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Rheinisches Landesmuseum Bonn

Exterior view of Bonn's Rheinisches Landesmuseum, reopened in 2003. Photo © Holly Hayes. View all images in our Rheinisches Landesmuseum Bonn Photo Gallery.

Our favorite theme in the museum, and also one of the largest and best. Photo © Holly Hayes.

Latin inscription on a Roman gravestone. Photo © Holly Hayes.

The Rheinisches Landesmuseum (Rhineland Regional Museum) in Bonn contains a fascinating array of religious treasures, along with many other exhibits on the Rhineland region.

History

Originally founded by a Prussian prince in 1820 to display antiquities, the Rheinisches Landesmuseum reopened in 2003 with an ultra-modern building and a new thematic arrangement.

What to See

The permanent collections are arranged in 10 themes:

The religion theme, Von den Göttern zu Gott, occupies an entire floor and is full of fascinating works of local religious art from various ages and faiths. Ancient Roman and medieval Christian artworks make up the bulk of the collection, with nature religion, Germanic paganism and Judaism also represented.

Below is a selection of some of the most interesting religious objects, presented in chronological order. The images link to larger versions and alternate views in our Bonn Rheinisches Landesmuseum Photo Gallery, a fully-captioned visual tour of the museum's magnificent religious treasures.

Descriptions here and in the photo gallery are based on the author's translations of the German museum labels, which may be imperfect! Scroll to the bottom of the page for a map and practical information on the museum.

The Tree of Jesse shows the Virgin Mary and Christ within vines, surrounded by foliage inscribed with the names of ancestors and prophets. On the second page, the Foolish Virgins are shown sleeping and the Wise Virgins standing alert with their jars of oil. Christ, two saints and two angels preside over the scenes at the top.

The ranking of the Three Conditions of Woman is illustrated with harvest scenes: The virgins, who sanctify themselves to Christ, harvest hundredfold, the widows sixtyfold, the married women thirtyfold.

Quick Facts on Rheinisches Landesmuseum Bonn

Map of Rheinisches Landesmuseum Bonn

Below is a location map and aerial view of Rheinisches Landesmuseum Bonn. Using the buttons on the left (or the wheel on your mouse), you can zoom in for a closer look, or zoom out to get your bearings. To move around, click and drag the map with your mouse.

References

1. Personal visit (January 24, 2008).
2. Author's translation of the German labels in the museum.
3. Rheinisches Landesmuseum Bonn - official website

More Information

• Rheinisches Landesmuseum Bonn - Go Historic
• Photos of Rheinisches Landesmuseum Bonn - here on Sacred Destinations

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