Armoury

The Armory, originating from the possessions of Saxon dukes and electors, is one of the most valuable collections of ceremonial weapons and costumes worldwide. It includes masterpieces from weapon smiths, artists, and craftsmen from all over Europe and the Orient, comprising about 10,000 ceremonial weapons, equestrian equipment, ceremonial garments, Kunstkammer pieces, and portraits, mainly from the 16th to 18th centuries, from the possessions of the Wettin electors.

In the Grand Hall of the Dresden Royal Palace, which has been restored to its former glory more than 290 years after its disappearance in 1733, over 380 works are presented. Among them are tournament and ceremonial weapons illustrating various historical tournament types and representing the splendor of the electors, especially at the Saxon court. With its monumental dimensions of 57 meters in length and 13 meters in width, the Grand Hall of the Armory offers the opportunity to not only display but also stage a selection of its most significant armors and weapons from the late 15th to the 17th centuries in a manner that corresponds to the original use of the objects.

The Renaissance Wing opens up the history of the palace from a new perspective: The two permanent exhibitions, “Electoral Wardrobe” and “On the Way to Elector Power,” allow visitors to discover the world’s largest treasure trove of ceremonial weapons and garments from the time of the Reformation and early Baroque. In the exhibition area “Worldview and Knowledge around 1600,” works of late Renaissance art attest to the diversity and fascination of the Kunstkammer.

The Turkish Chamber, one of the oldest and most significant collections of Ottoman art outside Turkey, also reflects Turkish fashion at the Saxon court. This is evident in Oriental and Orientalizing weapons, clothing, equestrian equipment, and magnificent Turkish tents.

The Gun Gallery presents a representative selection of about 500 magnificent firearms from the 16th to the 18th centuries, once owned by the Saxon electors. In 18 built-in showcases, rifles and pistols from across Europe are displayed in a chronological-geographical order, supplemented by ancestral portraits, tournament pictures, and antlers, some from the original inventory of the so-called “Long Corridor.”

Address

Residenzschloss (Royal Palace)
Taschenberg 2
01067 Dresden

Opening hours

Tuesday to Sunday 10 am to 6 pm
Monday closed

Extras

• audio guide
• guided tours
• café
• shop
• limited disabled access
• accessible restroom