Cities & Culture
Friedericianum Museum Kassel
The museum on Friedrichsplatz square was one of the first buildings in the world designed to be a public museum. Landgrave Friedrich II commissioned the building project as part of the educational reform and the building was named after him. The doors officially opened in 1779.
Landgrave Friedrich II originally stored his own collection of treasures and curiosities in the magnificent building. In 1580, the state library (founded as a royal library) moved into the museum building, where the Brothers Grimm, Jacob and Wilhelm, would later work. The building was destroyed during the First World War and not much was left of the 350,000 books that had been inside. Since the first documenta festival was held in amongst the ruins of Kassel and the Fridericianum in 1955, the building has come to be seen as synonymous with the art exhibition that takes place every five years.
And yet even when documenta is not on, the museum is a renowned art gallery with plenty to offer its visitors. The programme and focus can vary depending on the artistic director but international contemporary art is always the order of the day in one form or another. The museum engages with major artistic movements and approaches in its displays and gets to grips with questions that are relevant to our modern-day society. Opening times: Tuesday to Sunday and public holidays: 11 am–6 pm