In April 2007, first cold neutrons flew through the new neutron guide dedicated to prompt gamma activation analysis at the research reactor FRM II. The cold neutron flux intensity of 6.0·109 cm−2·s−1 with mean neutron energy of 1.8 meV was measured at the exit window of the guide. The design of the neutron guide is flexible in order to fulfil various requirements at once: the last 7 m are elliptically tapered and the final 1 m of it is removable. The description of the PGAA instrument, first tests and experiments providing its characterization are the subjects of this paper.