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CULTURE

Berlin state library displays treasures for 350th anniversary

In celebration of its 350-year anniversary, Berlin's state library has sent some of its most prized pieces – including a Gutenberg Bible from 1456 – to the German Historical Museum (DHM) for a three-month exhibition.

Berlin state library displays treasures for 350th anniversary
Photo: DPA

Founded in 1611 and possessing over 10,800,000 printed publications, the library has loaned some of its more famous artefacts to the DHM show “A Library Makes History.”

Set among the museum’s dazzling array of items from the past two millenia, the library’s 1456 Gutenberg Bible, locked in a display case near the centre of the hall, appears almost ordinary at first glance.

But the flawless specimen of Gutenberg’s printing revolution is insured for €25 million, if anyone doubts its cultural import.

For museum spokesman Dr. Rudolf Trabold, the presence of the Bible – just one of the exhibition’s exceptional pieces – helps visitors appreciate their place in history.

“Our goal is to display the artefacts not just on their own terms, but in their full historical context,” Trabold told The Local.

“The library loaned us the Gutenberg, hand-written manuscripts by Frederick the Great, Bach and Mozart – and you can only understand them in relation to other facets of their time.”

The library’s most prized items will join the Historical Museum’s permanent collection for the next three months, a move intended to help them reach a broader audience.

Click here for a photo gallery of the exhibition.

Klaus Hinkel, visiting the museum with his 11-year-old son, told The Local he appreciated the museum’s scope and its incorporation of the library’s works.

“I’ve been here many times before, and I think the museum did a fine job of integrating the library’s pieces into its collection,” he said. “For my son, it presents a massive history in a way that’s easy to digest, and it makes it easy to find connections between artefacts from the same era.”

The Gutenberg Bible, for example, lies adjacent to the museum’s 95 Theses of Martin Luther, a placement Trabold put into the context of Luther’s Protestant reformation and its dependence on the printing press, popularized by Gutenberg, to spread its message.

Then there is the library’s 1555 diagram of new military strategy, composed by a Prussian duke, hanging adjacent to a shining suit of armour whose code of knightly battle it eventually replaced.

A few steps away is a handwritten letter from Frederick the Great to French thinker Voltaire, positioned next to an original composition by Johann Sebastian Bach that was commissioned by the Prussian king.

Of the library’s priceless inventory of millions of publications, manuscripts and microforms, the hundred or so items on loan to the museum represent the cream of the crop.

But the Gutenberg Bible, one of the finest of only 21 originals remaining worldwide, is undeniably the prize catch.

“The book’s parchment is so light-sensitive it can be displayed for only a few months before being returned to five years of total darkness,” Dr. Trabold said.

“It’s special to see it in its true historical context, but it won’t be on display for long. It’s been around for over 500 years, and we hope to help it last for at least another 500.”

“A Library Makes History” runs until June 19 at the German Historical Museum in Berlin. Guided tours are also offered.

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STUDYING IN GERMANY

What’s it like to study abroad in Berlin?

Picking the right city to study abroad in Germany can be a tricky decision, and there are numerous factors to consider. Freya Jones shares her experience of doing a year abroad in the capital and explains why Berlin could also be the right choice for you.

What's it like to study abroad in Berlin?

Five months after moving to Berlin for my year abroad (a compulsory part of my German degree from the UK) the German capital is certainly a destination I’d recommend. 

Although it’s less “traditionally German” than many other corners of the country, and simultaneously more comparable to the blanket big city experience worldwide, Berlin’s unique history and culture make it a great place to explore – and unsurprisingly very popular with international students. 

Like all capitals, it has its pros and cons, so here’s what stood out to me during my experience so far.

Arrival

You’ve probably heard horror stories about the Berlin housing market, and from experience I can say they’re largely true. Finding an apartment here before moving to the city is notoriously difficult, and more expensive than in other parts of Germany. 

