UNESCO-World Heritage Day on the Museumsinsel

05.06.2016
Museumsinsel Berlin

This year's World Heritage Day takes place Sunday, 5 June 2016 on the Museumsinsel in Berlin under the motto “UNESCO – World Heritage Unites". Thematic tours and presentations highlight the world heritage treasures of the Staatliche Museen zu Berlin – from relics from the lost city of Troy and archaeological finds from the ancient Egyptian metropolis of Thebes to Neanderthal tools. At the same time researchers from the Staatliche Museen will bring the precarious position of world heritage in the Near and Middle East into the spotlight.

The continued danger to and irreversible destruction of cultural sites gives increasing grounds for concern: the destruction not only represents a serious loss for the Near and Middle East, but also affects the entire global community. With their outstanding collections spanning millennia of art and culture in Europe and the Mediterranean region, the museums and objects preserved on the Museumsinsel Berlin – itself a UNESCO-World Heritage Site – are interlinked with the highly endangered cultural sites in the Near East in manifold ways. As the site of intercultural encounters, the Museumsinsel provides a forum for the shared responsibility for world heritage.

This year's World Heritage Day has been organized by the Staatliche Museen zu Berlin and the Monuments Department of the city of Berlin. Under the title “Sharing Heritage" a set of thematic tours in selected collections have been designed to inspire understanding, enthusiasm, tolerance, and respect for our common cultural heritage.

Tickets, information, and bookings

Visitors can purchase a day-pass at the ticket booth of any participating museum on 5 June 2016 for €10, concessions €5. Participation in events is free with the day pass. Since participation is limited we recommend that visitors reserve their place in advance, by 1 June 2016, by email or by phone: 030 266 42 42 42 (Mon.–Fri. 9:00–16:00).

Complete programme for World Heritage Day (only available in German)