Profile of the Bode-Museum
120 Years ago the present Bode-Museum opened, then called Kaiser Wilhelm-Friedrich Museum.
The concept of the museum can be traced back to Crown Princess Victoria of Prussia, who published her ideas in a memorandum in 1883. It was Wilhelm von Bode who finally put these ground-breaking ideas into practice.
In 1897, construction work began at the northern tip of the Museum Island on a museum that was to be devoted to the Renaissance, designed by Eberhard von Ihne.
The building was badly damaged in the Second World War and underwent several stages of restoration between 1948 and 1986. In 1956 it was renamed the Bode-Museum after its first director and spiritual founder. German reunification also brought with it the merging of the previously separated collections under the auspices of the Staatliche Museen zu Berlin, with the decision soon being taken for the museum to undergo an extensive overhaul to bring it up to date with modern museum and conservation requirements.
After extensive renovation work, the museum building reopened to the public in autumn 2006. Contrary to the original concept, it now principally houses the Skulpturensammlung und Museum für Byzantinische Kunst (Sculpture Collection and Museum of Byzantine Art). The display of sculptures is enriched by some 150 works from the collection of the Gemäldegalerie (Old Master Paintings), which has been located at the Kulturforum near Potsdamer Platz since 1998. With its collection of coins and medals, the Münzkabinett (Numismatic Collection) is also housed at the Bode-Museum, where it presents its chronicle of human history forged in metal.
(Edited text from the Staatliche Museen von Berlin)
Permanent Exhibitions:
- Sculpture Collection: Featuring works from the early Middle Ages to the late 18th century, including masterpieces from Italian, German, French, and Spanish schools.
- Museum of Byzantine Art: Showcasing art and everyday objects from the ancient Mediterranean region, spanning from the 3rd to the 15th century.
- Coin Cabinet: One of the largest numismatic collections in the world, with approximately 500,000 objects.
Temporary Exhibitions:
- Current Exhibitions: The museum hosts various temporary exhibitions, such as «Sticky Fingers – Counterfeit Coins: The Dark Side of Numismatics» (May 17, 2024 – Sept 21, 2025) and «Plain Talk About the History of the Bode-Museum» (Nov 18, 2020 – ongoing).
Address
Am Kupfergraben,
10117 Berlin, Germany
Telephone
+49 30 266 424 242
Opening Hours
- Wednesday to Friday: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
- Saturday and Sunday: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM
- Closed on Mondays and Tuesdays
Public Transport
- U-Bahn: Friedrichstraße (U6)
- S-Bahn: Friedrichstraße (S1, S2, S25)
- Tram: Am Kupfergraben, Hackescher Markt
- Bus: Staatsoper, Lustgarten, Friedrichstraße
Ticket Service
You can purchase tickets online through the Staatliche Museen zu Berlin website. Tickets cost €12 for adults and €6 for reduced tickets.
Read more about the Bode-Museum at the Original Home Homepage
https://www.smb.museum/en/museums-institutions/bode-museum/home/