Curtius Museum, Liège, Belgium

The Curtius Museum (Musée Curtius) is a museum of archaeology and decorative arts, located on the bank of the Meuse River in Liège. It was built sometime between 1597 and 1610 as a private mansion for Jean Curtius, industrialist and munitions supplier to the Spanish army. With its alternating layers of red brick and natural stone, and its cross-mullioned windows, the building typifies the regional style known as the Mosan (or Meuse) Renaissance.

After a 50 million euro redevelopment, the museum reopened as the Grand Curtius in 2009, now housing the merged collections of four former museums: the museum of archeology, the museum of weaponry, the museum of decorative arts, and the museum of religious art and Mosan art. Highlights in the collections include treasures of Mosan art such as a twelfth-century gilded reliquary tryptich, formerly in the church of Sainte-Croix, the Evangelarium of Notger, sculptures by Jean Del Cour, and a portrait of Napoleon Bonaparte painted by Ingres in 1804: Bonaparte, First Consul.

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Museums in Belgium

User Reviews

Gordon Woods (3 years ago)
Lots of local history about Liège from prehistory onwards, including a detailed section about guns (a local industry). Very friendly and helpful staff, and a welcoming café.

nick niclls (3 years ago)
Perhaps this may be a signal to the museum. If someone from it reads )) my average mark for the Weapons part is simply because it lacks explanations. Yes, they are very detailed texts in French, somewhat also detailed in English - but you will not understand 90% if you are not familiar with the special vocabulary of the Arms industry, unless you are a NATIVE speaker with engineering background). Nowadays, when Tablets under Android are so cheap, why not put something interactive on them - a video is better than a thousand words. Especially when you have a University in town, students should be happy to create something at low cost.

Vincent Vandalon (4 years ago)
Excellent collection of fire arms (lives up to its name). However the entire collection is well worth the visit. The staff is also very helpful and friendly.

Saulius Čepelė (4 years ago)
Huge expo of guns and unique glass pieces.

Matthias Tytgat (4 years ago)
Very big and extensive. A lot of different aspects to see from arms to history. Also has good temporary exhibitions.

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