Discover the Rietberg Museum

The Rietberg Museum, with its three villas and surrounding park, has a very long history. It all began with a modest half-timbered house built in 1850. The neurologist Ludwig Binswanger wanted to turn the house into a psychiatric clinic. To prevent this from happening, his neighbour Otto Wesendonck, a German businessman and patron of the arts, felt compelled to buy the property at a high price.

He then invited his friend Richard Wagner to occupy the site, which he did between April 1857 and July 1858. The composer was greatly inspired by the site, composing Tristan und Isolde and "Wesendonck Lieder", five musical poems dedicated to his muse, Mathilde Wesendonck, for the famous Wesendonck songs.

After restoration in the 20th century, the museum opened in May 1952. Much later, in 2007, a new building was constructed by Alfred Grazioli and Adolf Krischanitz. The green glass pavilion** known as "The Emerald" is the crowning glory, blending in perfectly with the existing villas in the beautiful Rieterpark. Partly built underground, its modern look, clarity and elegance often catch the eye.

The Rietberg Museum is renowned not only for its exceptional permanent collection, but also for its wonderfully staged temporary exhibitions, which have an international impact.

Works from the von der Heydt collection form the core of the permanent collection. It is constantly being enriched thanks to the museum's long-standing contacts with renowned collectors, the support of foundations and donors, and acquisitions, gifts and bequests. Chinese ceramics from the Meiyintang collection, Indian miniatures from the Alice Boner collection and Buddhist art from the Himalayas from the Berti Aschmann collection are among the highlights of the collection.

In the former winter garden of the Villa Wesendonck, the Rietberg Museum café offers a selection of home-cooked dishes as well as small dishes that change daily, partly inspired by the exhibition programme and prepared by their own team using the best local ingredients. Open Tuesday to Sunday, 10am to 5pm.

In summer, the museum café also offers picnic baskets for a pleasant afternoon in the park. Baskets filled with fresh produce and blankets are available for 50 euros! Book in advance the menu that suits you best, specifying the date and time when you will collect the basket from the cafeteria.

Two options are available: the "Mediterranean and Alpine", (bagel with brie cheese with peppers and chillies, lentil and chickpea salad, green salad with chicken strips and parmesan, birchermüesli with wild berries, white cheese and peach cake, iced tea with Rietberg mint) , or the "Vegetarian and Asian" (Bagel with beetroot and aubergine hummus, carrot and ginger salad with cashew nuts and apple pieces, soba noodle salad with buckwheat flour and edamame, fruit cup with berries, chocolate cake, Prosecco.)