Continuing My Journey Through Time

No stocks this time! Please note that I took all the pictures in this article all by myself this month (Angela Barbieri, 2026)

A new day, a new adventure. This month is a historic one, because with the warm weather, I don't want to sit around at home. Last time, we visited an old fortress, and today, we're heading to the National Museum.

The museum is located right in the heart of Luxembourg and is a popular tourist destination, as I had to find out for myself. In this post, we're going to take a look at what it has to offer and what caught my attention the most!

The museum has many different floors, underground and all the way up in the attic. The elevator, if it works, makes it easy to teleport from one floor to another. I really like the combination of old buildings and modern stair railings, it gives the city that certain something. You can see the architectural precision running throughout the entire building.

Our tour begins in prehistoric times. I've already written an interesting article about fashion from that period, which you can find here. 

Before I get completely lost in these breathtaking exhibits, I'd better keep writing. The journey from the Stone Age all the way to the Roman settlement is by far the most fascinating chapter.

The museum has put an incredible amount of effort into preserving the old tunnels, trenches, and rock formations. The underground section of the museum doesn't just contain Neanderthal artifacts displayed in rather elegant glass cabinets and on pedestals, but also the tools they used, tools that made it possible to create this entire underground world in the first place.

Our ancestors really knew what they were doing. They had impressive skills when it came to pottery, sewing and working with fire. Throughout the museum, you can find sections that recreate parts of caves, cooking areas and tents.

The Bronze Age exhibition even offers a glimpse into the art of blacksmithing, with jewelry, arrows, and treasure coins on display.

There were also a few areas that I found particularly fascinating. I absolutely love the combination of stone, light, and modern elements. I can say with complete confidence that this was the most beautiful part of the entire museum. Even though I really enjoy paintings, the atmosphere here is simply impossible to beat!

In the Roman exhibition, you can already see the first traces of a more developed civilization. As you can see in the last picture in the gallery, they even made small game pieces, along with clothing and kitchen utensils.

But just take a look at this:

To me, this clearly falls into the realm of classical antiquity, but doesn't she bear a certain resemblance to the Venus de Milo? The setting in this museum is just so beautifully designed, and the magnificent vase on the pedestal in the background makes it feel even more authentic.

If we stay a little longer in the Antiquities exhibition, then alongside all the pots and busts, we definitely mustn't forget the mask. As I continued exploring the exhibition, I came across this mask:

This is Visière d'un casque de cavalier, dating back to around 30–40 AD. It is the visor of a cavalry helmet belonging to the Roman army, discovered in Hellange. 

The helmet itself was made of iron, while the visor was cast in brass and remains in excellent condition. The circular medallions decorating the diadem appear to represent military decorations, known as phalerae, which the soldier may have received during his military service. 

I was particularly impressed by the way the mask was preserved and presented. There is something fascinating about seeing an object like this in such remarkable condition after almost 2,000 years. The presentation really makes you appreciate how much history is actually contained in this small piece of brass.

But pottery and sculpture weren't the only things the people of the ancient world were skilled at. In the later stages of the Roman era, they also turned their attention to jewelry and decorative arts:

This part of the exhibition is called La noble dame de Bertrange (560–570 AD).

In the picture on the right, we can see a woman dressed in the typical clothing of the time. What I found particularly fascinating, however, are the pieces of jewelry shown in the second picture. They are identical to the jewelry worn by the woman and are remarkably well crafted.

Just imagine how advanced the craftsmanship already was back then. Precious metals and stones were carefully transformed into beautiful pieces of jewelry, possibly earrings, brooches, and pendants.

I was genuinely surprised by just how skilled our ancestors were. The level of detail and craftsmanship is truly impressive, especially when you consider that these pieces were created more than 1,400 years ago.

By now, you've probably learned quite a bit about the individual exhibitions. But the museum doesn't just have pots, vases, and themed displays, it also houses an impressive collection of paintings. You'll find those in the upper floors of the museum.

Judging by the names of the artists, most of the paintings seem to come from German-speaking, Dutch, and French artists. There were a few Italian names as well, although only a handful. Personally, I would have loved to see more art from the 18th century. You'll probably find more of that in France, but I still think it would have been a great addition to the museum.

These two paintings immediately caught my attention, although they actually come from two different periods. 

What immediately stands out to me in the first painting are the artistic and compositional details. We see the typical "craftsman," completely absorbed in his work. The room is filled with objects and details that give us a glimpse into everyday life at the time, from the objects on the mantelpiece to the plate of fruit. 

I also find myself thinking of carpe diem. The bread, the food, and the everyday objects around the shoemaker make the scene feel very alive and grounded in everyday life. We aren't necessarily looking at a scene about transience, but rather at a moment in which the shoemaker is fully engaged in life, doing his work and enjoying the simple things around him. His surroundings seem to express exactly that. 

The second painting is actually a detail from a larger work, but I immediately fell in love with it. It depicts the Temple of Vesta in Tivoli, near Rome, and the scenery instantly reminded me of the landscapes and architecture I associate with Italy. 

My trip was long, just like this post, but I hope you still enjoyed coming along with me!