Kunstgewerbemuseum im Schloss Köpenick (Museum of Decorative Arts)

In the Decorative Arts Museum in Köpenick Palace, you enter a comprehensive exhibition of interior design from the Renaissance, Baroque and Rococo eras. The precious furnishings reflect civic, courtly and religious occupants. Tapestries, leather wallpapers, wall panels, a Baroque cabinet, silverware and porcelain are presented in surroundings coherent with their original function. Wander through impressive rooms of restored stucco and ornate ceiling frescoes.

Precious interior design in the hunting castle Hohenzollern

The collection of the Kunstgewerbemuseum is divided between the Schloss Köpenick and the Haus am Kulturforum. Your visit takes you past the important surviving Schloss der Hohenzollern. Built between 1677 and 1689, it stands picturesquely on an island on the shores of the Dahme River. Inside, the original ceilings and coat of arms hall of this castle are preserved. Some exhibits are retrieved from the Deutsches Gewerbemuseum zu Berlin in 1876. In 1963, the Kunstgewerbemuseum (east) is established. After a comprehensive ten-year renovation, the castle exudes new splendour since reopening in 2004, and it houses the interior design collection of the Staatliche Museen zu Berlin. Despite great losses in World War II, it is one of the most important in Europe. 21 remarkable rooms showcase Baroque artworks and four interior styles from, among others, the Swiss Schloss Haldenstein and Höllrich. Tucked away is the silver buffet used by Friedrich I at the Berlin Stadtschloss. Over 500 exhibits make up a comprehensive exhibition in coherent surroundings, offering you a deep insight into courtly, public and private culture of the 16th to 18th centuries. In addition to elaborate furniture and wall decorations, see porcelain and silver centrepieces and fantastic clocks and mirrors. Another special feature are the masterful Graubündner stucco ceilings. In the Baroque attic, note the collection of metal, glass, porcelain and faience. In the basement, you can visit the remains of the north-east tower of an earlier building. Learn more about the history of the castle's construction at multimedia stations where a library complements the high-profile exhibition.

Highlights of the collection

• Wiesentheider mirror cabinet (1724/1725)
• Lacquer cabinet with chinois scenes from the Palazzo Granieri in Turin (circa 1740/50)
• Four fully accessible rafters from Schloss Haldenstein and Höllrich
• Famous silver buffet of Friedrich I from the Berliner Stadtschloss
• Coat of arms room with tableware from the Königlichen Porzellan-Manufaktur Berlin from the Wrocław City Palace
• Baroque roof truss with study collection

Art and natural history in Köpenick

Only 3 km from the Schloss Köpenick is the gallery of the Alte Schule Adlershof of Contemporary Art. In the listed Kulturzentrum, you can see market-independent works by regional and international artists. You can also visit the second largest butterfly exhibition in Europe south of the castle by the Dahme. More than 4,000 specimens from all over the world are exhibited here. Experienced naturalists provide tips for hiking and cycling trips in the surroundings. Admission is free.

Our tips for your visit

The Museum of Decorative Arts is located in Schloss Köpenick on the castle island. This is about two minutes' walk from the stop Schloßplatz Köpenick. The tram and bus lines 27, 62, 67, 60, 61, 62, 63, 68 stop here. Alternatively, take the S-Bahn S47 162, 164 or 165 to Berlin Spindlersfeld. From October to March, the exhibition is open Thursday to Sunday and from April to September from Tuesday to Sunday. Berlin WelcomeCard gives you 25% discount and the Museum Pass free admission.

Information for school groups

Admission is free for children under 18. Students visit the exhibition free of charge. Please register in advance for guided tours from the 11th grade.

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