NEW MUSEUM

Absolutely exceptional Egyptian and prehistoric collections. The building had not been used for more than 70 years. Built in the 19th century by Friedrich August Stüler, it was severely damaged during the Second World War before undergoing a complete renovation and reopening to the public in October 2009. It was refurbished by architect David Chipperfield to restore it to its former glory while modernizing the premises to better showcase the collections. The collections are spread over 4 floors. The ground floor and the first two floors present the Egyptian and papyrus collection. Started in 1828, it was considerably enriched in the 19th century, thanks to various donations, and especially between 1911 and 1914, when many pieces were found on the site of the ancient capital of the pharaohs at Amarna. The collection is magnificent, composed of superb pieces in very good condition, there are more than 2,500 pieces (statues, handicrafts), the oldest dating back to 3,000 B.C., as well as monumental pieces of architecture.

The heart of the collection is the 14th century B.C. works of art from the era of Pharaoh Amenophis IV, better known as Akhenaten. This central figure in Egyptian history had introduced monotheism into his kingdom and, for the first time in the history of mankind, opted for a realistic representation of mankind. The bust of his wife, Nefertiti, is the best illustration of this: it is a magnificent piece, discovered in 1900 by German archaeologists, and has not been restored once since. Resplendent, the queen is represented with a headdress indicating her noble provenance. The bust of her husband, Akhenaten, nicknamed the heretic king partly because of his new beliefs, is very damaged.

You will also be able to see a mummy and several sarcophagi, as well as a beautiful collection of jewellery and papyrus, the Kalabscha Gate and the room with the columns of the pyramid of King Sahourê. Among the vestiges of other civilizations, we also retain the remarkable bronze statue of the young boy of Xanten, which refers to the banquets given by the Romans and which takes its name from the German city located on the Rhine.

The top floor is dedicated to prehistory and protohistory. Objects from the different periods from the Stone Age to the Bronze Age in Europe (700 BC), including fabulous glassware. Then there are pieces dating from the pre-Middle Ages and its Merovingian and Carolingian influences, plus Slavic finds from old Prussia. A room is also dedicated to archaeological finds found right here in Berlin. The museum's other great attraction is the Golden Hat(Goldenhut), a piece dating back to almost 1,000 B.C. that still holds many secrets.

The Neues Museum also has an amazing collection from the archaeological excavations at the historic site of Troy in Asia Minor. The "Treasure of Priam" was discovered in 1873 under Hissarlik Hill in the Ottoman Empire by the self-taught archaeologist Heinrich Schliemann. Schliemann donated it to the German Empire in 1881. The most beautiful piece of this treasure is undoubtedly the gold tiara.