 pieces of contemporary art, but if you pass by the museum at night, perhaps after making a reservation at a nearby café, you'll be able to admire the pavilions, which are lit up like giant floating lanterns.

National Museum of Australia, Canberra, Australia

This colorful museum, which was designed by architect Howard Raggatt, resembles a knotted rope that symbolically connects several different nations and the country's history. The entrance to the museum is located in the center of the node, and one of its back ropes makes up the Uluru Line, a 29-meter loop sculpture. 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

Frank Lloyd Wright's reinforced concrete spiral museum is a true triumph of 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.

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 samples architectural style Rococo, which gained recognition in Germany in early XVIII. Museums represent single complex and are included in the list World Heritage UNESCO.

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 the Collegiate Church of St. Peter. The abbey is located in the English city of Westminster. 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 was in the status cathedral, then 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

The Russian Palace - Hermitage, located in St. Petersburg, is 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.

The palace complex was founded in 1764 by Catherine II. The reason for this event was the queen’s purchase of a collection of paintings. Currently the exhibitions include paintings, sculptures, coin collections, archaeological finds, objects applied arts.
Particular attention of tourists is attracted by the luxurious ceremonial interiors of the palace, including artistic stucco molding, gilding, and valuable stones. Each room has an 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 the main Art Museum Spain. 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. This beautiful building has a 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 cathedral - 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 the United States. 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, the 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 the 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

The Palace of Versailles is the former royal residence and government center of the 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 the luxury of decor of 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 resolving political issues and the 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 works of art from the collections of the Chateau 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 architectural ensemble, but then the Catherine Palace was largely 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. Currently, the White House serves not only political interests, oldest public building in the USA it 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 tour 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, here are the main treasures of the royal family - original paintings famous artists and antique furniture. The Royal Gallery, which is essentially an exhibition hall, houses a regularly updated collection of treasures: books, manuscripts, jewelry, weapons, textiles, prints and other valuable items.