Art Nouveau is the artistic design that trended in Europe between the late 19th century and early 20th century. The era was characterized by floral designs, plants, and curvy vines that contrasted the style of the preceding period. Art nouveau transcended architecture to painting, furniture, jewelry, and other artistic fields. In this post, we will highlight 5 art nouveau buildings in Central Europe you should definitely visit.
1. Casa Batlló - Gaudí Barcelona
2. The Wedding Tower, Darmstadt, Germany
3. The Municipal House, Prague, Czech Republic
4. The Secession Building, Vienna, Austria
5. The Ministry of Education, Riga, Latvia
1. Casa Batlló - Gaudí Barcelona
One of the jewels of Art Nouveau, created when the Batlló family commissioned Gaudí to rebuild an existing house. It has been completely altered, from the façade to the internal structure. The building is covered by a dominant façade with skull-shaped balconies and larger windows divided by the shinbones or legs of seagulls. On the roof are chimneys resembling aliens. The building affects everyone differently, and that was the intention.
2. The Wedding Tower, Darmstadt, Germany
Choosing a single building to represent art nouveau in Germany is tough. During the peak of the “new art” in Europe, Grand Duke Ernst Ludwig von Hessen commissioned several artists to build various structures in his province. The artists designed houses, workshops, and several other buildings in the colony under his supervision. Of all the buildings, the Wedding Tower was the most popular.
After its completion in 1899, the colony opened for exhibition till 1914. Afterward, the Exhibition Buildings became empty. Today, the colony has become a prime destination for art nouveau lovers worldwide. If you are going to be around Frankfurt in Germany, you can take a short trip to Darmstadt to see the Mathildenhohe museum. There, you can see a permanent exhibition and walk around to explore other art nouveau buildings.
3. The Municipal House, Prague, Czech Republic
Source: Pixabay
Czech artist Alphonse Mucha is one of the most notable names of the art nouveau era. His works made Prague one of the top cities in the world to see art nouveau. If you are coming from Germany, you can take a straight Munich to Prague train to make your trip simpler. Then, when you get to Prague, go straight to the Municipal House to see one of the grandest examples of art nouveau.
The Municipal House was designed by Antonin Balsanek and Osvald Polivka, who closely followed the works of Mucha. Although many people see the building as the top art nouveau structure in Prague, you should also check out the Grand Hotel Europa and Kaunicky Palace. The former is one of the first art nouveau structures in the country, while the latter houses a museum dedicated to Alphonse Mucha. Take advantage of speedy Czech trains to get from one site to the next.
4. The Secession Building, Vienna, Austria
Source: Pixabay
Austria has some of the most famous art nouveau figures, including Gustav Klimt, Josef Hoffman, and Otto Wagner. These three led to the Secession movement, Austria’s variation of art nouveau. Their most remarkable work is the Secession building in the country’s capital, Vienna. When you behold the Secession building, you will understand why it is one of the world's most famous art nouveau structures.
The building features a golden dome (called Golden Cabbage by locals) and three gorgons that will grab your attention immediately. The gorgons symbolize painting, sculpture, and architecture, the three pillars of the Secession movement. Another symbol of the Secession movement you will notice on the building is the inscription “To the Age its Art - to Art, its Freedom,” written in the local language.
While in the area, check out other fantastic art nouveau structures like the Karlsplatz station, designed by Otto Wagner, and The Kiss by Josef Klimt.
5. The Ministry of Education, Riga, Latvia
Riga is known as the art nouveau capital of the world, and rightfully so. The city has more art nouveau structures than any other city in the world. In Riga, there are over 700 art nouveau buildings for tourists to see. The city was going through rapid development due to economic growth at the beginning of the 20th century. It was during that time many buildings were commissioned. As expected, they were all in the art nouveau style.
Of all the art nouveau structures in Riga, the Ministry of Education building stands out. It is more remarkable because of its restrained design compared to other notable structures in the city. Nonetheless, it has essential features of the period, including floral motifs, sculpted knockers, and intricate minimalist designs.
Close competition for the status of Riga’s representation of art nouveau is the Amphora building on Elizabetes iela. Other art nouveau sites to visit in Riga include the Art Nouveau Museum, Sienna art cafe, and the whole Alberta iela, a street full of Jugendstil houses. Great artists in Riga during the art nouveau period include Mikhail Eisenstein and Konstantins Peksens.
Art nouveau buildings are still points of tourist attraction across Europe. Interestingly, incredible art nouveau buildings are located in Central Europe. Do not forget to take advantage of the advanced train system in Europe to get from one location to the other.
Find all tips for AMAZING PLACES IN EUROPE.
