The Kulturforum is a unique complex of museums, concert halls and libraries west of Potsdamer Platz. Here, some of the most outstanding European art museums, as well as the famous concert hall of the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra, attract millions of visitors interested in culture and music. The complex, based in the former West Berlin, has been growing steadily since 1956 as a counterpoint to the Museumsinsel in the former East Berlin. The Kulturforum also contains some of Berlin’s best examples of modern architecture.
West of Potsdamer Platz • (030) 266 424 242 • www.smb.museum
Gemäldegalerie: Matthäikirchplatz 4/6; open 10am–6pm Tue–Sun (until 8pm Thu)
Philharmonie: Herbert-von-Karajan-Str. 1; (030) 25 48 80; Box Office: open 3–6pm Mon–Fri, 11am–2pm Sat & Sun; www.berliner-philharmoniker.de
Kupferstichkabinett: Matthäikirchplatz 8; open 10am–6pm Tue–Sun
Kunstbibliothek: Matthäikirchplatz 6; open 10am–6pm Tue–Sun
St Matthäuskirche: Matthäikirchplatz 1; (030) 262 12 02; open 11am–6pm Tue–Sun; organ concert 12:30pm; adm for concerts; www.stiftung-stmatthaeus.de
Neue Nationalgalerie: www.smb.museum • A day pass for all museums is €16
Berlin’s largest art museum holds masterpieces of European art. They are displayed in the modern Neubau, built in 1998 by Heinz Hilmer and Christoph Sattler. The collection includes Bosch, Holbein, Dürer, Gossaert, Vermeer, Brueghel the Elder, Titian, Caravaggio and Rembrandt.
Based in a building by Mies van der Rohe, this (see Neue Nationalgalerie) holds 20th-century art, with an emphasis on German Expressionism. Collection highlights are on show elsewhere during the renovation.
This tent-like building was the first new structure (see Philharmonie) to be built in the Kulturforum in 1960–3. Considered one of the best concert halls in the world, it is the home of the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra. Kirill Petrenko will conduct the orchestra in 2019.
Craft objects from across Europe from the Middle Ages to the present day are on show at this museum (see Kunstgewerbemuseum), including valuable items like the Guelphs’ treasure, Lüneburg’s silver and Renaissance faïence.
Concealed behind the Philharmonie is this fascinating little museum (see Musikinstrumentenmuseum) of musical instruments. More than 800 exhibits are on show here, particularly early instruments such as harpsichords and a 1929 Wurlitzer.
The smaller relative of the larger Philharmonie, this concert hall is one of Germany’s most highly regarded chamber music venues.
The Gallery of Prints and Drawings holds more than 550,000 prints and 110,000 drawings from all periods and countries, including a portrait of Dürer’s mother.
This church is the only historical building preserved in the Kulturforum. Built in 1844–6 by Stüler, it is also a venue for art installations and classical music concerts.
Built in 1978 by Hans Scharoun, the National Library (see Staatsbibliothek Unter den Linden) is one of the world’s largest German-language libraries, with five million books, manuscripts and journals.
The Art Library has a collection of advertising and art posters, among other items, and also hosts art and architecture exhibitions and design shows.
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