Friedenskirche

Friedenskirche in St. Johannis is a modern church building with two pointed Gothic towers and a spacious interior for services. The structure combines bricks and natural stones salvaged from the originally destroyed building with new materials such as silver-gray fiber cement shingles.

The building was reconstructed in the 1950s and deliberately preserved the western tower ruins from World War II as evidence of destruction. This choice to integrate the damaged structure into the new construction turned it into a monument to the consequences of war.

The church bears the name Peace Church and embodies a message of reconciliation following the devastation of war. Visitors feel this intention upon entering the interior, where contemporary artworks invite reflection.

The interior is openly designed, allowing visitors to explore the artworks and architecture at their own pace. Plan time to notice the details such as the wood sculpture and the inscribed memorials.

Inside is a four-meter-tall wood sculpture titled 'The Returning Christ' by artist Helmut Ammann, specifically designed for meditation. Another striking work is the sculpture 'Death by Bombs' by Russian-Jewish artist Vadim Sidur, depicting a person pierced by a bomb and extending the symbolism of the preserved tower stump.