Museum Nikolaikirche
Berlin’s Middle: 800 Years of History and Culture
The permanent exhibition of Museum Nikolaikirche offers an encounter with eight hundred years of history and culture in a historically significant medieval building. The field-stone basement floors of the twin towers are considered to be the oldest preserved rooms in Berlin.
Location
Museum Nikolaikirche
Nikolaikirchplatz
10178 Berlin
Opening Hours
daily | 10 am – 6 pm
Entry
5,00 € / 3,00 € (reduced)
Free admission under 18 years
Over the course of its history, the church has been structurally and stylistically transformed several times over. Its construction and furnishings have always reflected the creative civic drive and economic power of the people of Berlin. Since the end of the 19th century, its distinctive double towers have defined the skyline of the city centre. Thanks to far-sighted decisions and dedicated advocacy, the Nikolaikirche is once again an intact historic monument, where Berlin’s residents and visitors can experience all the facets of the church’s rich history.
The first construction of the Nikolaikirche dates to the founding of Berlin around 1230. In addition to being a place of faith and a burial site for important Berlin families, the church also served as the city’s Ratskirche (city council church) and was thus the setting of many historically significant events, including the Protestant Reformation.
It was here that the first assembly of the city council was sworn into office in 1809. Shortly after German reunification, the first Berlin-wide city parliament convened here in 1991. Towards the end of the Second World War, the Nikolaikirche was badly damaged by bombs. Most of the church later collapsed and remained in ruins until 1984. Following completion of its reconstruction in 1987 for Berlin’s 750th anniversary, this unique architectural monument was re-purposed as a museum.
A place of music
The Nikolaikirche has also played an important role in Berlin’s musical history. The work of the cantor and composer Johann Crüger (1598 – 1662) and his collaborations with pastor and poet Paul Gerhardt (1607 – 1676) were among Berlin’s first major contributions to European cultural history. The church’s musical tradition lives on today with regular events and concerts.
Exhibitions
Info & Service
Opening Hours
daily | 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Directions
Nikolaikirchplatz
10178 Berlin
Contact
Infoline
+49 30 24 002-162
Mo – Fri | 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Write E-Mail
Accessibility
The Church is accessible without steps. The choir area, organ loft, coin cabinet, sacristy and toilets are accessible only by steps. An audio guide in seven languages and a family guide are available at the ticket office. It is also possible to use a DGS video guide. The exhibition includes two tactile models of the church’s architecture. Explanations of the architecture are available in Braille and profile writing and in an audio description track.
Tickets
Entry
5,00 € / 3,00 € (reduced)
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