Grand Duke Jean Museum of Modern Art Audio guide

Contemporary Art Museum in the Heart of Kirchberg

Mudam, full name the Grand Duke Jean Museum of Modern Art, is one of Luxembourg's most striking cultural institutions. It stands on the southwestern edge of the Kirchberg plateau, next to the European institutions, and its very location recalls the transformation of this part of the city from a former defensive zone into a modern administrative and cultural district.

From fortress to museum

The idea for a new museum emerged in 1989, and a suitable site and project design were sought for a long time. The decision to use the Dräi Eechelen park area and build on Fort Thungen was not made until 1997. This created an intriguing dialogue between Luxembourg's military history and contemporary architecture. The building was designed by I. M. Pei, one of the most respected architects of his time, and construction cost 100 million dollars.

A collection focused on the present

The museum opened on July 1, 2006, and welcomed the public the following day. Since Luxembourg did not then have an extensive public collection of modern art, Mudam focused primarily on contemporary work. The permanent collection includes, for example, Andy Warhol, Bruce Nauman, Cindy Sherman, Thomas Struth, and Daniel Buren. The displays are spread across three floors and are complemented by temporary exhibitions that quickly made the museum one of the important European institutions of its kind.

In its first year, the museum received more than 115,000 visitors, confirming that the new institution could appeal to both local audiences and foreign guests. Today, Mudam is not only a gallery, but also a symbol of Luxembourg's cultural transformation after the second half of the 20th century.