Kaiser-Wilhelm-Gedächtniskirche

The Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church brings together the damaged original tower with modern buildings made of concrete and blue-tinted glass panels in Charlottenburg-Wilmersdorf. The old tower reaches a height of 71 meters and forms an ensemble with the new structures on Breitscheidplatz.

The church was completed in 1895 under Kaiser Wilhelm II as a tribute to his grandfather Wilhelm I. In November 1943 the building suffered severe damage during an air raid in World War II that destroyed much of the original structure.

Inside the memorial hall at the base of the old tower, mosaics depict biblical scenes and moments from the life of Kaiser Wilhelm I. The chapel now serves as a place for quiet reflection and prayer amid the busy shopping district.

The church opens daily from 10:00 to 18:00 and admission is free, with guided tours available in several languages. The Kurfürstendamm metro station sits nearby and provides easy access to the site.

Local residents call the three main structures the powder box, the broken tooth, and the lipstick because of their characteristic shapes. These nicknames have become firmly established in the city and are passed down through generations.

Location: Charlottenburg-Wilmersdorf

Inception: 1891

Founders: Wilhelm II

Architects: Franz Schwechten, Egon Eiermann

Architectural style: Romanesque Revival architecture, International Style

Height: 71 m

Made from material: concrete, glass

Website: http://gedaechtniskirche-berlin.de

GPS coordinates: 52.50472,13.33528

Latest update: December 12, 2025 21:49