The world's most famous art museums

Louvre Museum (France)

If you have the chance to visit the romantic city of Paris, France, you shouldn't miss a visit to the Louvre Museum of Art and History. It's considered the most famous art museum in the world, with its long history and vast collection of exhibits.

Built in the 12th century, the Louvre Museum boasts a rich history and grandeur, housing 380,000 artifacts from ancient Eastern and Western civilizations.

The entire Louvre covers 210,000 m², of which 60,600 m² are dedicated to exhibitions and are divided into eight sections: Ancient Orientals; Ancient Egypt; Ancient Greece, Rome, and Etruria; Islamic Art; Painting; Sculpture; Graphic Arts; and Decorative Arts. In addition to the eight main collections, the Louvre also has a section dedicated to the history of the palace itself and a collection of art from Asia, Africa, the Americas, and Oceania.

The Louvre Museum houses over 1 million works of art, of which 35,000 are on permanent display in the Sully, Richelieu, and Denon buildings of the former palace. The museum's collection is incredibly diverse, ranging from antiquity to the mid-19th century.

The glass pyramid of the Louvre Museum was built in 1989. This space serves as the main entrance to the museum, allowing people to explore the museum from underground, avoiding congestion in the old passageway and preserving the heritage, while also bringing abundant light to the museum's basement.

State Hermitage Museum (Russia)

With a total area of ​​over 66,000 m²²With over 3 million works of art and world cultural heritage items on display, and a history spanning over 250 years, the State Hermitage Museum is considered one of the world's largest and oldest art museums. Formerly, this museum was the royal palace. The main complex includes the Winter Palace – the ceremonial residence of the Tsars – smaller buildings, and other palaces and structures.

The exhibition begins with the art collection of Empress Catherine II, who reigned over Russia in the 18th century. She dedicated a separate area within the palace to display the collections of royalty, known as the Hermitage, which in French means "lonely villa." This is also the name of this world-renowned art museum.

Besides the vast collections, visitors also want to admire a masterpiece of art with scientific and technical significance: the "Peacock" clock. When the clock is wound, the bells inside begin to chime, marking the time, and at a certain moment, the peacock comes to life, raising its head and looking around with its sparkling, jewel-like eyes, spreading its long, elegant tail. For 300 years, this unparalleled clock has run continuously, telling the time accurately. Every week, on the Wednesday immediately after noon, the clock is wound.

Metropolitan Museum of Art (USA)

The Metropolitan Museum (Met) is one of the world's most famous art museums, located on 82nd Street, east of Central Park in New York City, USA.

With its enormous collection of over 3 million works of art, the Met boasts rare collections of ancient Egyptian and Eastern art, treasures from ancient Greece, Rome, medieval Islam, and, most notably, 20th-century European painting. Visiting the Met, you will have the opportunity to admire masterpieces of humankind such as...The Virgin Mary with the Baby Jesus and a guitar.by Raphael orVenus and the Harpof Titian...

To fully appreciate your favorite works, it's a good idea to have a museum map handy, as the collection is vast and the space is enormous. No matter which area you explore, don't miss the rooftop. From there, you can enjoy panoramic views of Central Park and the Upper East Side of Manhattan. If you visit during the summer, you might even have the chance to attend an exhibition by contemporary artists.

National Museum of China

As a country with a rich history and culture, the National Museum of China is ideal for those who love and want to learn about this nation. Located east of Tiananmen Square and south of East Chang'an, the National Museum of China was built and completed at the same time as the Great Hall of the People. Built on the site of the former China History Museum and the former China Revolution Museum, it houses most of China's long-standing cultural and historical heritage and is one of the world's most famous museums, well worth a visit.

The National Museum of China currently has 48 exhibition halls, covering 2000 m², displaying documents from the Yuan Dynasty approximately 1,700,000 years ago to the abdication of the Qing Emperor in 1912. Alongside these are exhibition halls showcasing relics, artifacts, and documents related to historical events such as the First Opium War in 1840, and over 100 years of Chinese development from 1840 to the founding of the People's Republic of China in 1949.

Vatican Museum (Italy)

When mentioning famous art museums around the world, one cannot overlook the Vatican Museum in Italy. This is a precious asset of Rome and the Vatican, displaying many valuable works of art from the vast collections built up by the Roman Catholic Church over centuries.

With its spiral staircase, priceless paintings on the ceilings, and unique and ornate architecture, the Vatican Museum in Italy is rightfully considered a masterpiece of art and architecture.

Stepping inside the museum, you will admire the Sistine Chapel, built during the pontificate of Pope Sixtus IV in the late 15th century. This is also where the Conclave of Cardinals was held to elect a new Pope. But above all, it houses two masterpieces.GenesisandThe final judgmentMichelangelo's works are painted on the walls and ceiling.

Huong Thao