Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church

An unforgettable experience in the heart of Berlin! Absolutely loved visiting the Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church — it’s not just a landmark, it’s a powerful story carved in stone. The mix of historic charm and the haunting reminder of WWII makes this place deeply meaningful. The damaged spire, left unrepaired, speaks volumes about peace, resilience, and history. The architecture is breathtaking, and the vibe around the church is peaceful yet alive — people relaxing, chatting, and soaking in the beauty. I spent time there with friends and truly felt the soul of the city. The modern buildings around it make the old tower stand out even more. It’s a stunning contrast of past and present. Highly recommend adding this to your Berlin bucket list. Whether you’re into architecture, history, or just want a beautiful photo spot — this place delivers! 📍Don’t forget to look up… that clock tower hits different in person 😍 💬 Tip: Just sit for a while, take it all in. Trust me.

A beautifully preserved church, modified with some modern elements, stands as a testament to resilience. It’s a poignant reminder of the devastation wrought by World War II, showcasing the church’s enduring spirit. The church’s meticulous preservation allows visitors to witness the damage and glimpse its pre-war glory. Interactive displays weave a compelling narrative, recounting the church’s history from its inception to its current state. While it’s disheartening to see such a magnificent structure destroyed, it serves as a poignant reminder of the devastating consequences of war and the urgent need to avoid repeating such mistakes.

From a place of worship and prayer, it is now a place of remembrance and contemplation. The temple stands there, half-ruined but imposing, reminding us on the one hand of the devastating consequences of war, but on the other hand of the power of humanity. The new temple built opposite is also impressive!

It is a very impressive structure. Also, the church is still active. The bomb that fell during World War II damaged the dome, and you can see the bullet holes in the walls from the clashes. When you enter, you should first thank and pray that history has survived to this day. We also lit a candle so that it does not happen again. Be sure to come and see the church, which is quieter during the week.

Even though this church is a bombed out ruin (from WWII) it still maintains a measure of beauty. Definitely worth a stop when you find yourself in the area. Short walk to plenty of restaurants and shopping areas of Berlin and also not too far from the zoo.

The fact that this structure is still standing for over 80 years in such a bombed-out state is phenomenal! The Lord is good and saved this church. Stands out amongst the remaining ultra modern buuildings

The church was inaugurated in 1895 and was severely damaged during World War II. After World War II, local citizens and the government decided to preserve and protect the damaged remains of the old church bell tower to commemorate the tragic experience of World War II. This part is currently an exhibition hall and souvenir shop. The rest of the old church has been demolished. A new polygonal church has been built next to the remains of the old church bell tower. The interior walls of the new church are covered with dark blue glass, giving it a calm and solemn feel. The church's official website contains the opening hours of the church and exhibition hall, as well as information on public guided tours. There is no need to register for the public guided tour. Just wait at the designated meeting point on time. A small number of public guided tours will take visitors up to the remains of the old church bell tower. If you are interested, please pay attention to the time. The guided tour was conducted in German, with some visitors using the instant interpretation function of their smartphones for translation. We took a guided tour that took us up to the remains of the bell tower. We climbed up to the middle part of the remains of the bell tower through a small door outside the bell tower and a narrow staircase. From here we could see the top of the ruins and the nearby scenery through the broken round window.

Very striking contrast with the modernist aesthetic of the current church and the surrounding area of Kurfürstendamm. Accessible by various transit means. You can choose to enter the ruins for free.

This was an amazing place to visit. We did not pay for the guided tour, but we did walk around and inside the church to see the amazing architecture, including what was destroyed in war and rebuilt. It was very interesting to see the lasting cracks and damage. The inside of the church has information about the church's history that you can read at your own pace for free. We also visited the chapel, which was beautiful.

This is one of the World's most amazing and unique church's. There are the bombed out remains of the original church (World War 2) and the new rebuilt church next to it. They keep the remains to remind people of the ravages of war. The new church has some of the best stained glass work that I have seen. Check the website, they have musical performances and actual church services.

The Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church is over 100 years old. The church was heavy damaged in 1943 during a bombing during World War II. The newer addition that is actively used is adjacent and has a remarkable bright blue backdrop that really took my breath away.

What could I possibly say that hasn't already been said? If you've never visited, then make it part of your first or second trip to Berlin. Definitely do the tour, and climb up. Well worth it to hear the guide recite the history of the church.

Called "the hollow tooth" the Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church is a Protestant church on the Kurfürstendamm in the centre of the Breitscheidplatz. Badly damaged in a bombing raid in 1943 the present building was built between 1959 and 1963, but the damaged spire of the old church has been retained and its ground floor has been made into a memorial hall acting as modern history.

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 perfect example. It shows us no matter what side who fought for what, it shows what happens. I think this is a masterpiece, and I think it is a great reminder to us all at what the price of war is. Off the subject of war- the old church is simple, but I still enjoyed it a lot. The new part is very unique- I think anyone who is in Berlin should at least stop by and soak in its rich history

The Kaiser-Wilhelm-Gedächtniskirche is an example of everything I love about Berlin. Let me explain: The one thing that really struck me about Berlin was that in a lot of areas, you'd be walking around and then all of a sudden you'd come across an old bombed-out building. Now, in most places, those buildings would be torn down to make way for something new. Not so in Berlin. Instead of tearing town their scars of war, Berliners instead embrace the buildings as a part of their past, and in many cases, turn them into works of art. The Berlin wall is the most obvious example, but you can find examples throughout the city. I found the Kaiser-Wilhelm-Gedächtniskirche to be particularly striking. Although it isn't covered in graffiti like so many other ruinous buildings in Berlin, I love the way this old building is juxtaposed against all the new retail stores in this area. It's definitely one of the more interesting landmarks in the city.

