Rendezvous with the Lion

For the first time, the most significant masterpieces from the medieval collection at Burg Dankwarderode are being displayed in a temporary, newly curated exhibition on Museumstraße. The aim of the new presentation is to provide accessible insights into one of the most fascinating chapters of the Middle Ages: the era of Henry the Lion, reflected in unique artistic artifacts, including significant works from the “Welf Treasure.”

Visitors will experience the valuable artworks, including the famous runic casket (8th century), the arm reliquary of St. Blaise (c. 1040), the precious imperial cloak of Otto IV (c. 1200), and – in a new display – the Brunswick Castle Lion (c. 1166) on the ground floor of the Herzog Anton Ulrich Museum. Spanning eight thematic sections, the exhibition paints a multifaceted picture of the era, encompassing courtly representation, religious interpretations of the world, and urban renewal. It also highlights aspects of Braunschweig’s development into a major trading city of the late Middle Ages.

The reason for the relocation of the medieval collection to the Herzog Anton Ulrich Museum is the structural condition of Burg Dankwarderode. In the course of the collection’s transfer – with the help of private donors – numerous works were examined for conservation purposes and restored, such as the precious 15th-century crown of St. Cyriacus or the colorful tapestry of the “Queen of Sheba” (14th century).