Green Vault, Dresden State Art Museums

The Grünes Gewölbe (Green Vault) enjoys world renown as one of the richest treasure chambers in Europe. The Neues Grünes Gewölbe (New Green Vault) and the Historische Grüne Gewölbe (Hisoric Green Vault) were opened in 2004 and 2006. Visitors of both museums are fascinated by the radiance and opulent magnificence of the exceptional works of art, which are displayed. Anyone who comes to visit the Grünes Gewölbe (Green Vault) has to make a decision: What should I look at first? For the collection is so abundant that when the Residenzschloss (Royal Palace) was rebuilt the Grünes Gewölbe (Green Vault) was divided into two separate permanent exhibition areas, each with its own inimitable character. You can choose to visit the Historische Grüne Gewölbe (Historic Green Vault), the reconstructed treasure chamber created by August the Strong (1670-1733). Here you can see enchanting works of art in a baroque setting, with the treasures displayed on gilt consoles in front of mirrored walls. Alternatively, you can go to the Neue Grüne Gewölbe (New Green Vault), where around 1,000 selected masterpieces of treasury art can be viewed close-up in showcases made of antiglare glass, with perfect lighting that enables every detail to be appreciated. As well as the unique cabinet pieces created by the Dresden court jeweller Dinglinger, such as the Royal Household of the Grand Mogul and the Golden Coffee Service, there are fascinating precious objects made of gold, silver, enamel and gemstones, ivory, mother-of-pearl, coconuts and ostrich eggs. The Grüne Gewölbe (Green Vault) is part of the Staatliche Kunstsammlungen Dresden (Dresden State Art Collections) that are among the most prominent museums in the world. The combined holdings of the twelve museums offer the visitor a remarkable thematic diversity. These museums originated from the collections of the Saxon electors and Polish kings. They systematically developed cabinets of curiosities, which were accessible to select circles in their day and still form the core of the wonderful art treasures of the Staatliche Kunstsammlungen Dresden today. The collections are situated in world famous buildings such as the Residenzschloss (Royal Palace), the Zwinger, and the Semperbau (Semper Building), which are among the most important sights in Dresden.