diff --git a/frontend/src/lib/components/DocumentBottomPanel.svelte.spec.ts b/frontend/src/lib/components/DocumentBottomPanel.svelte.spec.ts
deleted file mode 100644
index 975d36e6..00000000
--- a/frontend/src/lib/components/DocumentBottomPanel.svelte.spec.ts
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,47 +0,0 @@
-import { describe, it, expect, afterEach } from 'vitest';
-import { cleanup, render } from 'vitest-browser-svelte';
-import { page } from 'vitest/browser';
-import DocumentBottomPanel from './DocumentBottomPanel.svelte';
-import type { Comment } from '$lib/types';
-
-afterEach(cleanup);
-
-function makeComment(id: string): Comment {
-	return {
-		id,
-		authorId: 'user-1',
-		authorName: 'Alice',
-		content: 'Hello',
-		createdAt: new Date().toISOString(),
-		updatedAt: new Date().toISOString(),
-		replies: []
-	};
-}
-
-const doc = { id: 'doc-1', title: 'Test' };
-
-const baseProps = {
-	doc,
-	canComment: true,
-	currentUserId: 'user-1',
-	canAdmin: false,
-	height: 300,
-	activeTab: 'discussion' as const
-};
-
-describe('DocumentBottomPanel – discussion badge', () => {
-	it('always shows a badge on the Discussion tab', async () => {
-		render(DocumentBottomPanel, { ...baseProps, comments: [], open: true });
-		await expect.element(page.getByTestId('discussion-count-badge')).toBeInTheDocument();
-		await expect.element(page.getByTestId('discussion-count-badge')).toHaveTextContent('0');
-	});
-
-	it('shows the correct count when comments exist', async () => {
-		render(DocumentBottomPanel, {
-			...baseProps,
-			comments: [makeComment('c-1'), makeComment('c-2')],
-			open: true
-		});
-		await expect.element(page.getByTestId('discussion-count-badge')).toHaveTextContent('2');
-	});
-});
diff --git a/frontend/src/lib/components/DocumentMetadataDrawer.svelte b/frontend/src/lib/components/DocumentMetadataDrawer.svelte
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..22e8b13a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/frontend/src/lib/components/DocumentMetadataDrawer.svelte
@@ -0,0 +1,146 @@
+<script lang="ts">
+import { m } from '$lib/paraglide/messages.js';
+import { formatDate } from '$lib/utils/date';
+import { formatDocumentStatus } from '$lib/utils/documentStatusLabel';
+import { personAvatarColor } from '$lib/utils/personFormat';
+
+type Person = { id: string; firstName: string; lastName: string };
+type Tag = { id: string; name: string };
+
+type Props = {
+	documentDate: string | null;
+	location: string | null;
+	status: string;
+	sender: Person | null;
+	receivers: Person[];
+	tags: Tag[];
+};
+
+let { documentDate, location, status, sender, receivers, tags }: Props = $props();
+
+const VISIBLE_RECEIVER_LIMIT = 5;
+
+const formattedDate = $derived(documentDate ? formatDate(documentDate) : '—');
+const displayLocation = $derived(location ?? '—');
+const statusLabel = $derived(formatDocumentStatus(status));
+const visibleReceivers = $derived(receivers.slice(0, VISIBLE_RECEIVER_LIMIT));
+const hiddenReceiverCount = $derived(Math.max(0, receivers.length - VISIBLE_RECEIVER_LIMIT));
+const hasPersons = $derived(sender !== null || receivers.length > 0);
+const hasTags = $derived(tags.length > 0);
+
+let showAllReceivers = $state(false);
+
+const displayedReceivers = $derived(showAllReceivers ? receivers : visibleReceivers);
+
+function getInitials(person: Person): string {
+	return `${person.firstName.charAt(0)}${person.lastName.charAt(0)}`.toUpperCase();
+}
+
+function getFullName(person: Person): string {
+	return `${person.firstName} ${person.lastName}`;
+}
+</script>
+
+{#snippet personCard(person: Person)}
+	<a
+		href="/persons/{person.id}"
+		class="group flex items-center gap-2.5 rounded px-2 py-1.5 transition-colors hover:bg-muted"
+	>
+		<span
