Liechtenstein Museum

Description:

• The rare collection of art treasures from the Liechtenstein's princely collections went on display in 2004 in the royal family palace in the Rossau district. For the first time visitors can see this fabled collection of Raphaels, Rubens, and Rembrandts, one of the world's greatest private art collections.

  In 2003, a decision was made to open the palace and its treasures to the public. This meant restoring frescoes, relandscaping the gardens, and rejuvenating the palace. Art, such as works by Frans Hals and Van Dyck, are displayed in the neoclassical Garden Palace, which became Vienna's first museum when it opened its doors in 1807. There are some 1,700 works of art in the collection, although not all of them can be displayed at once.

  On your visit you're likely to see some 200 works spread over eight galleries. Works range from the 13th to the 19th centuries. Peter Paul Rubens, as you'll soon see, is clearly the star of the museum; don't miss his Venus in Front of the Mirror (ca. 1613). Of spectacular beauty is the splendid Hercules Hall, the largest secular baroque room in Vienna. Frescoes were painted between 1704 and 1708 by Andrea Pozzo.

  The palace also has two new restaurants, including Ruben's Brasserie, serving both traditional Viennese and Liechtenstein fare (some based on princely recipes) and Ruben's Palais, offering more haute cuisine. Both restaurants have gardens in the palace's baroque courtyard.

• © Frommer's 2012

Awards:

Frommer's

•  Very Highly Recommended 2010