Local authorities say the works of art are seen as one of the world´s oldest and most significant collections of its type outside Turkey.

The "Tuerckische Cammer" was inaugurated at Residenzschloss castle by German Foreign Ministers Guido Westerwelle and his Turkish counterpart Ahmet Davutoglu.

During a ribbon cutting ceremony, Davutoglu spoke of "a bridge between both peoples and cultures.

Westerwelle, praised the exhibition as "not only a mirror of great cultural history but also a symbol for the common future of Germany and Turkey."

The highlight among the 600 objects on permanent display is an Ottoman state tent, renovated between 1994 and 2009 at a cost of 3.6 million euros.

The tent measures 20 metres in length, 8 metres in width and 6 metres in height.

Other items include knight´s armour, swords, helmets, flags and weapons as well as wooden carved life-size horses decorated with golden ornaments.

According to the exhibition´s organisers, Saxony´s state ministry for science and art, each one of the 150-kilogram heavy horses is unique.

The works of art were collected by the electors of the state of Saxony between the 16th and the 19th century from diplomatic gifts, acquisitions and booty.