Tips about Dresden Museums

Historic Green Vault and New Green Vault

  Both the Green Vaults are located in the Dresden Royal Palace.
    The Historical Green Vault was originally founded by Augustus the Strong in 1723.
   and was designed to recreate the experience of a Baroque treasure chamber. It consists of nine opulently decorated rooms, where the treasures, which are centuries old, are displayed as they were in the 18th century.
   It houses some of the most valuable and historic items in the collection, including intricately crafted jewels, precious objects, and gold and silver works of art. These artifacts are displayed without glass cases, relying on the security of the room itself, which is highly controlled.
   The emphasis in the Historical Green Vault is on the aesthetic experience, with the rooms themselves being works of art, designed to evoke the opulence and splendor of the Baroque era.

The New Green Vault is also located in Royal Palace.
  When it was opened to the public in 2006 it was conceptualized as a modern exhibition space where the focus is more on the objects themselves rather than the immersive baroque experience offered by the Historical Green Vault. 
   The New Green Vault displays around 1,000 exquisite and historically significant objects, including many that are just as old and valuable as those in the Historical Green Vault. The items are displayed in glass cases, allowing for a close-up view while ensuring security.
   

Which one then?

Tourists often find it confusing to decide which Green Vault to visit or which ticket to buy. Since both the Historical and New Green Vaults are located in the same complex and feature similarly named exhibitions, visitors sometimes mistake one for the other and often assume that the
Historical one has the original artifacts. ​
​If time permits, do both. Remember that the Historical Green Vault needs to be pre-booked and pre-purchased because it has a timed entry. If you don't have time to do this, you can try  to see if there are slots available at short notice.  
I personally like the  New Green Vault because it gives me a chance to get really close to the objects and see the details, which I must add, are pretty amazing. Look at the image of the ivory frigate for instance- there are names written on the hull. And not just a few, but the entire family tree all the way upto the first of the ancestors. 

Old Masters gallery

The Old Masters Gallery in Dresden is not just a repository of paintings; it is a testament to the cultural ambitions of the Saxon electors and a symbol of Dresden’s rich artistic heritage. Its collection offers a comprehensive journey through the evolution of European painting, making it a must-visit for art lovers and historians alike.
The paintings are displayed in a series of grand rooms, organized chronologically and by region, allowing visitors to follow the development of European art from the Renaissance to the Baroque.
In addition to its paintings, the Old Masters Gallery also houses a collection of antique Roman marble statues. These statues are a testament to the gallery’s broad scope, showcasing not only the painting but also the classical art of sculpture. The statues, which include figures of gods, emperors, and mythological heroes, offer visitors a glimpse into the ancient world and its artistic achievements.