Wallraf–Richartz Museum, Art museum in Altstadt-Nord, Cologne, Germany
The Wallraf-Richartz Museum presents European painting from the Middle Ages to the early 20th century in a multi-story building in the old town of Cologne. The collection holds works by Flemish, Dutch, German, French and Italian painters, arranged chronologically through the rooms.
Ferdinand Franz Wallraf transferred his art collection to the city of Cologne in 1824, after gathering it for decades. Johann Heinrich Richartz financed the first museum building in 1861, which laid the foundation for the current institution.
The name honors two historical figures: a collector and a benefactor who made the museum possible. Visitors walk through halls with paintings from different centuries, arranged in the order they were made.
The museum opens Tuesday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and remains closed on Mondays. Digital guides can be accessed through personal smartphones during the visit.
The building by Oswald Mathias Ungers from 2001 uses large windows to bring daylight into the exhibition rooms. This architecture connects modern design with a calm atmosphere for walking through the centuries.
Location: Altstadt-Nord
Inception: 1824
Official opening: July 1, 1861
Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible
Address: Obenmarspforten 40, 50667 Köln
Opening Hours: Monday off; Tuesday-Sunday 10:00-18:00
Phone: +4922122121119
Email: wallraf@museenkoeln.de
Website: https://museenkoeln.de/portal/Wallraf-Richartz-Museum
GPS coordinates: 50.93750,6.95861
Latest update: December 5, 2025 22:30
Cologne, the fourth largest city in Germany, has stood on the banks of the Rhine for over two thousand years. This collection presents the main monuments, museums, and sites that trace the city's history from Roman times to the present day. The Gothic cathedral dominates the city center with its two 157-meter-tall towers, while remnants of medieval fortifications, such as the Hahnen Gate, testify to the defensive past of the city. The museums in Cologne offer a journey through the centuries. The Roman-Germanic Museum displays Dionysus’ mosaic and archaeological remains of the Roman colonia. The Wallraf-Richartz Museum houses seven centuries of European painting, from the Middle Ages to Impressionism. The Museum Ludwig contains one of the largest collections of pop art outside the United States, including major works by Warhol and Lichtenstein. The Nazi Documentation Center, located in the former Gestapo headquarters, documents the period from 1933 to 1945. The Chocolate Museum traces the history of cacao from Central America, while the Farina House remembers that Cologne has given its name to a world-famous fragrance since the 18th century.
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