Bruegel 'The Tower of Babel'

Pieter Bruegel created this incredibly intricate masterpiece in 1563. Zoom in on the details and rich history of this painting, which still captures our imagination.

Nearby Attractions

See all attractions in Vienna
Kunstkammer Museum
More than 2,100 valuable objects, collected by the emperors and archdukes of Habsburg over centuries, are considered the most important collection of this kind in the world.
Dome hall Café
Museum coffee room underneath the dome surrounded by art.
Raphael 'Madonna in the Green'
The painting represents the figures of the Virgin Mary, the infant Jesus, and an infant John the Baptist in a calm grassy meadow, in a pyramidal arrangement linked by their gazes.
Caravaggio 'David with the head of Goliath'
Caravaggio availed himself of this painting method to create Tenebrism, which has slight differences from Chiaroscuro.
Cellini 'The Saliera'
The salt cellar 'Saliera' occupies pride of place in the Kunstkammer Chamber of Wonders at the Kunsthistorisches Museum.
Theseus Mosaic
Discovered on the floor of a Roman villa at the Loigerfelder near Salzburg, it portrays scenes from the Theseus legend, set in an ornamental framework.

Related Tours

Kunsthistorisches Fine Arts Museum: Private 2.5-hour Guided Tour

Explore the Kunsthistorisches Museum, one of the most significant art museums in the world with your professional guide and discover the Imperial family’s extensive art collectios, spanning from ancient times to the modern era, with masterpieces from renowned artists such as Rembrandt, Vermeer, Raphael, and Caravaggio.

On your private tour of the museum, you will:



  • Admire the architectural splendour of the Kunsthistorisches Museum, a truly magnificent building - world-class art in itself;
  • Explore the largest art museum in Austria and one of the most important art museums in the world;
  • Stroll beautiful galleries and halls decorated with gold leaf, marble, and stucco;
  • Enjoy works by the Great Masters like Rembrandt, Caravaggio, Titian, Rubens, Velázquez, Raphael, Vermeer & Klimt;
  • Marvel at the largest Pieter Bruegel the Elder collection, including The Tower of Babel, which is around 61 inches wide by 44 inches tall;
  • Hear about the evolution of Renaissance art and the techniques and influences of the genre;
  • End the tour in the magnificent domed hall that houses the museum cafe, after which you are free to continue exploring the collections at your own pace.


Commissioned by Emperor Franz Joseph I of Austria-Hungary himself at a time of considerable investment into the city’s rich, vibrant art and cultural scene, the museum’s eminent works include the single largest exhibit of paintings by Brabant-born Pieter Bruegel the Elder, a celebrated Dutch and Flemish Renaissance artist famous for his landscapes and bucolic peasant scenes.

The Private Highlights Tour of Vienna’s Kunsthistorisches Museum will connect you with the pieces throughout time. Cut through the crowds to reach some exceptional examples of European art histories, such as Raphael’s "Madonna in the Meadow", Vermeer’s "The Allegory of Painting”, Rembrandt’s 1652 self-portrait, and Velazquez’s Infanta paintings - including his most celebrated oil, “Infanta Margarita Teresa in a Blue Dress” produced in 1659, a year before his death.

With the invaluable inside knowledge of our expert guide, stroll opulent gold-and-stucco galleries to browse glorious masterpieces by Ruben, Rembrandt, Dürer, and Titian. 

Kunsthistorisches Museum & the Egyptian Collection: Private Tour
Built in 1891 to house the Imperial family’s extensive art collection, the Kunsthistorisches Museum is considered one of the most important art museums in the world. Spanning five millennia, from Ancient Egypt, the Middle Ages, and the Renaissance to Baroque and the modern era, artworks are resplendently presented in the magnificent settings of the grandest decor. 

On your private guided tour, you will:

  • Explore the largest art museum in Austria and one of the most eminent museums in the world;
  • Stroll the beautiful galleries and halls decorated with gold leaf, marble, and stucco;
  • See the highlights of the Egyptian and Near Eastern Collection, including the richly decorated Offering Chapel of Ka-ni-Nisut, numerous sarcophagi, and coffins;
  • Admire works by Great Masters like RembrandtCaravaggioTitianRubens, Velázquez, Raphael, Vermeer and Klimt;
  • Marvel at the largest Pieter Bruegel the Elder collection in the world, including The Tower of Babel, which is around 61 inches wide by 44 inches tall;
  • Visit the Kunstkammer Collection of Curiosities, where you will get to see the world-renowned 'Saliera';
  • Discuss the evolution of Renaissance art and the techniques and influences of the genre;
  • Enjoy the architectural splendour of the truly magnificent building - world-class art in itself;
  • End the tour in the magnificent domed hall that houses the museum cafe, after which you are free to continue exploring the collections at your own pace.
Commissioned by Emperor Franz Joseph I of Austria-Hungary himself at a time of considerable investment into the city’s rich, vibrant art and cultural scene, the museum’s eminent works include the single largest exhibit of paintings by Pieter Bruegel the Elder, a celebrated Dutch and Flemish Renaissance artist famous for his landscapes and bucolic peasant scenes. 

The Private Highlights Tour of Vienna’s Kunsthistorisches Museum will connect you with the pieces throughout time. We will cut through the crowds to reach some exceptional examples of European art history, such as Raphael’s "Madonna in the Meadow," Vermeer’s "The Allegory of Painting”, Rembrandt’s 1652 self-portrait, and Velazquez’s Infanta paintings - including his most celebrated oil, “Infanta Margarita Teresa in a Blue Dress” produced in 1659, a year before his death. 

With the invaluable inside knowledge of our expert guide, we will stroll opulent gold-and-stucco galleries to browse glorious masterpieces by Ruben, Rembrandt, Dürer, and Titian. Discuss the inspiration behind the Renaissance era’s greatest paintings and sculptures and debate emerging techniques that often echoed exciting evolutions in philosophy, literature, and music. 

Your private, expert guide will help you seek out curious, rare treasures that offer fascinating insights into mysterious Eastern cultures together with antiquities from Greek and Roman history. Among the highlights are the richly decorated Offering Chapel of Ka-ni-nisus, numerous sarcophagi and coffins, objects of daily life such as clothing and cosmetic articles, masterpieces of sculpture such as the Reserve Head from Giza, as well as a depiction of a lion from the Ishtar Gate in Babylon.

Marvel at the splendour of the museum's octagonal dome roof, in itself a breathtaking work of art. Your tour ends inside the Museum where you can continue exploring the collections at your own pace.
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