Culture | The long (over)haul

One of Berlin’s star attractions is closing for 14 years

Revamping the Pergamon Museum is a monumental task

Builders prepare to begin work on the restoration of the Hellenistic Hall in the Pergamon Museum, Berlin — A monumental taskImage: Alamy

Oct 26th 2023|Berlin

What is 14 years? A mere flash, compared with the antiquity of a 7,000-year-old female figurine from Syria, or a processional hallway from Babylon, or the façade of an ancient Roman market. But in the life of a busy city such as Berlin, the time between now and 2037 could feel like an eternity. To museum lovers it certainly will, because that is how long much of the Pergamon Museum, home to the treasures described above and many more, will stay shut once it closes for renovations on October 23rd.

This article appeared in the Culture section of the print edition under the headline “The long (over)haul”