When planning a trip to Europe, it’s expected that you’ll include the major museums — the National Gallery in London, the Louvre in Paris, the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam – and stumble upon a few others while strolling the city streets with a non-Starbucks coffee and a decadent pastry.
But just around the corner, and a bit off the well-beaten paths, are some gems that document history in a different (and sometimes bizarre) way all their own. Anyone can bring back a Starry Night keychain from the Van Gogh Museum, but it is a rare breed of European explorer who can claim to have seen taxidermy frogs playing tennis in Croatia or original drawings of the Smurfs frolicking in Belgium. For something a little different on your next Euro-trip, consider these special museums; you might not find them on the usual tourist maps! We start with two of the best destinations, in Croatia.
Froggyland Museum: Split, Croatia
In Split, Croatia, 507 stuffed frogs rule the roost at Froggyland. Froggyland consists of 21 dioramas created by Ference Mere, a Hungarian taxidermist who dedicated a good portion of his life to stuffing frogs and then arranging the stuffed frogs in day-to-day human settings. You can witness frogs playing tennis, in a classroom scene, working in a blacksmith shop, and enjoying a leisurely day at the lake. Even if you don’t have a particular affinity for frogs, Froggyland is one of those weird and wonderful places that’s worth going a bit out of the way to try to see.
Museum of Broken Relationships: Zagreb, Croatia
Honeymooners might want to avoid this place entirely. Located in the heart of Zagreb, the Museum of Broken Relationships pays homage to love gone wrong. Its collections include donated relics from real relationships, along with true break up stories to accompany each artifact. The museum won the Kenneth Hudson Award from the European Museum Forum in 2011, with judges noting the museum “…encourages discussion and reflection not only on the fragility of human relationships but also on the political, social and cultural circumstances surrounding the stories being told.” It’s the perfect place to pick up a postcard for your “ex”!
The Belgian Centre for Comic Strip Art: Brussels, Belgium
The comic book culture has become mainstream entertainment fare in the United States in the last few decades, but Belgium has celebrated the genre since the mid-20th century. In Brussels, the Belgian Center for Comic Strip Art boasts a collection of some of Europe’s greatest comic artists, and some of Belgium’s best characters and heroes, including TinTin, Lucky Luke, the Smurfs, Black and Mortimer, Spirou and more.
Museum of Lawnmowers: Southport, England
If you’re into grass (or gardening), you might want to make a pit stop at this museum. The over 300 exhibits in this museum are all dedicated to garden machinery from the last 200 years, in addition to the lawnmowers of the rich and famous (including that of Prince Charles and Princess Diana). There are also lawnmower patents and blueprints from as far back as 1799, and hosted workshops on how to restore lawnmowers as well.
Museum of Funeral Carriages: Barcelona, Spain
This museum is an interesting escape from the traditional Barcelona art and architecture tours. At the Museum of Funeral Carriages, visitors get a first-hand look at the “finest in cadaver transportation.” Located inside the Montjuic Cemetery, the museum displays the customary funeral carriages used in Spain during the last third of the 19th century and the first half of the 20th century. These black-lacquered coaches are exquisitely decorated with gold paint detail.
Currywurst Museum: Berlin, Germany
The world’s very first museum dedicated to currywurst, this quirky museum, located near the former locale of Checkpoint Charlie, is visited by nearly 350,000 people each year. If you choose to visit, you’ll follow an interactive “sauce trail” through the history of currywurst, where you may find yourself in a spice chamber complete with “sniffing stations,” sitting on a sausage sofa, or playing “Curry Up” – a virtual currywurst making game.
Ye Olde Hurdy Gurdy Museum of Vintage Radio: Dublin, Ireland
Based in the Martello Tower in Howth, Dublin, this museum celebrates all forms of communication related to Irish historical events, including radios, early televisions, gramophones and records. Morse-code based amateur radio station EloMar operates from the museum. Radio artifacts were collected by curator Pat Herbert for over 60 years before the museum was opened in 2003.
Museum of Bags and Purses: Amsterdam, Netherlands
This museum is a “must-see” for the Sex in the City crew, highlighting the history of handbags from the late Middle Ages through present day, with a collection of over 5000 bags. Collections include pieces from luxury designers throughout the ages, including Hermes, Louis Vuitton, Fendi, Gucci and Prada. The museum also offers high tea for you to enjoy before or after your visit – reservations required!
Paris Sewer Museum: Paris, France
Fans of the Woody Allen Movie “Midnight in Paris” may be looking for the 1920’s most legendary writers when you mention an underground tour of Paris, but the Paris Sewer Museum offers something a bit darker. Located underground, this museum documents the history of Parisian sewage from the Middle Ages to current day. Tools and equipment used to remove waste are displayed, along with stuffed rats, swords and other findings from throughout the sewer system. Visit this museum to learn more about how wastewater is disposed of in a major city, but be sure to wash your hands before visiting the nearby Eiffel Tower.
Vigamas Video Game Museum of Rome: Rome, Italy
Video game aficionados can not only explore the history of video games but also learn more about how video games work. Opened in 2012, this museum’s displays include 15 different game retrospectives, giving viewers a glimpse into how each video game was created. The museum has partnered with a German software company to create a graduate course in virtual reality development. Vigamas often hosts theme nights and tournaments, where winners receive newly released games or themed prizes. As they say, when in Rome…
[Written July 2019]
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