+			class="flex h-8 w-8 shrink-0 items-center justify-center rounded-full text-xs font-bold text-white"
+			style="background-color: {personAvatarColor(person.id)}"
+			aria-hidden="true"
+		>
+			{getInitials(person)}
+		</span>
+		<span class="font-serif text-sm text-ink">{getFullName(person)}</span>
+	</a>
+{/snippet}
+
+<div class="border-b border-line p-6">
+	<div class="grid grid-cols-1 gap-6 lg:grid-cols-3">
+		<!-- Column 1: Details -->
+		<div>
+			<h2 class="mb-4 font-sans text-xs font-bold tracking-widest text-ink-3 uppercase">
+				{m.doc_details_section_details()}
+			</h2>
+			<dl class="space-y-3 font-serif text-sm">
+				<div>
+					<dt class="font-sans text-xs font-medium text-ink-3">{m.doc_details_field_date()}</dt>
+					<dd class="text-ink">{formattedDate}</dd>
+				</div>
+				<div>
+					<dt class="font-sans text-xs font-medium text-ink-3">{m.form_label_location()}</dt>
+					<dd class="text-ink">{displayLocation}</dd>
+				</div>
+				<div>
+					<dt class="font-sans text-xs font-medium text-ink-3">{m.doc_details_field_status()}</dt>
+					<dd class="text-ink">{statusLabel}</dd>
+				</div>
+			</dl>
+		</div>
+
+		<!-- Column 2: Personen -->
+		<div>
+			<h2 class="mb-4 font-sans text-xs font-bold tracking-widest text-ink-3 uppercase">
+				{m.doc_details_section_persons()}
+			</h2>
+			{#if hasPersons}
+				<div class="space-y-3">
+					{#if sender}
+						<div>
+							<p class="mb-1 font-sans text-xs font-medium text-ink-3">
+								{m.doc_details_field_sender()}
+							</p>
+							{@render personCard(sender)}
+						</div>
+					{/if}
+					{#if receivers.length > 0}
+						<div>
+							<p class="mb-1 font-sans text-xs font-medium text-ink-3">
+								{m.doc_details_field_receivers()}
+							</p>
+							<div class="space-y-0.5">
+								{#each displayedReceivers as receiver (receiver.id)}
+									{@render personCard(receiver)}
+								{/each}
+							</div>
+							{#if hiddenReceiverCount > 0 && !showAllReceivers}
+								<button
+									type="button"
+									onclick={() => (showAllReceivers = true)}
+									class="mt-1 px-2 font-sans text-xs font-medium text-ink-2 transition-colors hover:text-ink"
+								>
+									{m.doc_details_more_receivers({ count: hiddenReceiverCount })}
+								</button>
+							{/if}
+						</div>
+					{/if}
+				</div>
+			{:else}
+				<p class="font-serif text-sm text-ink-3">{m.doc_details_no_persons()}</p>
+			{/if}
+		</div>
+
+		<!-- Column 3: Schlagwoerter -->
+		<div>
+			<h2 class="mb-4 font-sans text-xs font-bold tracking-widest text-ink-3 uppercase">
+				{m.doc_details_section_tags()}
+			</h2>
+			{#if hasTags}
+				<div class="flex flex-wrap gap-2">
+					{#each tags as tag (tag.id)}
+						<a
+							href="/?tag={encodeURIComponent(tag.name)}"
+							class="rounded bg-muted px-2 py-0.5 text-xs font-bold tracking-wide text-ink uppercase transition-colors hover:bg-accent"
+						>
+							{tag.name}
+						</a>
+					{/each}
+				</div>
+			{:else}
+				<p class="font-serif text-sm text-ink-3">{m.doc_details_no_tags()}</p>
+			{/if}
+		</div>
+	</div>
+</div>
diff --git a/frontend/src/lib/components/DocumentTopBar.svelte b/frontend/src/lib/components/DocumentTopBar.svelte
index 9c1bd419..5f63473d 100644
--- a/frontend/src/lib/components/DocumentTopBar.svelte
+++ b/frontend/src/lib/components/DocumentTopBar.svelte
@@ -1,12 +1,15 @@
 <script lang="ts">
 import { m } from '$lib/paraglide/messages.js';
+import { slide } from 'svelte/transition';
 import { formatDate } from '$lib/utils/personFormat';
 import { clickOutside } from '$lib/actions/clickOutside';
 import PersonChipRow from './PersonChipRow.svelte';
 import AnnotateHintStrip from './AnnotateHintStrip.svelte';
 import OverflowPillButton from './OverflowPillButton.svelte';
+import DocumentMetadataDrawer from './DocumentMetadataDrawer.svelte';
 
