Europe is home to some of the finest photography museums and galleries in the world, where you can admire the works of renowned photographers, learn about the history and evolution of photography, and discover new trends and perspectives.
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Whether you are a professional photographer, an amateur enthusiast, or a curious visitor, you will find something to inspire and delight you in these ten best museums for photography in Europe.
The Photographers' Gallery, London, UK
The Photographers' Gallery is the largest public gallery in London devoted to photography. Founded in 1971 as the first independent gallery of its kind in Britain, it has since been a pioneer in exhibiting and supporting photography as a medium of art and social expression. The gallery features the works of established and emerging photographers, covering various genres and themes, such as fashion, portrait, landscape, and documentary. The gallery also organizes the prestigious annual Deutsche Börse Photography Foundation Prize.
London is a global city that excels in finance, culture, education, entertainment, and tourism. It has many iconic landmarks, such as the Houses of Parliament, Big Ben, Buckingham Palace, Tower Bridge, the London Eye, and the Shard. London also has four World Heritage Sites, numerous museums, galleries, theatres, and parks. Here, you can read more about 14 Awesome Things to Do with Kids in London.
Adress: 16-18 Ramillies St, London W1F 7LW, Storbritannia
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Maison Européenne de la Photographie, Paris, France
Maison Européenne de la Photographie (MEP) is a major cultural institution in Paris dedicated to creating, conserving, and disseminating photography. The MEP houses a collection of over 20,000 photographs from the 19th century to the present day, as well as a library, a video library, and a cinema. The MEP also hosts temporary exhibitions featuring the works of renowned and emerging photographers and thematic and retrospective shows. The MEP also offers educational and cultural activities like workshops, conferences, and screenings.
Address: 5/7 Rue de Fourcy, 75004 Paris, France
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Foam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
Foam exhibits the works of world-famous and young photographers as well as historical and avant-garde photography. Foam publishes a quarterly photography magazine, organizes events and projects, and supports young talent through its Foam Talent program and Foam Lab. The gallery sits in a small building next to the Keizersgracht in central Amsterdam.
Amsterdam is famous for its network of canals, spanning over 100 kilometres and has over 1,500 bridges. The canals are lined with charming houses, cafes, and shops and offer a unique way to explore the city by boat, bike, or foot. Amsterdam has some of the most renowned museums in the world, such as the Rijksmuseum, which houses masterpieces by Rembrandt, Vermeer, and other Dutch and European artists; the Van Gogh Museum, which displays the most extensive collection of paintings by the famous post-impressionist painter; and the Anne Frank House, which tells the story of the Jewish girl who hid from the Nazis in a secret annexe behind a bookcase.
Address: Keizersgracht 609, 1017 DS Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Web: www.foam.org/
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Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía, Madrid, Spain
Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía (MNCARS) is the national museum of modern and contemporary art in Spain and one of the most visited museums in the world. The museum houses a collection of over 20,000 works, including paintings, sculptures, drawings, prints, photographs, and videos. The museum is best known for its masterpieces by Pablo Picasso, Salvador Dalí, Joan Miró, and other Spanish and international artists. Still, the museum also has a photography department, which displays the works of photographers such as Robert Capa, Henri Cartier-Bresson, Man Ray, and Cindy Sherman.
Madrid has some of the most renowned museums in the world, such as the Prado Museum, which houses masterpieces by Velázquez, Goya, and other Spanish and European artists; the Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum, which displays a private collection of paintings from different periods and styles; and the Reina Sofia Museum, which showcases contemporary art, including Picasso's Guernica. The article Discover the Secrets of Madrids Museums lists ten amazing museums in the Spanish capital.
Address: C. de Sta. Isabel, 52, Centro, 28012 Madrid, Spain.
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Victoria and Albert Museum, London, UK
Victoria and Albert Museum (V&A) is the world's leading museum of art and design, with a collection of over 2.3 million objects covering 5,000 years of human creativity. The museum has a photography department, which holds one of the world's largest and most important collections of photographs, with over 800,000 images dating from the invention of photography in the 1830s to the present day.
Address: Cromwell Rd, London SW7 2RL, United Kingdom
Web: www.vam.ac.uk/
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SEDF, Bratislava, Slovakia
SEDF, Central European House of Photography, organizes the main photographic festival in Slovakia, the Month of Photography, which takes place every year in November and features exhibitions, lectures, workshops, and portfolio reviews. The gallery was founded in 1996 to promote and support photography in Central Europe. SEDF exhibits the works of local and international photographers' works, focusing on documentary and artistic photography.
