Alte Nationalgalerie

Overview

Perched on a columned staircase on Museum Island, the Alte Nationalgalerie resembles a Corinthian temple and houses one of Europe's finest collections of 19th-century painting and sculpture.

Highlights

• Caspar David Friedrich: Several key Romantic works, including Monk by the Sea.
• French Impressionists: Renoir, Monet, Cézanne, and Manet are well represented.
• Schinkel Gallery: Karl Friedrich Schinkel's architectural paintings and designs.

History

Designed by August Stüler and opened in 1876 to house the collection of banker Joachim Heinrich Wilhelm Wagener, the gallery was originally intended as a "sanctuary of art and science" by Frederick William IV.

Visitor Tips

• Combine: Use the Museum Island day pass for best value.
• Top floor: Start at the top (Romantics and Impressionists) and work down.
• Duration: 1–1.5 hours.