When people visit Bali, they often aren’t aware of the number of different museums and galleries that are dotted around the county, all of which celebrate a specific part of Bali’s history or culture. Visiting these won’t just give you a hugely interesting day out, but it will also allow you to fully understand the way that the island has developed and the origins of some of the traditions in the country.
Perhaps the most interesting and informative museum to visit on the whole island is located in Sanur and is called the Museum Le Mayeur. It is dedicated to the work of the Belgian artist Adrien Le Mayeur, who lived on the island for over 20 years, and shows the visitor exactly what Bali used to be like in the 1930s through to the 1950s. The museum also houses many of the artist’s paintings from his trips around the world, making it a truly multicultural place to visit. It is said that the work of Le Mayeur influenced many Balinese artists, so to understand the art of this island, you must first understand the man behind it all.
For those more interested in Bali’s history than its art, then a good place to visit would most certainly be the Museum Negeri Propinsi Bali – an absolute treasure trove of Balinese artifacts and antiques. This museum features everything from Balinese clothing through to ornaments and religious artifacts, so there is always something there to take the interest of everyone. It is located in the city centre of Denpasar, therefore it is extremely easy to get to.
Other Important Cultural Sites
As stated at the top of this article, there really isn’t enough space here to write about every cultural experience that can be had in this marvelous island. However, there are a couple of other locations that just had to be included – with the first being the spectacular Ubud Palace. This is still the home of the royal family and, despite this, visitors are free to walk around most of the building. Unfortunately, the original structure was destroyed in the 1917 earthquake, but the rebuilt version is still a sight to behold. It’s even possible to stay the night here if desired, even though it is not cheap!
The other place in Bali that every culturally aware traveller should visit is Margarana – the birthplace of the struggle for independence. This really isn’t a spot popular with tourists, but it is absolutely vital to visit here when looking to understand the history of Bali – the small island with a huge amount of culture!