Bratislava hosts various festivals, events, and shows throughout the year, such as the Bratislava Music Festival, the Bratislava Jazz Days, the Bratislava International Film Festival, and the Bratislava Christmas Market. The city also has many museums, galleries, theatres, and libraries, such as the Slovak National Museum, the Slovak National Gallery, the Slovak National Theatre, and the Bratislava City Library.
Adress: Prepostska 4, 811 01 Stare Mesto, Slovakia
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Musée de l'Élysée, Lausanne, Switzerland
Founded in 1985 in a historic 18th-century mansion, Musée de l'Élysée has since become one of the most prestigious photography museums in the world. The museum has a collection of over 100,000 photographs covering the history and evolution of photography from the 19th century to the present day. The museum also hosts temporary exhibitions featuring the works of renowned and emerging photographers and thematic and historical shows. The museum also offers educational and cultural activities like workshops, conferences, and publications.
Lausanne is a vibrant and creative city with a rich and varied cultural scene. The city hosts festivals, events, and shows throughout the year, such as the Lausanne Marathon, the Athletissima, the Festival de la Cité, and the Prix de Lausanne. The city is also famous for its ballet company, the Béjart Ballet Lausanne, founded by the renowned choreographer Maurice Béjart. The city is the headquarters of the Olympic movement.
Adress: Pl. de la Gare 17, 1003 Lausanne, Switzerland
Web: elysee.ch/en/
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Fotografiska, Stockholm, Sweden
Fotografiska is a photography museum and a meeting place in Stockholm, Sweden. It is housed in a former customs house and has become one of the most popular attractions in the city. Fotografiska exhibits the works of Swedish and international photographers, covering various genres and styles, such as fashion, portrait, landscape, and documentary. Fotografiska also hosts events and projects, such as concerts, lectures, and courses. The museum also has a restaurant, a cafe, a shop, and a studio.
Sweden's capital is the largest urban area in the Nordic countries. It is located at the mouth of Lake Mälaren, where it meets the Baltic Sea. Stockholm has many iconic landmarks, such as the Royal Palace, the City Hall, the Vasa Museum, and the Skansen open-air museum, to mention a few. Stockholm is also known for its scenic beauty, with the archipelago of over 30,000 islands and islets surrounding the city.
Address: Stadsgårdshamnen 22, 116 45 Stockholm, Sweden
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Camera - Centro Italiano per la Fotografia, Turin, Italy
Camera - Centro Italiano per la Fotografia opened in 2015 in a renovated 19th-century palace and has become a reference point for photography in Italy and abroad. Camera exhibits the works of Italian and international photographers, focusing on contemporary photography and its social and cultural impact. Camera also organizes events and projects, such as festivals, residencies, and awards. Camera also has a library, a bookshop, and a cafe.
Turin is a city in northern Italy, the capital of Piedmont and the former capital of Italy from 1861 to 1865. It is a major cultural, industrial, and financial centre, with a population of about 843,000. Turin is famous for its royal palaces, museums, art galleries, and monuments, as well as its cuisine, chocolate, coffee, and cars. Turin is also the headquarters of Fiat, one of the largest car manufacturers in the world, and Juventus, one of the most successful football clubs in Europe.
Address: Via delle Rosine, 18, 10123 Turin, Italy
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Museum für Fotografie, Berlin, Germany
Museum für Fotografie is in a former military casino in the Charlottenburg district, opposite the Zoologischer Garten station. It opened in 2004 and hosts exhibitions on various topics in the history of photography. Museum für Fotografie also houses the Helmut Newton Foundation, which showcases the works of the famous German-Australian photographer and his wife, Alice Springs. You will also find a library, a bookshop, and a cafe at this great museum.
Berlin is known for its rich history, diverse architecture, vibrant nightlife, and numerous museums, galleries, and monuments. Explore the city's iconic landmarks, such as the Brandenburg Gate, the Reichstag, and the Berlin Wall, or discover the Museum Island, the East Side Gallery, and the Tempelhofer Feld.
Address: Jebenstrasse 2, 10623 Berlin, Germany
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