Discover the weird and wonderful museums of Europe
Museums are often the best way to explore the city or town you're visiting, where the local culture is often placed on a pedestal for all to admire. In amongst the museums that house galleries of art and historic artefacts, there are also the slightly stranger collections that provide visitors with more unusual insights. From the macabre museum dedicated to hearses, to the one devoted to a wealthy man's pet cat, there's something weird and wonderful for everyone to enjoy.
Deutsche Currywurst Museum, Berlin
In the city of Berlin, there are currywurst stalls dotted around every corner, so it comes as no surprise that the city is also home to the Deutsche Currywurst Museum. Dedicated to this local delicacy, the museum explores the history of this traditional dish, providing you with a chance to learn how this interesting mix of sausage and spice came together.
After learning all about this savoury treat, you can head down to the onsite café, where you can grab your very own currywurst snack. If you, or a member of your group, prefer not to eat meat, there's also a vegetarian option so that you don't miss out on this delicious delicacy.
Dig in at Berlin's Currywurst Museum
Musée des Vampires et Monstres de L'Imaginaire, Paris
If you don't mind a little horror, you'll love a trip the Musée des Vampires et Monstres de L'Imaginaire, or Museum of Vampires and Monsters of the Imagination, a museum in Paris dedicated to the literary tales of vampires, from past and present. As you explore this spooky museum, you'll encounter signed autographs of every actor that's ever played Dracula, as well as a mummified cat from the Père Lachaise Cemetery.
You'll need to book an appointment in advance to peruse this peculiar collection, so be sure to get in touch beforehand, to avoid disappointment.
Museu de Carrosses Funebres, Barcelona
Probably the most macabre museum in Europe, the Museu de Carrosses Funebres, or Museum of Funeral Carriages, is a hauntingly wonderful place that houses beautifully crafted vehicles. Created in 1970, and located close to the Cementerio de Montjuïc (Barcelona's Cemetery), the museum is home to 13 horse-drawn carriages, six accompanying cars and three motor hearses. The vehicles are often stunningly crafted, painted with gold, and adorned with silk tasselled curtains and religious icons.
During your time there, you'll get the chance to learn all about the history of the hearse, as well as the relationship between the Spanish people and the dead.
Macabre, or beautiful?
De Katten Kabinet, Amsterdam
If you love cats, then this kooky museum in the city of the Amsterdam is definitely one to add to your list. The museum was originally founded in 1990 by William Meijer, a wealthy Dutchman who wanted a place to preserve the memory of his beloved pet cat, Tom.
It now specialises in cat-themed artwork, from delightful paintings and sketches to feline-shaped sculptures and ornaments. And, on top of the art, there are also five cats that reside there, whom you'll more than likely encounter during your tour of the collection; just listen out for the soft hum of purrs.
Make friends with the cats at De Katten Kabinet
Le Musée des Égouts de Paris, Paris
One of the most popular, but whiffiest, museums in France is Le Musée des Égouts de Paris, a museum dedicated to the sewage system that runs under the city of Paris. Located just under the Pont de L'Alma bridge, this museum provides guests with the opportunity to tour the sewer below, walking along raised walkways that are situated directly above the sewage. The exhibitions include information on the design and engineering of the system, and visitors are invited to learn not only how it works, but also all about its history. Just be wary that it smells exactly as you might think it would.
Enjoy a slightly whiffy afternoon in Paris' sewage system
CORPUS, Oegstgeest
If you love science and learning how the human body works, a trip to weird and wonderful CORPUS is a definite must when driving through the Netherlands. The museum is a giant life-like model of the inside of a human body, and visitors are made to feel as if they've been shrunk down and allowed to explore its internal organs and skeletal frame.
During your exploration, you'll enter through the giant body's knee, come face to face with its huge kidneys, the heart and teeth, and eventually leave through the brain. Although it's a bit of an unusual venue, it's very educational and plenty of fun for the whole family.
Musée de la Chasse et de la Nature, Paris
Otherwise known as the Museum of Hunting and Nature, this museum belongs to the François Sommer Foundation of Hunting and Nature, and is an important, albeit strange, part of Parisian culture. The traditional and lush décor of this museum has been adorned with stunning paintings and sculptures, but the standout pieces of this collection are the beautifully crafted taxidermy that, ironically, brings life to the rooms.
From stuffed foxes curled up on chairs, to proud stags standing in the corner of a room and a ferocious-looking polar bear towering over visitors, there's plenty of 'wildlife' to admire. On top of the stuffed animals, the museum also explores the history of hunting in France, and includes a vast collection of hunting weaponry, and even a handful of rooms filled with stuffed trophies.
Getting there and around
If these unusual museums have you inspired to make the drive to Europe, make sure you do it with Eurotunnel Le Shuttle. It takes just 35-minutes to cross the Channel, so you'll soon be making the most the continent's most bizarre museums.
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