Walraf-Rihartz Museum

The Walraf-Rihartz Museum was named after the scientist Franz Walraf and the merchant Johann Richardz. Valraf donated a huge collection of art objects to the city, the first museum building was built with the funds of Rihartz. Since 2001, the museum is in a new building, as during the Second World War the former building was destroyed, until recently the collection was housed in a temporary shelter.

The Walraf-Rihartz Museum has the largest collection of medieval painting in the world, and also exhibits works by masters of painting from different historical periods up to the 19th century. Each floor of the museum is dedicated to a separate era of art. Visitors are offered works by Rubens, Rembrandt, van Dyck, Rodin, Renoir.

Also in the exposition of the museum are graphic works, miniatures on parchment, sculptural works. The museum stores rare books, documents and manuscripts, items of church jewelry. Currently, the museum fund is 3,500 paintings and 75,000 graphic works.