Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
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 nick-
named “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.
Top 10 Sights
1 Tower Ruins
2 Kaiser's Mosaic
3 Mosaic of the
Hohenzollerns
4 Coventry Crucifix
5 New Bell Tower
6 Main Altar
7 Tower Clock
8 The Orthodox Cross
9 Original Mosaics
0 Figure of Christ
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 “hol-
low tooth” by the
Berliners.
The “hollow tooth” - the
Tower Ruins
There are fantastic
views of the church
from the Mövenpick
Café in the Europa-
Center opposite.
Kaiser's Mosaic
One of the mosaics
that have been preserved
depicts Emperor Heinrich I
on his throne, with imperial
orb and sceptre
(below)
.
Originally decorated through-
out with scenes from Ger-
man imperial history, the
church interior was meant
to place the Hohenzollerns
within this tradition.
If possible, visit the
interior of the new
church on a sunny
day around lunch-
time, when the blue
glass window is at
its most impressive.
• 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
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.
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