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An
absolute must-see when in Berlin - Unesco world cultural
heritage and an amazing complex that leaves the visitor
in awe. Five major museums are grouped into a heterogeneous
but harmonious ensemble of various architectural styles
and times. The whole complex was 70% destroyed in WW
II., and the work of restoration isn't close to finished
yet, but most collections and museums are open to the
public at least.
Five
museums of world fame are located on this small island
in the river Spree - the Alte Museum based on plans
by Schinkel, Berlin's most famous architect, the Neue
Museum by Stüler, the Alte Nationalgalerie, the
Bodemuseum (closed until 2005 for restoration) and the
 Pergamonmuseum.
All the museums feature extraordinary collections of
fine art - the Alte Museum presents statues and sculptures,
the Neue Museum is still a ruin from the war bombings
(plans exist to rebuild it according to plans by the
British architect David Chipperfield by 2008), the Alte
Nationalgalerie was finally reopened in 2001 and now
presents paintings and sculptures from the 19th century
-
Manet, Monet, Renoir, Rodin, Degas,
Cezanne
- the list is long, but the collection has works of
art by all essential artists of the time.
The representative Bode Museum is also still being worked
on before the reopening - its collection can be admired
in the Gemäldegalerie of the Kulturforum on Kemperplatz,
though. And the impressive Pergamonmuseum, finished
in 1930, which presents everything from Roman coins,
Egyptian works of art to Etruscan, Babylonian and other
ancient cultures' art. This museum is especially awe-inspiring
- there are altars from Pergamon, an original gate of
Babylon, a Roman city gate and other monumental exhibition
pieces that are simply stunning. For friends of art,
culture and architecture, a visit to the Museumsinsel
is a definite must. Recommended!
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