Rheinisches Landesmuseum (LVR-LandesMuseum Bonn), Bonn

The LVR-LandesMuseum Bonn offers a captivating journey through 400,000 years of human and regional history-from prehistoric times to the present day. It is one of Germany’s oldest and most comprehensive museums, administered by the Rhineland Landscape Association.
Its origins trace back to 1820 when it opened as the "Museum of Rhenish-Westphalian Antiquities", and it evolved into the provincial museum by 1874, with its first permanent building completed in 1893. A major renovation between 1997 and 2003 modernized the facility, adding a glass façade, flexible exhibition areas, and improved accessibility.

Its permanent exhibition is thematically organized, showcasing everything from Stone Age artefacts (including the original Neanderthal skeleton and one of Europe’s finest prehistoric collections) to Celtic treasures like the Fritzdorf Gold Cup, Roman epigraphy, and early medieval Christian relics. The museum also houses an imposing Neolithic well, Roman stelae, Frankish gold disc brooches, and the famous "Bonn–Oberkassel dog" burial-a remarkable find significant as one of the earliest known examples of domesticated dogs.

Art lovers will appreciate the museum’s fine art collection, enriched by the 1909 Wesendonck bequest of Dutch, Flemish, and Southern European works, including triptychs, still lifes, landscapes, and genre scenes by masters such as Breughel, van Goyen, and Teniers, spanning from the late Middle Ages to the 18th century. The art holdings allow visitors to trace the rich cultural exchange between the Rhineland and the Low Countries across centuries. One of the highlights is the Flemish "Landscape with Grotto" by Joos de Momper.

The museum’s architecture itself is a draw: a harmonious blend of historic and modern design. The original late-19th-century stone building stands alongside a sleek 1960s extension and a contemporary glass pavilion designed by Lohrer, Keck & Herrmann. Visitors can find maps, a lecture hall, and educational facilities, alongside barrier-free access and regular events-from guided tours to family workshops.