 type Person = { id: string; firstName: string; lastName: string };
+type Tag = { id: string; name: string };
 
 type Doc = {
 	id: string;
@@ -17,6 +20,9 @@ type Doc = {
 	receivers?: Person[] | null;
 	filePath?: string | null;
 	contentType?: string | null;
+	location?: string | null;
+	status?: string | null;
+	tags?: Tag[] | null;
 };
 
 type Props = {
@@ -29,6 +35,8 @@ type Props = {
 
 let { doc, canWrite, canAnnotate, fileUrl, annotateMode = $bindable() }: Props = $props();
 
+let detailsOpen = $state(false);
+
 const isPdf = $derived(!!doc.filePath && doc.contentType?.startsWith('application/pdf'));
 const receivers = $derived(doc.receivers ?? []);
 const extraCount = $derived(Math.max(0, receivers.length - 2));
@@ -155,6 +163,27 @@ let mobileMenuOpen = $state(false);
 			<OverflowPillButton extraCount={extraCount} persons={overflowPersons} />
 		{/if}
 
+		<!-- Details toggle -->
+		<button
+			type="button"
+			onclick={() => (detailsOpen = !detailsOpen)}
+			aria-expanded={detailsOpen}
+			aria-label={m.doc_details_toggle()}
+			class="ml-2 inline-flex min-h-[44px] shrink-0 items-center gap-1 rounded border px-2 py-1 font-sans text-xs font-semibold transition-colors {detailsOpen ? 'border-primary bg-primary text-primary-fg' : 'border-line text-ink-2 hover:bg-muted hover:text-ink'}"
+		>
+			{m.doc_details_toggle()}
+			<svg
+				class="h-3.5 w-3.5 transition-transform duration-200 {detailsOpen ? 'rotate-180' : ''}"
+				viewBox="0 0 24 24"
+				fill="none"
+				stroke="currentColor"
+				stroke-width="2.5"
+				aria-hidden="true"
+			>
+				<path stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" d="M19 9l-7 7-7-7" />
+			</svg>
+		</button>
+
 		<!-- Divider between metadata and actions -->
 		<div class="mx-3 hidden h-6 w-px shrink-0 bg-line md:block"></div>
 
@@ -233,4 +262,18 @@ let mobileMenuOpen = $state(false);
 
 	<!-- Hint strip — only when annotateMode, only at ≥768px -->
 	<AnnotateHintStrip annotateMode={annotateMode} />
+
+	<!-- Metadata drawer -->
+	{#if detailsOpen}
+		<div transition:slide={{ duration: 200 }}>
+			<DocumentMetadataDrawer
+				documentDate={doc.documentDate ?? null}
+				location={doc.location ?? null}
+				status={doc.status ?? 'PLACEHOLDER'}
+				sender={doc.sender ?? null}
+				receivers={doc.receivers ? [...doc.receivers] : []}
+				tags={doc.tags ? [...doc.tags] : []}
+			/>
+		</div>
+	{/if}
 </div>
diff --git a/frontend/src/routes/documents/[id]/+page.server.ts b/frontend/src/routes/documents/[id]/+page.server.ts
index 01777b9a..5fb27114 100644
--- a/frontend/src/routes/documents/[id]/+page.server.ts
+++ b/frontend/src/routes/documents/[id]/+page.server.ts
@@ -1,17 +1,12 @@
 import { error, redirect } from '@sveltejs/kit';
-import { env } from '$env/dynamic/private';
 import { createApiClient } from '$lib/api.server';
 import { getErrorMessage } from '$lib/errors';
 
 export async function load({ params, fetch }) {
 	const { id } = params;
 	const api = createApiClient(fetch);
-	const base = env.API_INTERNAL_URL || 'http://localhost:8080';
 
