Those who call Wiesbaden home, a place of work, or free-time destination enjoy a world of culture within easy reach. In addition to its theaters, spas and parks, Hesse’s elegant capital can boast of museums highlighting the history of women, Jewish life and the development of the city itself, to name just a few.

Not least is the Museum Wiesbaden, home to a permanent collection of works including modern and contemporary art, classical modernism and Old Masters. Its large section devoted to nature, with its stuffed animals and reptiles, is something all ages can enjoy.

Temporary exhibitions mean there’s always something new to discover here. Currently showing is “Piet Mondrian – Nature und Construction.” The Dutch painter Mondrian is best known for his abstract geometric art in bold, primary colors. This exhibition, developed in cooperation with the Gemeentemuseum Den Haag, traces Mondrian’s artistic development beginning with his naturalist paintings of the mid-1890s through to his works of pure abstraction. The exhibition can be seen through Feb. 17, 2019.

The “Ice Age Safari” exhibition transports visitors some 30,000 years back in time, when the last cold period held all living beings in its icy grasp. Led by safari scouts Urs and Lena, museumgoers time-travel to an Ice-Age Serengeti to catch a glimpse of the “big five” of prehistoric times, including wooly mammoths and cave bears. Aside from 60 life-size reconstructions of these curious beasts and numerous fossils, original finds from the Lahn, Main and Rhine region shed light on how our ancestors made it through this difficult time. Hands-on stations help bring the exhibition to life for younger visitors. This exhibition runs through April 21, 2019.

An additional three temporary exhibitions remain on display through to the end of this year.

Twelve times in the calendar year, there’s an additional impetus to get out and enjoy the museum’s offerings. On the first Saturday of each month, visitors of all ages can take advantage of free admission throughout the day. On all other days, the free entry extends to all those ages 18 and under when accompanied by their parents. Adult tickets to the permanent collection cost 6 euros, while entry to the special exhibitions costs 10 euros.