The Museum of Broken Relationships | Photo by lmjeda. ()
Everyone knows the famous museums in Europe, like the Louvre in Paris. But, if you’re looking for something off the beaten museum path, here are five of the most obscure museums worth your time.
Museum of Broken Relationships - Zagreb, Croatia
Misery loves company and there’s plenty of it at a museum dedicated to breakups from around the world. The Museum of Broken Relationships was founded by a couple who split up and wanted to put all the relics of their love lost on display. The idea caught on so quickly, they started asking friends to donate their trinkets from past relationships. In 2006, the museum opened inside a baroque palace. Since then, it’s rapidly expanded, opening a location in Los Angeles and 50 touring exhibits around the world. One of its famous displays is the ‘ex ax,’ donated by a Berlin woman who used it to hack up her former lover’s furniture.
Spicy’s Spice Museum - Hamburg, Germany
The museum with the redundant and self-explanatory name should be on any amateur chef or foodie’s list of places to visit. The museum spans 350 meters and shows you how spices are made from cultivation to the finished product. There are 900 exhibits from five centuries of spice history, including ancient equipment and machinery. You can even stock up on hard to find spices while you’re there. Ordinary paper tickets won’t get you into this museum, you have to buy a sachet of pepper or gummy bears to enter.
Museum of Funeral Carriages - Barcelona Spain
Spaniards in the 18th and 19th centuries went out of life in style. Horses pulled ornate hearses with intricate designs through the city to the final resting place. The museum is not only home to some of the most historic funeral carriages but to the largest library in Spain. Two-thousand books dedicated to funeral history sit on its shelves, making it the second-largest library in Europe. Patrons can also take tours of the area’s most famous cemeteries, even at night.
Kattenkabinet - Amsterdam, Netherlands
Sigmund Freud once said, “Time spent with cats is never wasted.” Don’t consider a trip through a museum dedicated to feline friends a wasted trip. In 1990, Bob Meijer opened Kattenkabinet in memory of his cat, John Pierpont Morgan, which is a fantastic name for a cat. The museum focuses on the roles cats have played in art and culture. Inside you’ll find paintings and sculptures featuring cats by Pablo Picasso and Rembrandt. Kattenkabinet even served as a filming location for the movie, “Ocean’s 12.”
Museum of Witchcraft and Magic - Boscastle, England
This is one of Cornwall’s most popular museums. The Museum of Witchcraft and Magic claims to have the world’s largest collection of witchcraft regalia. It has a wide and expansive collection touching on every type of magic and witchcraft. From the occult to Wicca, the museum has 3,000 objects and 7,000 books. Some of the items on display include a
Serpentine wand, scrying objects like mirrors and crystal balls and poppets used for cursing. Some of its impressive collection is featured on its Instagram page. You’ll also learn about the different kinds of witchcraft and history.
Note: Establishments are taking the necessary precautions to protect patrons. Check each establishment's website before visiting.
