"Zeughaus"

The Zeughaus is a building of superlatives: it is the oldest building on Unter den Linden and the most significant Baroque building in Berlin. Originally built as an armoury, it is now used as a museum. 
The historic Zeughaus is currently closed for extensive renovation. The adjacent exhibition hall, the iconic Pei building, remains open and presents exciting temporary exhibitions. The Zeughauskino cinema is also temporarily located in the Pei building.

History of the Zeughaus

The idea to build an armoury in Berlin came from Elector Frederick William of Brandenburg. His son, Elector Frederick III, later King Frederick I of Prussia, put the plan into action. The foundation stone was laid in 1695, with Johann Arnold Nering, the builder of Charlottenburg Palace, initially in charge of construction. After his death, Martin Grünberg took over the construction management. Three years later, Andreas Schlüter took over. His successor, Jean de Bodt, completed the building in 1706 and gave it its final external form. The last work took place in 1730 – the total construction time was 34 years.

Arsenal of the Prussian Army

The prestigious building, located in a residential city surrounded by strong fortifications and opposite the royal palace, served as the central armoury of the Prussian army. From 1877 to 1880, Emperor Wilhelm I had the armoury converted by architect Friedrich Hitzig into a "hall of fame for the Brandenburg-Prussian army" with an accompanying museum. A high domed hall was added on the north side and the courtyard was covered. Until 1945, the building served as an army museum. After suffering severe damage in the Second World War, the armoury was rebuilt, unlike the Berlin City Palace opposite. However, the 19th-century elements were not reconstructed, and the original vaults on the ground floor could not be preserved. From 1952 onwards, the Museum of German History (since 1990 the German Historical Museum) was housed in the Zeughaus. With reunification in 1990, the German Historical Museum, founded three years earlier in West Berlin, took over the Zeughaus and its collections. After extensive renovation work from 1999 to 2003, the Zeughaus housed the permanent exhibition of the German Historical Museum from 2006 to 2021. A new permanent exhibition is currently being created as part of the ongoing renovation work.

Baroque splendour and classical simplicity: the building

The building, with four wings each measuring around 90 metres in length, is arranged around an inner courtyard (Schlüterhof). Its overall appearance is characterised by the harmony between the strict classical façade structure and the richly decorated Baroque sculptural reliefs. Twelve large groups of figures on the roof attract attention. They are arranged in a triangular composition and designed to be seen from a distance. In addition, a total of 44 trophies are arranged on pedestals within the roof balustrade, including captured enemy equipment, armour and richly decorated helmets.

The inner courtyard

The most significant architectural decoration of the armoury, the 22 heads of dying warriors, is located in the inner courtyard. They are among the few parts of the sculptural decoration that have survived the last three centuries almost unscathed. The severed heads can also be interpreted as trophies and were made as keystones for the arched windows on the ground floor. For the viewer, the pain, horror, despair and powerlessness of the young men, men and old men fighting the last battle of their lives, in which death is the victor, are rendered with almost frightening realism. The Latin inscription with the words "to terrify the enemies" is commemorated in this place.

The extension

In May 2003, the extension designed by Chinese-American star architect I. M. Pei, who also designed the pyramid for the Louvre, was opened. The elegant sandstone and glass building, which blends harmoniously with the historic buildings in the centre of Berlin, houses the temporary exhibitions of the German Historical Museum.

Zeughauskino

Since 2004, there has been a cinema on the east side of the Zeughaus, where the Zeughauskino showed its film series until 2022. During the renovation, the award-winning arthouse cinema is also showing its film history series in the Pei building.

Art market at the Zeughaus

Every Saturday and Sunday , youcan stroll through an art and craft market on the east side of the armoury. The stalls with their high-quality displays are popular with Berliners and visitors alike.

Nearby attractions

• Museum Island
• Berlin Cathedral and Lustgarten
• Unter den Linden
• Berliner Schloss
• Maxim Gorki Theater
• Neue Wache
• Humboldt University
• Bebelplatz