Pergamon Museum

Its strictly neoclassical architecture contrasts sharply with the modern, bright design of the James Simon Gallery: this is the famous Pergamon Museum!
Welcoming over a million visitors each year, it is the most visited in Germany, all of that thanks to its life-sized reconstructions of monumental archaeological treasures coming straight from Babylon and the Near East. And dare I say, the final result is breathtaking! These feelings of awe stay with you when you stand before the gigantic blue Ishtar Gate, the impressive Pergamon Altar, and the 17-meters-high Roman Market Gate of Miletus. You might be wondering, how does Berlin own so many treasures from distant lands? It all started when archaeologist Heinrich Schliemann discovered Troy. Then commenced the golden age of archaeological excavations, with German archaeologists travelling to Pergamon, Miletus, Uruk, Babylon, Assur, and Egypt. At the time, the Ottoman Empire allowed excavations under one condition : discoveries had to be shared. As a result, many priceless artifacts were brought back to Berlin. However, this practice remains contoversial to this day. There is an ongoing debate about the repatriation of cultural treasures, with many countries demanding the return of treasures they believe were taken without proper consent. For example: Egypt has long demanded the return of the bust of Nefertiti, Greece has asked for the Parthenon Marbles to be sent back from the British Museum,Turkey is in negotiation with Russia over the Priam Treasure and has also requested the return of the Pergamon Altar, Nigeria has demanded the return of the Benin Bronzes, currently spread across various European museums. In any case, you won’t be able to see these monumental wonders right now, as the Pergamon Museum is closed for renovations. The museum is divided into three wings, housing three collections: The Museum of the Ancient Near East, the Museum of Islamic Art, and the Collection of Classical Antiquities.
Home to the Pergamon Altar, the North Wing is expected to reopen in 2027 but you’ll have to wait until 2035 for the rest of the museum. In the meantime, you can still visit the Panorama Exhibition, which remains open. There, you can walk along the Processional Way of Babylon, as people has done over 2,600 years ago.
The entrance to the Panorama is just a bit further ahead, on your left at number 2 on this street.