Gallery/history: Neues Museum Berlin (New Museum Berlin)
I was incredibly lucky to be in Berlin when the public was allowed to see the newly-restored building for the first time. After all, when do you ever get to see an empty museum? And one with such a history?
The museum was built between 1843 and 1855, and badly damaged in various bomb attacks during WWII. And the scars of WWII are still there, they've become part of the museum's history. The wise decision was made not to simply rebuild and paint over, but to integrate the marks left by the war.
Walking through the empty halls of that museum was one of the most intense experiences in my life. This place has such an unique atmosphere, and a life on its own.
As a bonus, I got to see a ghost. I tried to take a picture, but some inexplicable light effects aside, I wasn't lucky. Then again, maybe I was - I leave this up to you to decide.
The museum will officially reopen in October 2009, exhibiting the Egyptian and Pre-/Early History Collections. The probably most famous treasure on display: the bust of Queen Nefertiti.
I've uploaded my pictures in a special gallery, and added comments and explanations to most of them. You'll probably get the most out of it if you start with the first picture and click through it; it's like a guided tour through the museum then. :-)
NEUES MUSEUM BERLIN
PICTURES AND TALES
To fully appreciate the amazing work that has been done by restoring the museum, one has to know that by "damaged during WWII" I don't mean "some windows cracked and tiles got smashed". Actually, in 1964, the museum looked like that:
There are pictures from the 1970s where you can see trees growing from the ruins!
The museum was built between 1843 and 1855, and badly damaged in various bomb attacks during WWII. And the scars of WWII are still there, they've become part of the museum's history. The wise decision was made not to simply rebuild and paint over, but to integrate the marks left by the war.
Walking through the empty halls of that museum was one of the most intense experiences in my life. This place has such an unique atmosphere, and a life on its own.
As a bonus, I got to see a ghost. I tried to take a picture, but some inexplicable light effects aside, I wasn't lucky. Then again, maybe I was - I leave this up to you to decide.
The museum will officially reopen in October 2009, exhibiting the Egyptian and Pre-/Early History Collections. The probably most famous treasure on display: the bust of Queen Nefertiti.
I've uploaded my pictures in a special gallery, and added comments and explanations to most of them. You'll probably get the most out of it if you start with the first picture and click through it; it's like a guided tour through the museum then. :-)
NEUES MUSEUM BERLIN
PICTURES AND TALES
To fully appreciate the amazing work that has been done by restoring the museum, one has to know that by "damaged during WWII" I don't mean "some windows cracked and tiles got smashed". Actually, in 1964, the museum looked like that:
There are pictures from the 1970s where you can see trees growing from the ruins!