Science museums, monuments and tours in europe

AI Thread Summary
The discussion centers on recommendations for European destinations rich in physics-related attractions. Key suggestions include Heidelberg, Germany, known for its physics institutions, and the Deutsches Museum in Munich, which showcases a wide range of science and technology exhibits. Other notable mentions are CERN in Geneva, Switzerland, and the Optical Museum in Jena. The conversation also highlights historical sites such as Röntgen's laboratory in Würzburg and the Einstein House in Bern. Participants express interest in creating a comprehensive list of scientific sites across Europe, while also noting the lack of scientific museums in Paris despite its historical significance. Additionally, there are mentions of notable gravesites of famous scientists, including those of Isaac Newton in Westminster Abbey and Ludwig Boltzmann in Vienna.
Fabric
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Hello everyone,

My first post, will be asking a of some traveling advise.

I want to spend a week in some country of Europe, but not just any country, I would love to hear if anyone knows of a country (and of course a city) where you can really explore physics in general, either by going to exciting museums or just in the city's history. Events, museums, monuments and so on.

Anyone who knows just the place? :)

Cheers,
Fabric
 
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A few physics-related places that I've visited in Germany and Switzerland:

The Optical Museum in Jena.

The Deutsches Museum in Munich (all sorts of science and technology).

Röntgen's laboratory at the University of Würzburg where he discovered X-rays (actually it happened to be closed when I was in town, but I walked past the building).

The Einstein House in Bern, where he wrote his first relativity paper while working at the patent office.
 
That's an interesting question and I think it would be a great idea to create some pinned thread with
a description of all kinds of interesting scientific sites ordered by country.


I agree with jtbell that the "Deutsches Museum" in Munich is a must:
http://www.deutsches-museum.de/index.php?id=1&L=1

CERN in Geneva (Switzerland) is also like Mecca.

Maybe Goettingen in Germany:
http://www.uni-goettingen.de/de/doc...hysical Instruments_GoorgAugustUniversity.pdf

I am sure there is lots of stuff from the Newton era in UK.

When I was going to Paris last time I was quite disappointed that I there seem to be but few scientific museums despite great scientists like Lavoisier to Curie.
 
Newton of course is buried in Westminster Abbey in London.

Here's Ludwig Boltzmann's gravestone in the Zentralfriedhof in Vienna, with his definition of entropy:

450px-Zentralfriedhof_Vienna_-_Boltzmann.JPG
 
http://www.museogalileo.it/en/index.html

Florence, Italy. Has the only surviving instruments made by Galileo, plus 18 rooms of goodness.
 
  • #10
Including his finger. :-p
 
  • #11
Thanks for all the great answers, will be sure to check it out :)
 
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