Bavarian National Museum in Munich, Germany. Visitor information for Bavarian National Museum tourist attraction in Munich, Germany.

In 1855, King Maximilian II began an institution to preserve Bavaria's historic and artistic treasures. The collection grew so rapidly that it had to be moved to larger quarters several times over the past 100 years. Its current building, near the Haus der Kunst, contains three vast floors of sculpture, painting, folk art, ceramics, furniture, and textiles, as well as clocks and scientific instruments.

After entering the museum, turn right into the first large gallery, the Wessobrunn Room, devoted to early church art from the 5th through the 13th centuries. This room holds some of the museum's oldest and most valuable works. The desk case contains medieval ivories, including the so-called "Munich ivory" from about A.D. 400. The carving shows the women weeping at the tomb of Christ while the resurrected Lord is gingerly stepping up the clouds and into heaven. At the crossing to the adjoining room is the stone figure Virgin with the Rose Bush, from Straubing (ca. 1300), one of the few old Bavarian pieces of church art influenced by the spirit of mysticism.

The Riemenschneider Room is devoted to the works of the great sculptor Tilman Riemenschneider (1460-1531) and his contemporaries. Characteristic of the sculptor's works is the natural, unpainted wood of his carvings and statuary. Note especially the 12 Apostles from the Marienkapelle in Würzburg (1510), St. Mary Magdalene, the central group from the high altar in the parish church of Münnerstadt (1490-92), and the figure of St. Sebastian (1490).

The second floor contains a fine collection of stained and painted glass -- an art in which medieval Germany excelled. Other rooms on this floor include baroque ivory carvings, Meissen porcelain, and ceramics. Also on display are famous collections of 16th- to 18th-century arms and armor, and the collection of antique clocks, some dating from the 16th century.

In the east wing of the basement level are many Christmas cribs (a highly decorated crèche representing the Nativity scene) from Germany, Austria, Italy, and Moravia. The variety of styles competes with the variety of materials -- wood, amber, gold, terra cotta, and even wax were used in making these nativity scenes. Also on this level is a display of Bavarian folk art, including many examples of woodcarving.