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Europe’s Top 10 Sculpture Parks and Open-Air Galleries
Vigeland Sculpture Park, Oslo, Norway
More than 200 works in granite, bronze, and wrought iron by Gustav Vigeland decorate this park, from avant-garde installations to the expansive Monolith. Free to enter and open every day, it’s an excellent spot for a picnic and includes an adjoining museum for cooler days. Stay at the elegant Saga Hotel.
More than 200 works in granite, bronze, and wrought iron by Gustav Vigeland decorate this park, from avant-garde installations to the expansive Monolith. Free to enter and open every day, it’s an excellent spot for a picnic and includes an adjoining museum for cooler days. Stay at the elegant Saga Hotel.
Fondation Maeght, Alpes-Maritimes, France
Some of the world’s greatest modern sculptors, including Braque, Giacometti, and Miró, contributed to France’s most vital art foundation. The sun-drenched gardens host their works along with those of Calder, Chagall, and others, featuring mosaics, wind sculptures, and fountains. The hilltop village of Saint-Paul de Vence is nearby; stay at Les Bastides Saint-Paul, a family-run hotel with a tree-framed pool.
Some of the world’s greatest modern sculptors, including Braque, Giacometti, and Miró, contributed to France’s most vital art foundation. The sun-drenched gardens host their works along with those of Calder, Chagall, and others, featuring mosaics, wind sculptures, and fountains. The hilltop village of Saint-Paul de Vence is nearby; stay at Les Bastides Saint-Paul, a family-run hotel with a tree-framed pool.
East Side Gallery, Berlin, Germany
History and art merge at this extraordinary open-air gallery, the longest continuous section of the Berlin Wall still standing. Over 100 paintings cover the brickwork, including world-famous pieces like Dmitri Vrubel’s “Fraternal Kiss” and Birgit Kinder’s “Trabant,” which appears to break through the wall. Stay at the Hotel Indigo, just a stone’s throw from the gallery.
History and art merge at this extraordinary open-air gallery, the longest continuous section of the Berlin Wall still standing. Over 100 paintings cover the brickwork, including world-famous pieces like Dmitri Vrubel’s “Fraternal Kiss” and Birgit Kinder’s “Trabant,” which appears to break through the wall. Stay at the Hotel Indigo, just a stone’s throw from the gallery.
Kröller-Müller Museum, Arnhem, the Netherlands
Featuring more than 160 works, including sculptures by Rodin and Moore, the Kröller-Müller is one of Europe’s largest sculpture gardens and a fantastic family day out. Kids will enjoy the geocaching trail that leads to a secret art treasure and explore child-friendly works like Jean Dubuffet’s “Jardin d’émail.” If it rains, the indoor museum holds fine Van Gogh pieces. Stay at the nearby Hotel Sterrenberg, boasting a large wellness center.
Featuring more than 160 works, including sculptures by Rodin and Moore, the Kröller-Müller is one of Europe’s largest sculpture gardens and a fantastic family day out. Kids will enjoy the geocaching trail that leads to a secret art treasure and explore child-friendly works like Jean Dubuffet’s “Jardin d’émail.” If it rains, the indoor museum holds fine Van Gogh pieces. Stay at the nearby Hotel Sterrenberg, boasting a large wellness center.
Museum of Underwater Sculpture, Ayia Napa, Cyprus
An extraordinary artistic experience in the Mediterranean, Musan is an underwater sculpture forest with 93 artworks by Jason deCaires Taylor, including trees, plants, and figurative pieces. Visitors can snorkel, free dive, or scuba dive to view the submerged park, which reaches eight meters at its deepest part. Stay at Mon Repos, a design hotel with all-white rooms around a central pool.
An extraordinary artistic experience in the Mediterranean, Musan is an underwater sculpture forest with 93 artworks by Jason deCaires Taylor, including trees, plants, and figurative pieces. Visitors can snorkel, free dive, or scuba dive to view the submerged park, which reaches eight meters at its deepest part. Stay at Mon Repos, a design hotel with all-white rooms around a central pool.
Austrian Sculpture Park, Graz
Take a bus from Graz and bring a picnic to enjoy this vast sculpture garden. Entry is free, and kids have space to run around 80 works by Austrian and international artists, ranging from abstract shapes to metallic fractals and a concrete boat. Erwin Wurm’s “Fat House” is particularly unusual. Stay at the historic Palais Hotel Erzherzog Johann in Graz.
