Munich (dpa/lby) - The first part of the general renovation of the Deutsches Museum in Munich has been completed: On Thursday, 20 new exhibitions were opened in the newly renovated part of the building. At the ceremony, Bavaria's Prime Minister Markus Söder (CSU) put the house as the oldest technology museum in the world in a row with the Science Museum in London or the Smithsonian Museum in Washington: "We often don't value that enough." The Deutsches Museum has a global appeal. The public will be able to enter from Friday. A festival around the museum is planned until Sunday, and regular operations are scheduled to start on Monday.
Bavaria and the federal government each paid 180 million euros for the first construction phase, and the museum contributed 85 million from its own funds and donations. The rest of the house is to be renovated by 2028. Completion was planned for 2025 to mark the museum's 100th anniversary, but was delayed. The construction costs also shot up, which caused fierce criticism and discussions. In the meantime, the total costs are said to be around 750 million euros.
Federal Research Minister Bettina Stark-Watzinger (FDP) summarized a gigantic financing program that was worthwhile in a video message. Science Minister Markus Blume (CSU) emphasized the connection between tradition and progress. The guests of honor were united by one wish: the reconstruction of the popular mine, which had to close due to the second construction phase and whose continued existence was uncertain. Museum director Wolfgang Heckl appealed to the sponsors: If everyone helps, it can be done.
