ONE of the most sumptuous European treasure chambers will reopen to the public today with the inauguration of the historic Green Vault in the Royal Palace in Dresden, which was destroyed in the Allied bombing raids that reduced the city to rubble in February 1945.

The museum, one of the oldest in Europe, was founded in 1729 by the Saxon King August the Strong and has been restored to its baroque glory.

It is being celebrated as another symbol of Dresden’s rebirth less than a year after the consecration of the baroque Frauenkirche (Church of Our Lady), which was rebuilt from scratch after collapsing after the February 13 bombing raid that unleashed a firestorm and killed tens of thousands.

Dirk Syndram, the curator of the Green Vault, said: “After the reconstruction of the Frauenkirche this is the second cultural miracle. It’s something that one hadn’t believed could ever exist again. It elevates Dresden to one of the top cultural sites in Europe.”

The eight restored rooms of the Green Vault, originally painted green but covered in mirrors and gold decorations by King August, contain a priceless collection of 3,000 artworks of gold and silver, precious gems, enamel, ivory, bronze and amber.

Legend says that August the Strong could break horseshoes and crush goblets, but he also acquired a taste for the fine arts in his visits to the court of the French King Louis XIV.

The treasure, which represents some of the best European craftsmanship of the 16th, 17th and 18th centuries, was amassed by the Wettin dynasty, which ruled the kingdom of Saxony in what is now eastern Germany. Displayed in richly embellished cases and on ornamental tables along mirrored walls, it evokes the wealth and power of Europe’s absolutist monarchies. The collection ranges from medieval goblets to luxury items of the Renaissance and early Baroque period, and includes figurines by Balthasar Permoser, the sculptor, as well as work by the court jeweller Johann Melchior Dinglinger.

“The biggest highlight is the museum itself, this fusion of architecture, presentation and objects,” Professor Syndram said. “But what still takes my breath away is the Jewel Room.”

It is the first time the collection is being displayed in its entirety since 1938. During the war it was moved to a castle in the hills around Dresden to protect it from Allied bombing.

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