Albertinum

In the location's words:

The Albertinum of today has little to do with the gabled arsenal that was built from 1559-1563 and fulfilled important military functions in the following centuries. What remains of the Renaissance building with its enormous vaults on the first floor are the basement, the two-aisled hall with Tuscan columns on the first floor, two portals and parts of the rustic façade. In the late 19th century, a new arsenal was built in Dresden's Albertstadt district and the old arsenal had lost its original use. In just four years (1884-1887), the building was converted into a museum for the sculpture collection. It was given its current appearance as a neo-Renaissance building and was named after the reigning King Albert.

During the bombing of Dresden in 1945, the Albertinum was less damaged than other museum buildings in the city. When the art treasures confiscated by the Red Army and taken to the Soviet Union were returned to Dresden in the 1950s, the Albertinum became a collection point for the art treasures. In the damaged building, treasures from the Green Vault, sculptures, porcelain, the treasures of the Coin Cabinet and the Armory were displayed. Together, the museums presented their finest pieces. The porcelain collection and armory soon moved out again, but the others remained. After the reconstruction of the upper floor (1961-65), the New Masters Gallery was added. It was not until 2004 and 2006 that the Coin Cabinet and the Green Vault were given new rooms in the Residenzschloss. Today, the Albertinum is home to the New Masters Gallery and the Sculpture Collection, two of the most important art museums in Dresden.