Lindenau-Museum, Art museum in Altenburg, Germany
The Lindenau Museum is an art museum in Altenburg housing one of the most significant collections of Italian painting north of the Alps. Its holdings include about 180 Italian panel paintings from the 13th to 16th centuries along with ancient vessels, Renaissance sculptures, and a specialized art library.
The baron founded the institution in 1848 with the goal of creating both an art school and an exhibition space. From this dual purpose grew the museum we see today, which maintains the original collecting passion through its extensive holdings.
The name honors its founder Baron Bernhard von Lindenau, whose passion for collecting shaped the museum from its early years. Visitors can see today how this collecting spirit continues through the displays of ancient vessels, Renaissance sculptures, and rare art books that fill the rooms.
A visit requires some flexibility right now, as renovation work continues through 2027 and the collection is shown at a temporary location on Kunstgasse 1 in central Altenburg. The location is easily walkable from the town center, and opening from noon to 6 PM Tuesday through Friday gives visitors reasonable visiting hours.
The museum holds the world's largest collection of works by German artist Gerhard Altenbourg, whose creativity has shaped the region's artistic identity. This collection makes the place essential for anyone interested in the region's artistic spirit.
Location: Altenburg
Inception: 1876
Founders: Bernhard von Lindenau
Official opening: 1876
Accessibility: Wheelchair inaccessible
Opening Hours: Tuesday-Friday 12:00-18:00; Saturday-Sunday 10:00-18:00
Website: https://lindenau-museum.de
GPS coordinates: 50.99190,12.44490
Latest update: December 6, 2025 17:41
Thuringia contains a notable variety of historic sites, from medieval castles on wooded heights to baroque palaces in landscaped parks. The region preserves Romanesque monastic complexes such as Paulinzella, Renaissance residences including Wilhelmsburg in Schmalkalden, and significant collections like the Lindenau Museum in Altenburg. Beyond architectural landmarks, Thuringia offers geological features: the Saalfeld Fairy Grottoes are considered the most colorful show mine in the world, the Barbarossa Cave near Rottleben is one of Europe's largest anhydrite caves, and the Morassina healing caves in Schmiedefeld have served therapeutic purposes since the 19th century. Cultural institutions range from technical museums such as the Ziegenrück hydroelectric power museum to the Apolda bell foundry museum and botanical installations like the Japanese garden in Bad Langensalza. Historic transportation systems including the Oberweissbach mountain railway, which has covered a vertical rise of 1,060 feet (323 meters) since 1923, complement the offerings. Natural monuments such as the Dragon Gorge near Eisenach, a narrow ravine with rock walls reaching 33 feet (10 meters) in height, and viewpoints like Leuchtenburg above the Saale valley combine natural and cultural experiences.
Castle of Altenburg
535 m
Rote Spitzen
943 m
Theater Altenburg
722 m
Mauritianum
107 m
Herzogin-Agnes-Gedächtniskirche
312 m
St.-Bartholomäi-Kirche Altenburg
869 m
Historischer Friseursalon Altenburg
767 m
Seckendorffsches Palais
810 m
Pohlhof
952 m
Teehaus
417 m
Erscheinung des Herrn
713 m
Gnadenkapelle
980 m
Paul-Gustavus-Haus (Altenburg)
934 m
Freihof Frauenfels
963 m
Stiftskirche des Magdalenenstiftes
617 m
Schillerdenkmal
418 m
Spalatin-Denkmal
879 m
Jaguar
52 m
Berggasse 37
892 m
Castle Church Altenburg
597 m
Johann-Sebastian-Bach-Saal
616 m
Berggasse 1
919 m
Berggasse 48
919 m
Frauengasse 27
728 m
Friedrich-Ebert-Straße 21
780 m
Sporenstraße 2
985 m
Berggasse 47
931 m
Heinrich-Zille-Straße 17
1 kmReviews
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