The Museum Fünf Kontinente (Museums of the five continents) is a museum of ethnology in Munich. It is located in the Lehel district. Opened in 1862, it is Germany's first ethnological museum. It was initially called Königlich Ethnographische Sammlung (state ethnographic collection), was later called Museum für Völkerkunde (Ethnological Museum) from 1917 and renamed Museum Fünf Kontinente on 9 September 2014. The museum collection contains over 160,000 works of art, everyday objects and rituals of non-European peoples, the testimonies relating to the Far East, South America and East and Central Africa stand out in particular; the collection also includes 135,000 photographs and a specialized library with over 100,000 books. Permanent exhibits and themed special exhibits show similarities and differences between various cultures.
Seat of the Museum Fünf Kontinente is a 19th century building built in Maximilian style. The façade incorporates eight statues that personify the virtues of the Bavarian people: patriotism, diligence, magnanimity, piety, loyalty, justice, courage and wisdom. The entrance is preceded by a portico supported by four caryatids. The Deutsches Museum was located here from 1900 until 1923.
