Speaking of the fulfilled history and the revealed art of Berlin there is no way of not mentioning the marvelous Neues Museum. Located in the central region of Berlin, the Museum Island, is a spectacular testimonial of history, ancient artefacts, heritage and grand art. Now It is time to look closer at the history of the Neues Museum, its architecture and the collection that would take our breath away.
Unraveling the History
The name Neues Museum can be translated from German as “New Museum”, but as it will be clear throughout this text, it is quite antiquated. This building was constructed where the museum is located today in 1841 and finally finished in 1855.
Actually planned by Architect Friedrich August Stüler in 1830, this museum was earmarked to accommodate the royal collection of antiquity, coins, and ethnographic collections. In course of time, it grew up to be one of the most popular German cultural and archaeological organisation and attained international fame.
Nevertheless, tragedy was seen during the world war II, the museum was bombed extremely destructing many of the artifacts. Over several decades the Neues museum was destroyed and left in disarray therefore not serving any useful function.
No serious attempt was made to revive this architectural wonder until the opening of the twenty first century decade. In 1999, the British architect David Chipperfield has been asked to create a master plan and integrate the, now completely new, Neues Museum again into the Museum Island overall.
The Architectural Marvels
Restoring Neues Museum was quite a delicate process because it was important to rest as many original constructions as possible yet adopt to use modernistic concepts. Today we have one of the greatest examples of how architects, archaeologists and historians can work together.
Another interesting element of the Neues Museum that will be discussed is the so-called Neo-Classical front of the building that appears to be fascinating. The grand gate with large formed columns makes the building imposing and attractive which has classical echo of a Greek and Roman design.
Entering the facility you are immediately amazed by the overall design and a preached attention to detail. The architectural concept of the museum is original because while preserving the historic layout of the building common for the late XIX – early XX centuries, it successfully combines the Auclair’s historic work, the central staircase and the grand, monumental interiors of exhibition halls with the modern restoration and new constructions and facilities.
The “Architectural Promenade” is well known having been installed in Neues Museum as one of the famous features of the construction. This distinctive architectural design enables a group touring around the building to experience the changing historical and spatial nature and evolution of the building. Visiting the museum, you will see how successfully inserted into the interior of the building remained the old rooms and exhibits and new additional space and the new additional-mounting.
A Journey Through Time
Prehistoric Art and Artefacts
The Neues Museum is uniquely famous as holding artifacts of prehistoric and early history. Of the well-known exhibits in what is one of Germany’s most visited museums, one stands out for its popularity – the bust of Queen Nefertiti. Ancient sculpture dating 3,300 years This sculpture is greatly valued as a piece of art and people from all over the world come to see this sculpture.
Besides the bust of the Neferneferu, here one can see artifacts found in Egypt: mummies, sarcophagi, and statues of thousands of years ago. These artifacts give a historical preview to the culture of the early civilization of Egyptians.
German History and Archaeology
The current collection also presents the historical and archaeological experience of Germany. Check local museums that feature Stone Age, Bronze Age, and Iron Age findings to make sure you get acquainted with history of the country.
The Neues Museum also boasts highly valuable collection of Greek and Roman antiquities. What will really impress you are narrow corridors filled with incredibly detailed sculptures, brilliantly painted pottery, and grandiose reliefs that tell the myths anddescribe the daily life of ancient people.
Numismatic Collection
For lovers of money and various kinds of coins, the Numismatic Collection in Neues Museum must be the place to go. This article contains a diverse collection of resources that detail the economic and social history of a number of civilizations: ancient coins, medals, and banknotes.
Visiting the Neues Museum
Whichever side a person falls, the Neues Museum guarantees an enjoyable and fulfilling visit for any history freak, art lover or any person generally interested in the past. Here are a few tips to make the most of your visit:
Plan your visit in advance: It gets crowded so it is recommended to purchase your tickets in advance online to avoid extremely long lines.
Take a guided tour: There is audio tour which is informative and gives a good background information about everything that is in the museum. Join one or more, to improve the experience.
Give yourself plenty of time: The Neues museum is worth a few hours of our time given the large collection displayed there. You and your friends might want to spend a little more time familiarizing yourself with the artistic and historical features of the place.
Don’t miss the Museum Island: Other neutral museums you can visit when at the Neues Museum include the Pergamon Museum as well as the Altes Museum.
Plan your visit in advance: The Neues Museum may at times be very crowded, therefore, it is recommended to purchase your ticket online in order to skip the line.
Take a guided tour: The museum provides tour guides who give patrons information concerning the various artifacts on display. Maybe, you should join one to have the best experience ever.
Give yourself plenty of time: Of course, having such a range of artwork the Neues Museum need a few hours to be explored. Spend as much time as you want to absorb the history and the artistic work around.
Don’t miss the Museum Island: It is also a good chance for you to wander around the other museums in the museum island with Neues Museum such as the Pergamon Museum, or the Altes Museum.
The Neues Museum was not just the building; it is the history and art work and culture and creativity of centuries compressed into one edifice. It was undoubtedly a great opportunity which helps to get closer to the history, to discover the marvels of people throughout the centuries.
Therefore, next time that you plan to visit Berlin – you owe yourself the chance to visit the Neues Museum. You are heading to be amazed by the buildings beauty; the tales surrounding it and the marvels it shelters within.
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