-	const [docResult, commentsRes] = await Promise.all([
-		api.GET('/api/documents/{id}', { params: { path: { id } } }),
-		fetch(`${base}/api/documents/${id}/comments`).catch(() => null)
-	]);
+	const docResult = await api.GET('/api/documents/{id}', { params: { path: { id } } });
 
 	if (docResult.response.status === 401) throw redirect(302, '/login');
 
@@ -20,14 +15,5 @@ export async function load({ params, fetch }) {
 		throw error(docResult.response.status, getErrorMessage(code));
 	}
 
-	let comments: unknown[] = [];
-	if (commentsRes?.ok) {
-		try {
-			comments = await commentsRes.json();
-		} catch {
-			// ignore invalid response
-		}
-	}
-
-	return { document: docResult.data!, comments };
+	return { document: docResult.data! };
 }
diff --git a/frontend/src/routes/documents/[id]/+page.svelte b/frontend/src/routes/documents/[id]/+page.svelte
index fd986cfd..dd51e27a 100644
--- a/frontend/src/routes/documents/[id]/+page.svelte
+++ b/frontend/src/routes/documents/[id]/+page.svelte
@@ -3,9 +3,7 @@ import { onMount } from 'svelte';
 import { page } from '$app/state';
 import DocumentTopBar from '$lib/components/DocumentTopBar.svelte';
 import DocumentViewer from '$lib/components/DocumentViewer.svelte';
-import DocumentBottomPanel from '$lib/components/DocumentBottomPanel.svelte';
 import AnnotationSidePanel from '$lib/components/AnnotationSidePanel.svelte';
-import type { DocumentPanelTab } from '$lib/types';
 
 let { data } = $props();
 
@@ -62,38 +60,17 @@ let annotateMode = $state(false);
 let activeAnnotationId = $state<string | null>(null);
 let activeAnnotationPage = $state<number | null>(null);
 
-// Close the panel when entering annotate mode so the PDF is fully visible.
-$effect(() => {
-	if (annotateMode) panelOpen = false;
-});
+// ── Navigation / init ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
 
-// ── Bottom panel state ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
-
-let panelOpen = $state(false);
-let panelHeight = $state(0); // set to full height on mount
 let navHeight = $state(0);
-let activeTab = $state<DocumentPanelTab>('metadata');
 
 onMount(() => {
 	navHeight = document.querySelector('header')?.getBoundingClientRect().height ?? 0;
 
-	const topbar = document.querySelector('[data-topbar]');
-	panelHeight = window.innerHeight - navHeight - (topbar?.getBoundingClientRect().height ?? 0);
-
 	if (targetAnnotationId) {
-		// Deep-link into an annotation comment: open the side panel
 		activeAnnotationId = targetAnnotationId;
-	} else if (targetCommentId) {
-		// Deep-link into a document-level comment: open discussion tab
-		panelOpen = true;
-		activeTab = 'discussion';
-	} else if (!doc?.filePath) {
-		// No file yet — open to metadata so the panel is immediately useful.
-		panelOpen = true;
-		activeTab = 'metadata';
 	}
 
-	// Track last-visited document for the dashboard resume strip
 	if (doc?.id) {
 		localStorage.setItem(
 			'familienarchiv.lastVisited',
@@ -106,8 +83,6 @@ onMount(() => {
 			if (activeAnnotationId) {
 				activeAnnotationId = null;
 				activeAnnotationPage = null;
-			} else if (panelOpen) {
-				panelOpen = false;
 			}
 		}
 	}
@@ -160,16 +135,4 @@ onMount(() => {
 			}}
 		/>
 	</div>
-
-	<DocumentBottomPanel
-		doc={doc}
-		comments={(data.comments ?? []) as never[]}
-		canComment={canComment}
-		currentUserId={currentUserId}
-		canAdmin={canAdmin}
-		targetCommentId={targetCommentId}
-		bind:open={panelOpen}
-		bind:height={panelHeight}
-		bind:activeTab={activeTab}
-	/>
 </div>
diff --git a/frontend/src/routes/documents/[id]/page.server.spec.ts b/frontend/src/routes/documents/[id]/page.server.spec.ts
index 2d15c61c..bb8f421a 100644
--- a/frontend/src/routes/documents/[id]/page.server.spec.ts
+++ b/frontend/src/routes/documents/[id]/page.server.spec.ts
@@ -8,17 +8,10 @@ import { createApiClient } from '$lib/api.server';
 
 beforeEach(() => vi.clearAllMocks());
 
