Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church

The Kaiser Wilhem Memorial Church is a large active Protestant Church that has retained a portion of the partially ruined old church tower as a constant memorial and reminder of the horrors of war.
The church, named after the the first German Kaiser, Wilhelm I, was planned by his grandson and constructed between 1891 and 1895. The church originally had five towers housing the second largest church bells in Germany, but they were melted for munitions during the war.
During Allied bombing raids in 1943, the church sustained severe damage severing the upper portion of the main spire and collapsing the roof. The allies were not willing to rebuild it after the war, so it remained in ruins for over a decade. If it wasn't for public opposition the remaining ruins would have been completely demolished in the 1950s. Instead, architect Egon Eiermann incorporated the existing ruins into his design for the new church, a modern octogon design with stained glass inlays and a hexagonal tower also with stained glass inlays. The blue light shining through the stained glass windows of the new buildings make them much more impressive from inside than outside except at night when the reverse is true.
In addition to viewing the outside, it's free to go inside the vestibule of the old church where you will see the original intricate mosaics depicting a number of religious scenes. You'll also be presented with a brief history of the church complete with photographs and scale models. Definitely a must see.
Facts For Your Visit
Fee: NoClosed Now
Regular Hours:
Hours may be subject to change. Please verify on the official website, especially where Covid restrictions are in effect.
- Monday: 9:00 am - 7:00 pm
- Tuesday: 9:00 am - 7:00 pm
- Wednesday: 9:00 am - 7:00 pm
- Thursday: 9:00 am - 7:00 pm
- Friday: 9:00 am - 7:00 pm
- Saturday: 9:00 am - 7:00 pm
- Sunday: 9:00 am - 7:00 pm
Category: Churches Landmarks & Historical Buildings
Address:
Breitscheidplatz 1
10789 Berlin
Germany
Phone: +49 30 2185023
Reviews
Tom E. Jul-13-2011
I love history, and this is as good as it gets. For our younger generations, we never really get to see the impact of WW1 and WW2. This church is a... Read More
Gregory S. Jun-26-2016
Damaged during World War 2 (air raid 1943). You can hear/see the orchestra there as well. Originally built in 1890s. It's in the city near the mall and the... Read More
GT W. Dec-04-2015
Like the Atomic Bomb Dome in Hiroshima, here the skeletal remains of a beautiful cathedral pierce the sky in with a menacing shard that was once its... Read More
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Directions
How to get to Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church by U-Bahn, S-Bahn
Nearest U-Bahn, S-Bahn Line(s): S3, U1, U2,
Nearest U-Bahn, S-Bahn Station(s): U Kurfürstendamm, U+S Zoologischer Garten
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Photo Gallery
Photo Credit: Yelp Photo Credit: Yelp Photo Credit: Yelp -
Photo Credit: George M. Groutas - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: George M. Groutas - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: George M. Groutas - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: George M. Groutas - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: George M. Groutas - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: George M. Groutas - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: George M. Groutas - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: George M. Groutas - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: George M. Groutas - cc license via Flickr