In the eastern part of Munich stands a neoclassical villa with a magnificent artist’s garden that belonged to Wassily Kandinsky’s teacher and is now a municipal museum

Valerie Ritter

 –  Staff Writer

 ·  July 1, 2026

Art lovers in Munich tend to gather west of the Isar in the Kunstareal, where one exhibition follows another around the Pinakotheken and Königsplatz. But you can also admire significant works of art in other places that are just as inspiring. Villa Stuck in Haidhausen is one such place where the building itself is a work of art. It houses the works of the painter and sculptor Franz von Stuck, as well as other renowned artists from the 19th century to the present day.

An architectural total work of art

Franz von Stuck was a draftsman, sculptor, and painter who not only created art himself but also taught. Among his students were Paul Klee, Heinrich Strieffler, and Wassily Kandinsky, whose works you can see at the Lenbachhaus. Stuck’s art, in turn, can be found in his own villa, which he designed himself and had built at the end of the 19th century on Prinzregentenstraße near the Maximiliansanlagen. The house served as both his home and his studio, where he carried out his work. He conceived the building as a total work of art consisting of the main building, the studio, and the garden. After his death, Villa Stuck initially belonged to his daughter and later to her son. The latter sold it on the condition that it be turned into a museum.

From the outside, Villa Stuck features classical elements, whereas its interior is inspired by Art Nouveau. Franz von Stuck personally designed the artists’ garden as a classical sculpture garden, which is divided into three garden rooms. These were recently restored and will reopen in May 2026. The magnificent villa itself is well worth a visit, as you wander through splendid rooms with rich ornamentation and antique furniture that won a gold medal at the Paris World’s Fair. The ceiling of the music room resembles a celestial vault studded with stars, and from the studio, you can look out through a spacious window front onto Prinzregentenstraße. Discover this multifaceted building and its idyllic garden during a visit to Villa Stuck.

Exhibitions at Villa Stuck

The museum is not only an architectural gem; its collection is also impressive. At the heart of Villa Stuck, of course, is the permanent exhibition dedicated to the complete works of Franz von Stuck, which includes paintings, drawings, and sculptures. Among them is arguably his most famous painting, “Sin,” which you can see here in the 1906 version. You can find the original from 1893 at the Pinakotheken. In addition to Stuck’s works, the museum also regularly hosts several special exhibitions featuring various artists from the 19th through the 21st century.