What you should bear in mind, however, is that unlike other German cities, Berlin doesn’t impose fines if you’re unable to secure a registration appointment within two weeks of arrival (three months if you already have a visa). This makes searching for a good WG, Studentenwerk, or other rental far easier post-arrival if your first stop is a homestay or somewhere else temporary. 

Blocks of rental flats in Berlin.

Blocks of rental flats in Berlin. Photo: picture alliance/dpa | Monika Skolimowska

Despite a recent wave of strikes and construction work, transport links in Berlin are still very strong. If you’re enrolled as a student during your year abroad, you’ll be entitled to a discounted pass for city transport, including a number of tram, bus and train options that run all the way to the city’s outskirts and even into Brandenburg (Zone C).

What’s more, direct trains from Berlin’s BER Airport make it more accessible than more remote locations in Germany when you arrive equipped with a year’s worth of luggage.

English

My German tutors in the UK were slightly concerned when I chose Berlin, because they didn’t think I’d have much opportunity to practise my German. Looking back, this worry wasn’t without cause, and if your primary goal is German language improvement, it may be worth considering somewhere more rural or less international. 

Unlike small towns I’ve visited elsewhere in Germany, where many people speak little to no English, it’s everywhere in Berlin. Because the international population is so large, new friends from any country are likely to speak it by default.

However, this can obviously be mitigated by signing up for German-only university classes, as I’ve done as an exchange student at Humboldt University, or finding a German language job. And on the flip side, if you’re here to study a discipline other than German, the ubiquity of English in Berlin has you covered.

READ ALSO: The top German cities for international students in 2024

Cultural Experiences

Unsurprisingly, Berlin offers no end of unique cultural experiences. For new arrivals, there’s plenty to fill your time with, and I’d really recommend “playing the tourist” for a couple of weeks while you settle in. 

Bucket-list locations include the National Gallery and museums on Museuminsel, the Berlin Wall memorial, the Brandenburg Gate, and the site of the Berlin airlift at Tempelhof. And beyond this, there’s never a shortage of things to do – walks around Tiergarten and the customary Sunday flea markets (Flohmarkt am Mauerpark being the most famous) are popular with visitors and locals alike.

A skateboarder performs tricks on Tempelhofer Feld

A skateboarder performs tricks on a former runway at Berlin’s Tempelhofer Feld, a popular meeting place in Berlin-Neukölln. Photo: picture alliance/dpa | Christoph Soeder

Something I’ve also really enjoyed after being here for a while is noticing the small details which differentiate the former East and West Berlin sectors, such as different traffic lights and types of transport. While much of the architecture is admittedly stark, grey and not as pretty as other parts of Germany, the way in which present-day Berlin is a visible product of its recent history makes it a fascinating place to live.

READ ALSO: How do I get a student visa for Germany and what does it let me do?

Pros & Cons

Any culture shock inevitably comes with both positives and negatives, and these are a few which particularly struck me after moving to Berlin from the UK. 

Cons: many shops refuse to take card payment and only accept cash; all shops and supermarkets close on Sundays; there’s no guarantee of being let into a club or bar on a night out, and the traffic lights genuinely seem to conspire against drivers and pedestrians alike. (Also, the weather in winter really will destroy your soul, and this is a Brit talking…)

Pros: the quality of food is much better here than in the UK, and cheaper; the cost of alcohol is much lower; public transport is cheaper and more efficient than in London; work-life balance and mental wellbeing are taken very seriously; and finally, there’s a far less visible “class system” than in the UK, possibly due to the greater access and affordability of German universities.  (This is really nice, especially if you’re coming from a UK university where socio-economic prejudice is very common.)

READ ALSO: How to stay in Germany after graduating from a German university

Overall, Berlin has been a vibrant place to spend my exchange semester. Not only has it given me insights into the most significant shifts in recent German history, but it also offers the archetypal experience of living in a bustling, multicultural city. So while it’s distinctly different to anywhere else in Germany you might be considering, the variety of things to see and do in Berlin will keep you engaged for your full year abroad.

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