A lot of the interior of the old church is in remarkably good condition - I had expected it to be a blasted out shell. The modern church seems a little bit dated now but it's still worth seeing. It's surprisingly tranquil considering it's sandwiched in between two busy streets. Worth seeing if you want an idea of the extent of the destruction that the Nazi regime wrought upon Germany during World War Two.

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 zoo. It's interesting to see historical structures near modern shops. Either way, it's a beautiful build with tons of history. It's currently under construction.

The Kaiser Dom is a major landmark in central Berlin. Commissioned by Kaiser Wilhelm II and built 1893-1905, this huge church contains a crypt with the remains of the Hohenzollern Dynasty with the notable exception of Wilhelm II himself. It is technically not a cathedral the German word 'Dom' also referring to collegiate churches with endowments. History The church is built on the site of a series of earlier churches, the first of which was a Royal Chapel of the Brandenburg family built in 1451. This became a collegiate church in 1465 and the burial place of the Hohenzollern dynasty from 1545. A new facade was added in 1667, but in 1747 the church was demolished to make way for an extension to the castle, and a new church church erected in 1747-50 in the Baroque style. Karl Friedrich Schinkel remodeled this in 1820 in a simpler neo-classical style, but Wilhelm II wanted something altogether grander for his redeveloped capital, and so the 'new' church was demolished and replaced with the present church in the 19th Century Neo-Baroque style. The building was badly damaged in 1940 and again in 1944, when the dome was hit by an incendiary bomb and collapsed, the rubble falling through into the crypt. Restoration was begun in 1975 and completed in 1993. During this period, one of the wings the Memorial Hall was removed to simplify the design. The church Designed by Julius and Otto Rachsdorff in an Imperial neo-Baroque style, the exterior dimensions are suitably impressive: 114 metres (374 ft) long, 73 metres (240 ft) wide and 116 metres (381 ft) tall to the top of the dome. The interior is that of a large basilica, with a Marriage Chapel on the south side: the style is, as you would expect, grandiose, with acres of marble and gilding, but there is no question that it is impressive. The dome ceiling is decorated with more statues, gilding and mosaics, and the huge 114-pipe organ has three 32' pipes. The crypt has an altogether different ambience, the coffins of dozens of Hohenzollerns from the 15t century onwards lying under whitewashed low-vaulted ceilings, though some of the coffins are quite elaborate in themselves. A few shown signs of damaged suffered during World War II. Facilities Except for services, an entrance fee is charged to cover maintenance costs. There is a small cafe, museum and shop. As well as the main church, marriage hall and crypt, access is available to the base of the dome, from which there are excellent views of Mitte (and the queues are a lot less than the ugly TV tower nearby). There are a lot of steps, however, so only for the fit! The church has a locally-drawn congregation: for information on services, see the website.

Just want to let people know that is is currently undergoing construction and you can't really see it--so if you were going to make your way out there just for this, don't. Not sure when it will be over, sorry :(

As a historic landmark, this is one you simply must visit. When built, it was dedicated to the Kaiser, and was an aggressively bombastic pile of bricks. The interior was sumptuous, befitting a nascent power. The interior is free and absolutely a requirement to visit in Berlin. After WWII the decision was made to tear down much of the ruin and keep only the broken main tower and its entry hall. One local nickname for this is 'the broken tooth' The 1960s addition is far less successful than one might hope. It is an incongruous and sad counterpoint to the shattered ruin. I'm a fan of mid-century modernism, and I simply cannot make a case that this is well placed or appropriate. The 'broken tooth' would have been so much more effective in its role as a warning to future generations were it preserved in an open space. The new bell tower is the biggest disappointment. I entered the base expecting to see the stained glass above me - and instead there is a small gift shop with no ability to see up - it can be best described as 'crappy Pier One rip off' goods. Unbelievable fail. Oh, and on the plaza, next to the new sanctuary, they have installed a series of retail kiosks, which enliven the space, but are just silly looking backed up to the modernist hexagonal box.

If you are interested in History, it is a place to go. It is a reminder of the World War II and its power of destruction. It also gives us an overview of the old church and its beautiful architecture. The new one is more interesting inside.

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 belltower. Juxtaposed beside it is a modern, minimalist church with gorgeous stained glass work and jaw-dropping interior. The visit to both are truly moving. I'm glad someone had the foresight to keep these ruins in the public view as a more visceral memorial to the violence of World War II. You can walk inside both chruches, there is no admission fee.

a fairly recent church first built in the very late 19th century to honor Wilhelm I, the first king of a unified Germany. during WW2, Allied bombing runs pretty much destroyed it, and a new church was built next door with a somewhat modern art flavor (I guess, I'm not an artsy person). mostly what is on display in the remnants of the old church is some art and sculptures that were saved from the first church, and photos of the reconstruction efforts. funny story, the Berliners call the new church "the lipstick and powderbox" as that's what it looks like. admission is free. in total, it'll take you maybe a half hour to see everything here. worth a quick trip.

If you a lucky guy - you may be closed inside of the church and listening wonderful organ music for ~ 15-20 min.

Kaiser-Wilhelm-Gedächtniskirche, locally known as hohler Zahn was destroyed during allied bombings of Berlin in WWII. There is still a few pictures of how it used to look like, interesting for whoever is interested in Berlin's history.