My Visit to the Schloss Museum.

   The 1881 Throne.

I was not able to take photos in the museum, but I've found this one that  shows the 1881 replica throne in the throne room.   Several state rooms in the Schloss Museum have been reconstructed from old photographs, with reproduction paintings and furniture especially made or sourced from benefactors.  Some artifacts are the originals, those that were removed and hidden for safe keeping during the war.  The building was badly damaged in 1944,  and lay in ruins until it was completely demolished, amid much protest, in 1960.  The site became the Schloss Park, an area for sitting amid gardens and fountains. 

One of the most imposing rooms was the state dining room, with a very long, central table, set out for 20 places.  Several places had a touch screen in the shape of the place mat, where the history, aspects of life in the Schloss,  and the lives of those who lived there could be read about in detail, a rather imaginative way of displaying information I thought.  I had an audio guide in English, and after working out how to operate the gadget, I enjoyed the commentary about the various rooms, the paintings, styles of furniture and the activities that took place in each room.

The Museum in the left wing and the Library to the right.

In early 2004, a scheme began for the building of a new shopping arcade, but keeping the former facade of the Schloss.   Much of the stonework, columns and architectural detail had been saved after the demolition, and were used in the reconstruction. Amid objections to the huge cost of the development, much of the scheme had to be financed by the businesses that took up the shop space.

The shopping arcade occupies the centre of the building, whilst the left wing houses the museum, with the library in the right.   Some rooms are set aside for public and private functions. The Quadriga can be seen below, and also a monumental statue to Duke Friedrich Wilhelm of Braunschweig astride his horse.

Schloss Arkaden, with the library entrance shown right.

A view taken in 1901.