Marienkirche, Berlin
Aerial view of the Marienkirche and TV tower. Image © Google Earth.
The graceful exterior of the Marienkirche. Photo
Pierre Numérique.
Door of the Marienkirche illuminated at night. Photo
Linus Gelber.
Interior view: nave and vault. Photo
Thomas Gerzer.
Baroque pulpit, moved here during restoration. Photo
Thomas Gerzer.
Baroque altar with paintings from 1762. Photo
Thomas Gerzer.
Computer drawing of the Dance of Death fresco. Image under GFDL.
Mosaic replica of the Dance of Death. Photo
Thomas Gerzer.
Location map and aerial view of Marienkirche. For a larger interactive view, see our Berlin Map.
The Marienkirche (St. Mary's Church) in Berlin is a 14th-century Protestant church. One of the oldest churches in Berlin, it houses a large medieval fresco of "The Dance of Death" and other artworks.
History
Begun around 1270, the Marienkirche was completed in the early 14th century. St. Mary's was designed as an early Gothic hall church; it received the front tower in the 15th century and a Baroque dome atop the tower in 1790. The dome was designed by Carl Gotthard Langhans, the architect of the Brandenburg Gate.
The Marienkirche became Protestant after the Reformation, in 1539. It was damaged but not destroyed during World War II and fully restored in 1950. Many artworks from nearby destroyed churches were moved into the Marienkirche, where they remain today.
What to See
In the entrance hall, visitors are greeted by "The Dance of Death" (Totentanz), a large fresco (2 meters high, 22 meters long) dating from about 1485. Painted during the plague epidemics of the Dark Ages, the fresco wraps around the entrance hall and depicts all classes of society dancing with death, moving at a slow and dignified gait.
The fresco was discovered in 1860 under layers of paint and in quite poor condition. Fundraising is currently underway to restore its original colors: for €2.50, visitors can add a colored mosaic tile to a replica of the fresco.
The nave of St. Mary's has vaulted ceilings, two side aisles and a central pulpit. After the war, the pulpit was moved forward from the second pillar to the fifth pillar and several pews were realigned to face it.
There are a number of notable artworks displayed throughout the church, including the following:
- Baptismal font - made of bronze in 1437, it is supported by three black dragons symbolizing demons and displays figures of Jesus Christ, Mary and the apostles.
- Carved wooden retable - created around 1510, features three unknown Dominican monks
- “The Crucifixion” painted by Michael Ribestein in 1562
- Alabaster pulpit created by Andreas Schlüter in 1703 and decorated with reliefs of John the Baptist and personifications of Faith, Hope, and Love.
- Baroque altar - designed around 1762 by Andreas Krüger. The three paintings are The Removal of Jesus Christ from the Cross (center), Christ on the Mount of Olives (right), and Doubting Thomas and the Disciples in Emmaus (left), painted by Christian Bernhard Rode in 1761.
- Stone relief of Christ praying in the Garden of Gethsemane, carved in the early 15th century.
Outside the church on the north side is a 3.5-meter bronze statue of Martin Luther on a granite pedestal. Originally set up at the New Market in 1893, it was sculpted by M.P. Otto (sculptor of the Humboldt monuments at the University) and Robert Toberentz. For the 500th birthday of Luther in 1983, the statue was placed at its present location next to St. Mary's.
Quick Facts
| Site Information | |
| Names: | Marienkirche; St. Marienkirche; Evangelische Kirchengemeinde Marien; St. Mary's Church; Church of St. Mary |
| Location: | Berlin, Germany |
| Faith: | Christianity |
| Denomination: | Lutheran |
| Dedication: | Virgin Mary |
| Category: | Churches |
| Architecture: | Gothic |
| Date: | 14th century |
| Features: | Murals/Frescoes |
| Status: | active |
| Visitor Information | |
| Address: | Karl-Liebknecht-Straße 8 10178 Berlin, Germany |
| Coordinates: | 52.520608° N, 13.407183° E (view on Google Maps) |
| Lodging: | View hotels near this location |
| Phone: | 2 42 44 67 |
| Website: | www.marienkirche-berlin.de |
| E-mail: | Buero@marienkirche-berlin.de |
| Opening hours: | Nov-Mar: daily 10-4 Apr-Oct: daily 10-9 No visits during services |
| Cost: | Free |
| Services: | Sat: 4:30pm Sun: 10:30am, 6:30pm |
Travel Resources
- Berlin Map - our detailed interactive map of Berlin, plus hand-picked links to more
- Berlin Hotels - check availability, maps, photos and reviews, and book at the guaranteed lowest price
- Berlin Guided Tours - sightseeing tours and activities in Berlin
- Berlin Car Rentals - enjoy more travel freedom by picking up a car in Berlin
- Berlin Restaurant Reviews - the best places to eat in town
Article Sources
- Personal visit (March 4, 2008).
- Marienkirche Berlin - official website
- St. Marienkirche (Berlin) - German Wikipedia
Last updated on June 23, 2009.
