Each year, the prestigious Prix Versailles celebrates architectural accomplishments across categories such as hotels, restaurants, and campuses. A few months back, it unveiled its selection of the World's Most Beautiful Museums 2025. This list shines a spotlight on seven outstanding cultural spaces from across the globe. These recently created/renovated structures don't just function as repositories of art or science. Rather, they are immersive environments that shape and elevate human experience. The official release notes, "From Asia to the Americas, by way of Europe and the Middle East, each one is the product of meticulous, long-term work based on a rigorous, artistic design that was developed at the initiative and in service of an authentic approach focused on heritage and scenery."
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Three of these seven museums will also receive further accolades in December. Find out more about the selected entries below (this is not a ranked list):
Here Are The 7 Most Beautiful Museums In The World For 2025, As Per Prix Versailles
1. Grand Palais in Paris, France
Grand Palais in Paris, France
An iconic Parisian landmark since the 1900 Exposition, the Grand Palais has undergone an ambitious restoration led by Chatillon Architectes. Beneath its colossal glass roof and reseda green framework, the museum now brings together historical elegance and modern engagement. Its preserved upper gallery offers a panoramic promenade, linking the building's past with its vibrant future. Detailed mosaics, sculptures, and frescoes continue to dazzle.
2. Saka Museum in Bali, Indonesia
Saka Museum in Bali, Indonesia
Overlooking Jimbaran Bay within the Ayana Bali resort, the Saka Museum is a serene tribute to Balinese philosophy. Designed by Mitsubishi Jisho Design, it embodies "Giri Segara," the sacred harmony between mountain and sea. Its sloping roof and tranquil reflecting pool mirror the island's spiritual energy. Inside, visitors can enjoy exhibitions that honour living traditions like Nyepi, the Day of Silence. Its architecture feels both sacred and fluid.
3. Audeum in Seoul, South Korea
Audeum in Seoul, South Korea
Created by Kengo Kuma, Audeum reimagines the museum as a sensory sanctuary. Vertical aluminium pipes mimic patterns found in nature, while fragrant cypress wood exudes warmth. Inspired by musical and organic rhythms, the building encourages visitors to slow down, listen, and feel. Moving through its layered design evokes a journey: through forest, stone, light, and air.
4. Kunstsilo in Kristiansand, Norway
Kunstsilo in Kristiansand, Norway
Once a grain storage facility, this industrial complex has been dramatically reimagined into Kunstsilo - Southern Norway's largest museum. Designed by Mestres Wage Arquitectes, the transformation preserved the structure's towering concrete silos, which now serve as light-filled galleries. It is home to the world's largest private collection of Nordic art. Kunstsilo also boasts rooftop views of the coastal landscape.
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5. Diriyah Art Futures in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Diriyah Art Futures in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Blending Nabataean inspiration with digital ambition, Diriyah Art Futures is the Arabian Peninsula's first museum dedicated entirely to digital art. Conceived by Schiattarella Associati, its earth-toned structures feel organically rooted in the desert landscape. The museum includes research labs, artist residencies, and exhibition halls, all integrated into the historical and natural surroundings of Wadi Hanifah. It's a space that celebrates tradition as well as innovation.
6. Cleveland Museum of Natural History in Cleveland, USA
Cleveland Museum of Natural History in Cleveland, USA
This historic institution has been revamped to suit the needs of the contemporary world. The Cleveland Museum of Natural History has undergone a sweeping transformation under the guidance of DLR Group. Inspired by the glacial forces that shaped the Great Lakes, the architecture flows like sedimentary layers in motion. The expanded museum is a cohesive, light-filled environment that houses some of the most iconic specimens in natural history.
7. Joslyn Art Museum in Omaha, USA
Joslyn Art Museum in Omaha, USA
In Omaha, the Joslyn Art Museum bridges generations of architectural ambition. Its newest addition, a 2024 pavilion by Snohetta, joins the Art Deco original from 1931 and a 1994 pavilion by Norman Foster. Each structure reflects its era, yet together they form a unified campus that pays homage to American and global creativity across centuries. The museum's mission remains true to founder Sarah Joslyn's vision: free and open access to the arts.
These seven sites are not only visually stunning but also thoughtfully reimagined to reflect their environments, histories, and audiences.
