Mudam, the Musée d’Art Moderne Grand-Duc Jean, is Luxembourg’s museum of contemporary art and one of the most striking buildings in the country. It was designed by the architect I. M. Pei and opened in 2006 on the Kirchberg plateau, on the site of the old Fort Thüngen. Pei used pale limestone and a great deal of glass, and the result is a calm, light-filled structure that sits in a park with views back towards the old town. Inside, a soaring central atrium and galleries on several levels host changing exhibitions of international contemporary art, alongside works from the museum’s own growing collection. Painting, sculpture, photography, installation and design all feature, and the programme often includes artists from Luxembourg and the wider region as well as global names. Even visitors who are not art specialists enjoy the building itself, the park outside and the sense of stepping into a very different Luxembourg from the medieval old town.
How it works
You buy a ticket for the exhibitions on arrival or through the venue’s own ticketing page, and you can combine it with other museums on a museum pass if you are planning a culture-heavy trip. Mudam closes on Tuesdays, so plan the visit for another day, and check the opening hours for late evenings, when the museum sometimes stays open later and feels especially atmospheric.
What to expect
The exhibitions change several times a year, so no two visits are quite alike. Expect a mixture of large installations and quieter rooms, with texts in several languages including English. The architecture is part of the show: stand in the atrium and look up at the glass roof, then walk to the windows that frame the old fortress walls outside.
The museum shop is good for design objects and art books, and the café is a pleasant place to rest between galleries. A visit usually takes about two hours, longer if you linger over the video and installation work.
Getting there
Mudam is in Kirchberg, the modern district that is home to the European institutions. The free tram runs from the city centre and the station, crossing the Red Bridge, and stops close to the museum and the Philharmonie. The ride takes only a few minutes, so Mudam is an easy half-day trip even if you are staying in the upper town.
Making the most of it
Combine Mudam with the Dräi Eechelen fortress museum next door. Together they put contemporary art and eighteenth-century military history in the same outing, and the stretch of the park between them has some of the best views back towards the Old Town. Mudam also works well on a rainy day, when the Corniche is less appealing. Families are welcome, and the museum often runs activities and workshops for children, although the exhibitions themselves are best for school-age visitors and above.
If you are visiting in the evening, check whether the Philharmonie next door has a concert, because a night of music and art in Kirchberg makes a memorable contrast with the old town. Visitors with limited time can focus on the atrium and one or two exhibitions rather than trying to see everything, since the building is easy to navigate and the staff are happy to suggest a route. The museum is also a good choice for travellers who have already seen plenty of castles and churches and want a change of pace.
What to expect
The experience
Changing exhibitions of contemporary art in an I. M. Pei building with a glass-roofed atrium.
Best time
Weekday mornings or a late opening evening; closed on Tuesdays.
How long
About two hours, longer if you enjoy installation and video work.
Tips
Take the free tram from the centre and pair the visit with the Dräi Eechelen museum next door.
Quick picks
- Best for
- Contemporary art and architecture fans, and anyone needing a good wet-weather plan.
- Families
- Best for school-age children; check the programme for family workshops.
- Couples
- A relaxed afternoon of art, then dinner in the old town.
- Pair with
- The Dräi Eechelen museum, the Philharmonie and the Kirchberg park.
- Time needed
- About half a day including the tram ride.
Good questions
Who designed Mudam?+
The architect I. M. Pei designed the building, which opened in 2006.
Where is Mudam?+
On the Kirchberg plateau, a few minutes from the city centre by the free tram.
Which day is Mudam closed?+
Tuesdays; check the current hours before you go.
What kind of art does it show?+
International contemporary art in changing exhibitions, alongside works from its own collection.
Is it a good choice for a rainy day?+
Yes, it is entirely indoors and easily fills a couple of hours.
