5 crowd-free museums to visit in Europe this year
Even in the most visited European cities, such as Rome and Prague, there are museums and places of historical relevance that offer respite from crowds
As ever more European cities complain that tourist numbers have grown to the point of making ordinary life impossible, it’s long past time to abandon checklist tourism, “must sees”, and the look-at-me locations infinitely repeated on Instagram.
Even the most popular cities have corners of interest that see few visitors, and museums and other places of historical relevance in which you may find yourself perusing the displays alone, which, these days, is true luxury. Here are 5 crowd-free museums to visit this year.
1. Foundation Frison Horta, Brussels, Belgium
Mention you’re going to a Victor Horta house and even the Belgians will assume you mean the Horta Museum. Horta (1861-1947), the country’s most famous architect, and master of the sinuous art nouveau architecture well known today but revolutionary in the 19th century, left famous buildings across Brussels.
But the Frison house is privately owned, and the last Horta construction still in use as a residence. You must write to ask for a visit (contact@foundation-frison-horta.be) and electronically deposit a modest donation. You’ll be greeted by the maid at the appointed time, for a short tour conducted by the owner herself. Left unoccupied for decades, the house, along with its original art nouveau furniture, was preserved by neglect, and its ongoing restoration is a labour of love, funded by donations.
As Horta intended, this is a gesamtkunstwerk, or total work of art, from organic banisters and wall decorations to vegetal door handles and stained glass. It’s not a museum but a living, breathing residence, and no one minds if you gently touch.