From bead work by the Sioux to artistically painted paddles from the Solomon Islands: you can explore cultural riches from all over the world at the Museum Fünf Kontinente (Museum Five Continents) on Maximilianstrasse.
Located between the Isar River and historic old town, the Museum Fünf Kontinente houses an extensive selection of pieces from outside of Europe with the collection growing all the time. The 160,000+ exhibits are categorised according to the regions Africa, Australia, North America, Central and South America, the Orient, Eastern and Central Asia, South and South-East Asia, and Oceania. On top of that, there are also temporary exhibitions on current issues.
Its exhibits include things like bead work from southern Africa, screen prints by Indian artists, pieces from Hindu and Buddhist culture, and precious gold treasures from the Incas. The “Manuscripts and Writing” collection also stores a wide array of documents on the museum's ethnological collections.
Furthermore, Museum Fünf Kontinente has a collection of photographs containing some 135,000 images, some of which were taken on research trips and expeditions. The earliest images date back to the year 1870. A selection of the photographs can also be researched and viewed online (http://www.museum-fuenf-kontinente.de/museum/emuseumplus.html).
Museum Fünf Kontinente in Munich was founded in 1862 under the name of Königlich Ethnographische Sammlung (Royal Ethnographic Collection), becoming Germany’s first ever ethnological museum. It was then renamed as “Museum für Völkerkunde” (Museum for Ethnology) in 1917 before receiving its current name in 2014.
www.museum-fuenf-kontinente.de
Good to know: Munich Card holders are entitled to a reduced admission fee. If one owns the Munich City Pass, the entrance is free of charge. No matter which card you choose, the public transport is included.
