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Church · Berlim, Berlim
Kaiser-Wilhelm-Gedächtniskirche
The ruined tower of a 19th-century church, preserved as a reminder of the war, next to the new church by Egon Eiermann, with blue glass walls. It is on Breitscheidplatz.
Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.
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About Kaiser-Wilhelm-Gedächtniskirche
Kaiser-Wilhelm-Gedächtniskirche was built between 1891 and 1895 by order of Emperor Guilherme II, in memory of his grandfather, Emperor Guilherme I. Franz Schwechten's design followed the neo-Romanesque style, and the tower, at 113 metres, was the tallest in the area.
In 1943, a World War II bombing destroyed much of the church. After much debate, it was decided to keep the tower in ruins as a reminder against war. Berliners call it Hohler Zahn, the hollow tooth. Inside it houses a memorial hall, with mosaics from the old church.
Between 1959 and 1963, the architect Egon Eiermann built a modern ensemble next to it: the octagonal church, the bell tower, the chapel and the foyer. The walls of the new church are made of thousands of blue glass blocks, and inside the blue light fills the whole space, with a large golden Christ above the altar.
Parts of the complex may be under restoration: check what is open before you go. The church is on Breitscheidplatz, at the start of Kurfürstendamm, the shopping avenue of west Berlin.
Before you go
Practical information
Cidade Turismo reviews its information regularly, but something may have changed. Check with the place before planning your trip.
How much time to set aside
20 to 40 minutes to see the tower from the outside and the blue-glass church inside.
Best time
During the day, in sunlight, the blue light inside the new church becomes stronger. At the end of the year, Breitscheidplatz usually hosts a Christmas market, from late November until around Christmas.
How to get there
Zoologischer Garten station (S-Bahn, U2 and U9 and regional trains) is about a 5-minute walk away. Kurfürstendamm on the U1 line is also nearby.
Tip
Combine the visit with a walk along Kurfürstendamm and a visit to the department store KaDeWe, a few minutes away. During services, be quiet and avoid walking through the nave.
Official website
Get your questions answered
Frequently asked questions about Kaiser-Wilhelm-Gedächtniskirche
Can you enter the ruined tower?
The memorial room at the base of the tower usually welcomes visitors, but parts of the complex may be under restoration. Check before you go what's open to visitors.
Why did the tower remain in ruins?
It was destroyed in a bombing in 1943 and intentionally kept that way as a reminder against war.
What's special about the new church?
The walls are made of thousands of blue glass blocks, and inside blue light fills the entire space.
How to get there?
Via Zoologischer Garten station, about a 5-minute walk, or Kurfürstendamm station on the U1 line.