BERLIN TRAVEL GUIDE

Berlin Travel Guide
Kaiser-Wilhelm-Gedächtnis-Kirche
One of the most haunting symbols of Berlin, the ruins of the memorial church in the heart of the city's West End,
have been irreverently nicknamed "the hollow tooth". The Neo-Romanesque church was given the name of Kaiser
Wilhelm Memorial Church in 1895, to honour Wilhelm I. Following damage by severe bombing raids in 1943,
the ruins of the tower were left standing as a memorial. Next to it, Egon Eiermann erected a new church in 1957-63.
Religious services are now conducted here.
For more on Berlin churches (see Churches & Synagogues)
Top 10 Sights
1
Tower Ruins
Only the tower of the memorial church survived the
destruction of World War II that razed much of the city
to the ground. Today only 63 m (206 ft) high, it once rose
to 113 m (370 ft). The hole in the tower’s roof has a
sharply ragged edge which is why the tower was
nicknamed “hollow tooth” by the Berliners.
2
Kaiser’s Mosaic
One of the mosaics that have been preserved
depicts Emperor Heinrich I on his throne, with imperial
orb and sceptre. Originally decorated throughout with
scenes from German imperial history, the church interior
was meant to place the Hohenzollerns within this
tradition.
3
Mosaic of the Hohenzollerns
The surprisingly coloured mosaic of the
Hohenzollerns adorns the vestibule of the church ruins.
It depicts Emperor Wilhelm I together with Queen Luise
of Prussia and her entourage.
4
Coventry Crucifix
This small crucifix was forged from old nails that
were found in the ruins of Coventry Cathedral. It
commemorates the bombing of Coventry, England, by
the German Luftwaffe in 1940.
5
New Bell Tower
The new hexagonal bell tower rises 53 m (174 ft)
high next to the tower ruins, on the site of the old
church’s main nave.
6
Main Altar
The golden figure of Christ created by Karl
Hemmeter is suspended above the modern main altar
in the new church. In the evening light, the windows
behind the altar glow an overwhelming dark blue.
7
Tower Clock
The tower bears a clock based on a Classical design,
with Roman numerals. At night, it is lit in blue by modern
light-emitting diodes to match the lighting inside the new
church.
8
The Orthodox Cross
A gift from the Russian Orthodox bishops of
Volokolomsk and Yuruyev, this cross was given in
memory of the victims of Nazism.
traveldk.com
9
Original Mosaics
Mosaics showing Prussian dukes are preserved on
the walls and ceilings all along the stairways.
10
Figure of Christ
Miraculously, the vast, plain sculpture of Christ,
which is suspended from the ceiling, survived the
bombing of the church.
Kaiser-Wilhelm-Gedächtnis-Kirche
Practical information
• Breitscheidplatz
• Map D4, N4
• www.gedaechtniskirche.de
• (030) 218 50 23
• Church 9am–7pm, memorial hall 10am– 4pm
Mon–Sat
• Services 10am and 6pm Sun
• Admission free
Top tips
• There are fantastic views of the church from the
Mövenpick Café in the Europa-Center opposite.
• If possible, visit the interior of the new church
on a sunny day around lunchtime, when the blue
glass window is at its most impressive.
A Church with Two Lives
The Kaiser-Wilhelm-Gedächtnis-Kirche has the
Berliners to thank for its preservation: in 1947, the
Senate had planned to demolish the Tower Ruins
for safety reasons. In a referendum only about ten
years later, however, one in two Berliners voted
for its preservation. And so the idea came about
to build a new church next to the ruin and to
preserve the vestibule of the old church as a
striking memorial hall to the horrors of war.
13
Highlights