-function makeCommentsResponse(comments: unknown[]) {
-	return {
-		ok: true,
-		json: vi.fn().mockResolvedValue(comments)
-	};
-}
-
 // ─── happy path ───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
 
 describe('document detail load — happy path', () => {
-	it('returns document and comments on success', async () => {
+	it('returns document on success', async () => {
 		vi.mocked(createApiClient).mockReturnValue({
 			GET: vi.fn().mockResolvedValue({
 				response: { ok: true, status: 200 },
@@ -26,7 +19,7 @@ describe('document detail load — happy path', () => {
 			})
 		} as ReturnType<typeof createApiClient>);
 
-		const mockFetch = vi.fn().mockResolvedValue(makeCommentsResponse([{ id: 'c1', body: 'Hi' }]));
+		const mockFetch = vi.fn();
 
 		const result = await load({
 			params: { id: '123' },
@@ -34,45 +27,6 @@ describe('document detail load — happy path', () => {
 		});
 
 		expect(result.document.title).toBe('Testbrief');
-		expect(result.comments).toHaveLength(1);
-	});
-
-	it('returns empty comments when the comments fetch fails', async () => {
-		vi.mocked(createApiClient).mockReturnValue({
-			GET: vi.fn().mockResolvedValue({
-				response: { ok: true, status: 200 },
-				data: { id: '123', title: 'Testbrief' }
-			})
-		} as ReturnType<typeof createApiClient>);
-
-		// fetch throws a network error for the comments endpoint
-		const mockFetch = vi.fn().mockRejectedValue(new Error('Network error'));
-
-		const result = await load({
-			params: { id: '123' },
-			fetch: mockFetch as unknown as typeof fetch
-		});
-
-		expect(result.document.title).toBe('Testbrief');
-		expect(result.comments).toEqual([]);
-	});
-
-	it('returns empty comments when the comments response is not ok', async () => {
-		vi.mocked(createApiClient).mockReturnValue({
-			GET: vi.fn().mockResolvedValue({
-				response: { ok: true, status: 200 },
-				data: { id: '123', title: 'Testbrief' }
-			})
-		} as ReturnType<typeof createApiClient>);
-
-		const mockFetch = vi.fn().mockResolvedValue({ ok: false });
-
-		const result = await load({
-			params: { id: '123' },
-			fetch: mockFetch as unknown as typeof fetch
-		});
-
-		expect(result.comments).toEqual([]);
 	});
 });
 
@@ -87,7 +41,7 @@ describe('document detail load — error paths', () => {
 			})
 		} as ReturnType<typeof createApiClient>);
 
-		const mockFetch = vi.fn().mockResolvedValue({ ok: false });
+		const mockFetch = vi.fn();
 
 		await expect(
 			load({ params: { id: 'missing' }, fetch: mockFetch as unknown as typeof fetch })
@@ -102,7 +56,7 @@ describe('document detail load — error paths', () => {
 			})
 		} as ReturnType<typeof createApiClient>);
 
-		const mockFetch = vi.fn().mockResolvedValue({ ok: false });
+		const mockFetch = vi.fn();
 
 		await expect(
 			load({ params: { id: 'secret' }, fetch: mockFetch as unknown as typeof fetch })
@@ -117,7 +71,7 @@ describe('document detail load — error paths', () => {
 			})
 		} as ReturnType<typeof createApiClient>);
 
-		const mockFetch = vi.fn().mockResolvedValue({ ok: false });
+		const mockFetch = vi.fn();
 
 		await expect(
 			load({ params: { id: 'any' }, fetch: mockFetch as unknown as typeof fetch })