Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church

Visited September 2025. A beautiful old Church in the heart city centre. There is a lot of history with this building being bombed during WWII and the broken spire. This historical building is in the middle of an upscale neighborhood and stands out. It is right near the zoological garden train stops, so if you are in the area, make sure to stop by and see it.

We didn't have time to walk along Kirfurstendamm but did want to see the leftovers of this church. Dedicated in 1895 it was heavily damaged in WWll, the tower is all that's left. So as not to spoil your visit I will only include a couple of interior photos. The sad parts are the atrocious new church hall and bell tower built either side. Free entry, you will only need 20-30 minutes for this. For coffee and cake go to Einstein Kaffee near the main station.

It’s amazing you should visit them! It’s 2 different places. The new church is in front of the old one. The new one has live music which offers a unique experience! The entrance is free for both.

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.

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 structure is the ruin of the original church's main tower, which was partially destroyed in a 1943 Allied bombing raid during World War II. It was deliberately left in its damaged state as a powerful memorial against war and destruction. Berliners sometimes nickname it "the hollow tooth" (der hohle Zahn).

We visited the Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church in September 2025. From the outside it looked impressive even more so when you consider it was bombed during the Second World War. Once inside the ceiling is so a joy to behold. The church was a bit crowded for our visit but I found my location to admire the ceiling. Glad we visited this historic place.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.