Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
At the “prow” of Museum Island, the Bode Museum (designed to appear as if it's rising up
from the river), is worth a quick look. Just inside, a grand statue of Frederick William of
Brandenburg on horseback, curly locks blowing in the wind, welcomes you into the lonely
halls ofthe museum. This fine building contains a hodgepodge ofcollections: Byzantine art,
historiccoins,ecclesiasticalart,sculptures,andmedalscommemoratingthefalloftheBerlin
Wall and German reunification. For a free, quick look at its lavish interior, climb the grand
staircase to the charming café on the first floor.
The least interesting of the five museums, this building features the rest of the Collection
of Classical Antiquities (the best of which is in the Pergamon Museum)—namely, Etruscan,
Roman, and Greek art. I'd pass it up.
In addition to the five museums just described, Museum Island is home to the following
sights. One more sight (the DDR Museum) sits just across the river.
For 300 years, the island's big central square has flip-flopped between being a military
parade ground and a people-friendly park, depending upon the political tenor of the time.
During the revolutions of 1848, the Kaiser's troops dispersed a protesting crowd that had
assembled here, sending demonstrators onto footpaths. Karl Marx later commented, “It is
impossible to have a revolution in a country where people stay off the grass.”
For decades, it was
verboten
to relax or walk on the Lustgarten's grass. But in 1999, the
Lustgarten was made into a park (read the history posted in the corner opposite the church).
Onasunnyday,it'spacked withrelaxing locals andisoneofBerlin'smostenjoyable public
spaces.
This century-old church towers over Museum Island. Inside, the great reformers (Luther,
Calvin, and company) stand around the brilliantly restored dome like stern saints guarding
their theology. Frederick I rests in an ornate tomb (right transept, near entrance to dome).
The270-stepclimbtotheoutdoordomegalleryistoughbutofferspleasant, breezyviewsof
the city at the finish line. The crypt downstairs is not worth a look.
Cost and Hours:
€7 includes access to dome gallery, €10 with audioguide, not covered
by Museum Island ticket, Mon-Sat 9:00-20:00, Sun 12:00-20:00, until 19:00 Oct-March,
closes early—around 17:30—on some days for concerts, interior closed but dome open dur-
