Illustration

Icon Museum Recklinghausen

The Recklinghausen Icon Museum is the world's most important museum of Eastern Church art outside of the Orthodox countries. Almost 4.000 icons, gold embroidery, miniatures, wood and metal works from Russia, Greece and the Balkan countries provide a comprehensive overview of the diverse themes and the stylistic development of icon painting and applied art in the Christian East. The qualitatively outstanding collection of icons includes works from the 13th to the beginning of the 20th century. In addition to icons in the narrower sense, i.e. pictures painted on wooden panels or metal icons cast in bronze, the museum also exhibits other works of art from the Eastern Church such as carved and cast crosses, liturgical implements, miniature paintings, gold embroidery (parts of bishop’s robes, burial cloths, etc.), carvings Wood and bone and goldwork. The Coptic department of the Icon Museum documents the transition from pagan late antiquity to early Christianity in Egypt with outstanding works. There is a free guided tour of the permanent exhibition every Sunday, and further tours are available on request. The icon museum is located in the so-called tower school opposite the provost church of St. Peter. In 1795 the baroque building was erected by the last Elector of Cologne for the Franciscan Gymnasium. Until 1895 it was an elementary school for boys, until 1935 it was home to the regional historical Vestisches Museum. In 1956 the Icon Museum was set up there. Today it is the most important museum of Eastern Church art outside of the Orthodox countries. More than 3000 icons, embroidery, miniatures, wood and metal works from Russia, Greece and other Balkan countries provide a comprehensive overview of the diverse themes and the stylistic development of icon painting and cabaret in the Christian East. Numerous reliefs and mummy portraits also testify to the diversity of artistic activity in Egypt from the 1st century to the early Middle Ages.

Contact & Directions

City: Recklinghausen
Postal code: 45657
Street: Kirchplatz 2a
Phone: 02361 - 50 19 41
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The Icon Museum is located in the old town of Recklinghausen. opposite the tower of St. Peter's Church. Parking is available in the surrounding multi-storey car parks in the city centre. The Icon Museum is also easy to reach by public transport. It takes about 5 minutes to walk from the main train station.

Opening hours:

Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve: 11.00 a.m. to 14.00 p.m

Prices:
Adult
6,00 €

Reduced price
3,00 €


Those entitled to the reduced price are: schoolchildren, trainees, students, groups of 10 or more people, holders of the Recklinghausen Pass or a corresponding ID from other municipalities, holders of the NRW Volunteer Card. Children under 14 years: free Audio guides (DE, FR, EN, NL): €2,00 Public tour: every 1st Sunday of the month at 15 p.m.