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.
Cellini 'The Saliera'
The salt cellar 'Saliera' occupies pride of place in the Kunstkammer Chamber of Wonders at the Kunsthistorisches Museum.
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.
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

Private Tour of the Kunsthistorisches Fine Arts Museum
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. On your private, guided tour of the museum, you will:

  • Enjoy skip-the-line tickets and personalized attention from your expert licensed guide on this private tour
  •  Explore the largest art museum in Austria and one of the most eminent museums in the world.
  • Stroll beautiful galleries and halls decorated with gold leaf, marble, and stucco.
  • Enjoy works by the Great Masters like RembrandtCaravaggioTitianRubensVelázquezRaphaelVermeer & 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.
  • Discuss the evolution of Renaissance art and the techniques and influences of the genre.
  • Enjoy the architectural splendor 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.
  • Please note: Children under age 12 enjoy the tour and museum free of charge.
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 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, stroll opulent gold-and-stucco galleries to browse glorious masterpieces by Ruben, Rembrandt, Dürer, and Titian. 
Private Tour of the Kunsthistorisches Museum Highlights & Egyptian Collection
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. On your private, guided tour of the museum, you will:

  • Enjoy skip the line tickets and personalized attention from your expert licensed guide on this private tour, and all kids 11 and under are free
  • Explore the largest art museum in Austria and one of the most eminent museums in the world.
  • Stroll 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. 
  • Enjoy works by the 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 splendor 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 Brabant-born Pieter Bruegel the Elder, a celebrated Dutch and Flemish Renaissance artist famous for his landscapes and bucolic peasant scenes. 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. 

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. Marvel at the splendor of the museum's octagonal dome roof, in itself a breathtaking work of art. 
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