Kaiser-Wilhelm-Gedächtniskirche

Description:

• Built in the late 19th century in honour of Kaiser Wilhelm I, this once magnificent church was gutted by fire after a British air-raid in November 1943. The only parts left standing were the nave and half a spire. Nowadays, the spireless ruin and the modern chapel next door provide the city with more than just a famous landmark—they are also a poignant symbol of the senselessness of war. The 'Stalingrad Madonna' in the futuristic blue-glass chapel next to the ruin is worth a visit, as is the exhibition documenting the history of the church on Breitscheidplatz. According to rumours, the down-and-outs who tended to congregate around the chapel were moved on because their urine was beginning to corrode the foundations!
• © wcities.com 2012