Japanisches Palais

Overview

The Japanisches Palais (Japanese Palace) is a Baroque palace on the Neustädter Elbe bank, originally built in 1715 and expanded by Augustus the Strong to house his vast porcelain collection. The name refers to the chinoiserie roof decorations, not Japanese architecture.

Highlights

• Chinoiserie Roof: Asian-inspired sandstone figures and curved roof elements decorating the facade.
• Inner Courtyard: A grand courtyard surrounded by arcaded galleries.
• Rotating Exhibitions: Now used by the Senckenberg Natural History Collections and for contemporary art shows.

History

Built as a Dutch-style palace in 1715, purchased by Augustus the Strong in 1717 and expanded by Matthäus Daniel Pöppelmann and Jean de Bodt to display porcelain. The porcelain was later moved to the Zwinger. After WWII damage and GDR museum use, the building is gradually being repurposed.

Visitor Tips

• Check current exhibitions — the program rotates frequently.
• Closed Mondays.
• Duration: 45–60 minutes.