National Museum of History and Art

Built into the rock of the old fish market, the National Museum of History and Art runs downward through Luxembourg's past: the archaeology levels hold Gallo-Roman mosaics, glass and sculpture from a territory that sat at the crossroads of empires, along with medieval stonework and the everyday objects of the fortress city. Upper floors turn to fine and decorative arts, with Dutch and Flemish painting, works by Luxembourgish artists and rotating exhibitions. The building itself is worth attention, a modern insertion between old townhouses that steps down the hillside.

History

The institution runs three museum sites and two research centres, and its main museum stands in the Fishmarket, the historic heart of Luxembourg City (Wikipedia, National Museum of Archaeology, History and Art).

The main sights

• Gallo-Roman mosaics - the archaeology levels and their Roman finds.
• Medieval and fortress collections - the city's military and civic past.
• The fine art floors - Dutch, Flemish and Luxembourgish painting.
• The building - the modern structure stepping down into the rock.

When to go

Year round and ideal on a rainy day. The museum runs free-entry evenings on certain days of the week - check the current schedule, since it changes. Closed Mondays like most Luxembourg museums.

Good to know

The collection is good rather than world-beating - visitors arriving from Paris or Amsterdam should calibrate expectations. Labelling is multilingual but denser in French and German than English in some sections. The layout across many half-levels confuses people; take the map at the entrance. Pair with the smaller city history museum nearby for a fuller picture.

Nearby

The Grand Ducal Palace, the Bock casemates and the old town lanes.

Key facts