Pinakothek Museums | Munich

Pinakothek Museums, Munich

The Pinakothek museums form the core of Munich’s Kunstareal (Art District). They are administered by the Bavarian State Painting Collections and represent a chronological progression of European art from the Middle Ages to the present day.

1. Alte Pinakothek (Old Pinakothek)

Era: 14th to 18th Century.

Architect: Leo von Klenze (1836); reconstructed by Hans Döllgast (1957).

Highlights: One of the world's most significant collections of Old Master paintings.

Albrecht Dürer: Self-Portrait at Twenty-Eight (1500).

Peter Paul Rubens: One of the world’s largest collections of his works, including The Great Last Judgment.

Leonardo da Vinci: Madonna of the Carnation (the only Da Vinci in Germany).

Architecture Note: The building's exterior features exposed brickwork where WWII damage occurred, left as visible "wounds" by Döllgast during the post-war reconstruction.

2. Neue Pinakothek (New Pinakothek)

Era: 18th to early 20th Century (Classicism to Art Nouveau).

Current Status: Closed for major renovation until approximately 2030.

Interim Display: A selection of its masterpieces (including works by Van Gogh, Manet, and Monet) is currently exhibited on the ground floor of the Alte Pinakothek and in the Sammlung Schack.

Highlights: Vincent van Gogh’s Sunflowers, Caspar David Friedrich’s landscapes, and Claude Monet’s The Water Lily Pond.

3. Pinakothek der Moderne

Era: 20th and 21st Century.

Architect: Stephan Braunfels (2002).

Concept: A "four-in-one" museum housing four independent collections under one roof:

Sammlung Moderne Kunst: Painting, sculpture, and new media (Beckmann, Picasso, Warhol).

Die Neue Sammlung: One of the world's leading design museums.

Architekturmuseum der TUM: Architecture archives and exhibitions.

Staatliche Graphische Sammlung: Works on paper.

Architecture Note: Characterized by a massive central glass rotunda that acts as the building's heart.

4. Museum Brandhorst

Era: Contemporary Art.

Architect: Sauerbruch Hutton (2009).

Collection: Primarily late 20th-century and 21st-century works.

Highlights: A massive holding of works by Cy Twombly (including the Lepanto cycle) and Andy Warhol.

Architecture Note: Famous for its multi-colored façade consisting of 36,000 ceramic rods in 23 different glazes.

5. Sammlung Schack (Schack Collection)

Era: 19th-century German Romanticism.

Focus: Masterpieces by artists like Arnold Böcklin and Franz von Lenbach, focusing on mythology and fairy tales.

Visitor Information

Location: All are within walking distance in the Maxvorstadt district.

Sunday Admission: Admission to most of these museums is reduced to €1 on Sundays (special exhibitions may cost extra).

Closed Days: Most museums are closed on Mondays, except for the Alte Pinakothek (open Mondays, closed Tuesdays) and the Pinakothek der Moderne (closed Mondays).