Take a bus from Graz and bring a picnic to enjoy this vast sculpture garden. Entry is free, and kids have space to run around 80 works by Austrian and international artists, ranging from abstract shapes to metallic fractals and a concrete boat. Erwin Wurm’s “Fat House” is particularly unusual. Stay at the historic Palais Hotel Erzherzog Johann in Graz.
Château La Coste, Aix-en-Provence, France
Set against Provencal vineyards, La Coste’s 40 artworks and architectural installations include pieces by Frank Gehry and Tracey Emin. Notable works include Andy Goldsworthy’s “Oak Room” and Louise Bourgeois’s vast spider. Visitors can explore the walking route, which takes 2-3 hours, with guided tours available. Rooms at the chateau are pricey; stay nearby at Auberge La Coste.
Set against Provencal vineyards, La Coste’s 40 artworks and architectural installations include pieces by Frank Gehry and Tracey Emin. Notable works include Andy Goldsworthy’s “Oak Room” and Louise Bourgeois’s vast spider. Visitors can explore the walking route, which takes 2-3 hours, with guided tours available. Rooms at the chateau are pricey; stay nearby at Auberge La Coste.
Villa Celle, Pistoia, Italy
Home to one of the world’s great collections of environmentally themed art, the Gori Collection spans across Villa Celle’s park, showcasing 80 monumental works. The park features towering wooden installations, floating sculptures, and intricate metal abstract shapes. Pre-booking is required, with tours running daily at 10 am and 2:30 pm (closed Sundays). Stay at Palazzo 42, an elegant boutique hotel in Pistoia’s historic center.
Home to one of the world’s great collections of environmentally themed art, the Gori Collection spans across Villa Celle’s park, showcasing 80 monumental works. The park features towering wooden installations, floating sculptures, and intricate metal abstract shapes. Pre-booking is required, with tours running daily at 10 am and 2:30 pm (closed Sundays). Stay at Palazzo 42, an elegant boutique hotel in Pistoia’s historic center.
Sandretto Re Rebaudengo Art Park, Piedmont, Italy
Located among the Piedmontese vineyards, this privately owned sculpture park features large-scale works by seven artists, with exhibits made from diverse materials like fallen cypress trees and reconstituted resin-coated rubbish. Entry is free, with paths leading through the vineyards to each sculpture. For lunch, visit Osteria Imperfetta in nearby Guarene. Stay at Cascina Cortine, a charming relais in the same village.
Located among the Piedmontese vineyards, this privately owned sculpture park features large-scale works by seven artists, with exhibits made from diverse materials like fallen cypress trees and reconstituted resin-coated rubbish. Entry is free, with paths leading through the vineyards to each sculpture. For lunch, visit Osteria Imperfetta in nearby Guarene. Stay at Cascina Cortine, a charming relais in the same village.
Middelheim Museum, Antwerp, Belgium
One of Europe’s oldest alfresco galleries, the park features 100 sculpture works and six zones that focus on blurring the lines between nature and art. Pieces include abstract figures, multi-limbed insects, and minimalist glass spaces. Free to enter, picnics are welcome, but exhibits shouldn’t be touched. Stay at the Pilar, a hip small hotel in the trendy ’t Zuid neighborhood.
One of Europe’s oldest alfresco galleries, the park features 100 sculpture works and six zones that focus on blurring the lines between nature and art. Pieces include abstract figures, multi-limbed insects, and minimalist glass spaces. Free to enter, picnics are welcome, but exhibits shouldn’t be touched. Stay at the Pilar, a hip small hotel in the trendy ’t Zuid neighborhood.
Source: Getty Images, sagahoteloslo.com, vigeland.museum.no, hotelbastides.fr, fondation-maeght.com, ihg.com, stiftung-berliner-mauer.de, sterrenberg.nl, krollermuller.nl, monreposhotel.info, musan.com.cy, erzherzog-johann.com, museum-joanneum.at, aubergelacoste.com, chateau-la-coste.com, palazzo42.it, goricoll.it, cascinacortine.com, parcoarte.fsrr.org, hotelpilar.be, middelheimmuseum.be
