Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church

The Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church (Kaiser-Wilhelm-Gedächtniskirche) on Breitscheidplatz in western Berlin is one of the city's most powerful landmarks: the bomb-damaged tower of a 19th-century church, flanked by a modern church whose walls glow deep blue. Berliners call the pair the "Hollow Tooth" and the "Lipstick and Powder Compact." It is free to enter, easy to reach, and one of the essential things to do in Berlin's City West.

A church shaped by war

The original church was built between 1891 and 1895 to a design by Franz Schwechten, as a memorial to Emperor Wilhelm I. Its main spire rose to about 113 meters (371 feet). On the night of November 22–23, 1943, a British air raid set it ablaze; the roof collapsed and the spire broke off.

After the war, the ruined tower, now about 71 meters tall, was kept as a memorial against war. Architect Egon Eiermann added a new ensemble between 1959 and 1963: an octagonal church, a hexagonal bell tower, a foyer and a chapel. The new church was consecrated in December 1961. A golden crack set into the pavement outside now commemorates the victims of the 2016 attack on the Christmas market on the square.

What to see inside

• The blue glass walls: more than 20,000 glass inserts, made in the Chartres workshop of French artist Gabriel Loire, fill the church with blue light.
• The Risen Christ: a 4.6-meter (15-foot) gold-colored figure by Karl Hemmeter hangs above the altar.
• The Stalingrad Madonna: a charcoal drawing made by German army doctor and pastor Kurt Reuber at Christmas 1942 in the besieged city of Stalingrad.
• The ruined tower: from outside you can see the war damage up close. Its memorial hall holds ornate mosaics and a cross of nails from Coventry Cathedral, a symbol of British-German reconciliation.

Opening hours and tickets

As of October 2026, the new church is open daily from 10 am to 6 pm, except during services, prayers and concerts. Admission is free; donations are welcome.

Important: the exhibition in the memorial hall inside the tower ruin closed on August 29, 2026, for restoration work, and no reopening date has been announced. Short 30-minute guided tours of the ensemble still run Tuesday through Sunday on a donation basis; the parish website does not say which languages are offered, so ask on site.

How to get there

The church stands at Breitscheidplatz, at the eastern end of the Kurfürstendamm shopping boulevard. The closest stations are Kurfürstendamm (U-Bahn) and Zoologischer Garten (S-Bahn and U-Bahn), each a few minutes' walk away. Many bus lines stop nearby, including routes 100 and 200, which run through central Berlin past major sights. Driving is not recommended, as several streets around the square are currently closed.

Is it worth visiting?

Yes, especially if you are interested in World War II and how Berlin chose to remember it. A visit takes 20 to 45 minutes, so it fits easily between shopping on the Kurfürstendamm and a trip to Berlin Zoo next door. Come in the late afternoon or after dark, when the blue walls glow most intensely, and check the event calendar for organ vespers and Bach cantata services. The church is reachable by ramp; the gentler ramp on the east side near the chapel gives access to all parts of the building.

Christmas market 2026

In Advent the Christmas market at the Memorial Church fills Breitscheidplatz around the church. According to the organiser's event list, the 43rd edition is planned for 13 November 2026 to 1 January 2027; opening hours for 2026 have not been announced yet. In 2025 it opened daily from 11 am to 9 pm, until 10 pm on Fridays and Saturdays, with free entry, and a light canopy about 400 metres long hung above the stalls. More on all the markets in our guide Berlin Christmas markets 2026.