The Bethlehem Church was blown up after World War II. Today, a sculpture called Memorias Urbana stands as an outline of the church on the church square

The Bohemian Bethlehem Church was a round church in the Mitte district that stood in the way of the Berlin Wall. After World War II, it was therefore demolished, and today a light sculpture stands in its place as a memorial, retaining the same outline as the church.

The Bohemian Bethlehem Church was consecrated in May, 1737.

The church was intended for Bohemian exiles. It was a round church with a diameter of just under 16 meters and a height of just over 36 meters. Inside, there were seats for about 600 worshippers.

The dome was made of wood and had eight windows on all sides. The dome was crowned with a lantern.

The church takes its name from the Bethlehem Chapel in Prague, and sermons were initially delivered in Czech. The first sermons in German were not held until the 1750s.

The Demolition of the Bethlehem Church

November 24, 1943, marked the church’s first fateful day. It was destroyed during an air raid, and only the outer walls remained.

The church met its end when Berlin was divided. It stood in the way of the Berlin Wall, and in 1963 it was symbolically blown up in typical GDR fashion. It was not until after the fall of the Berlin Wall that the foundation for the church was excavated.

The Memorias Urbanas sculpture

In June 2012, Spanish artist Juan Garaizabal installed a sculpture on the site where the church once stood. The sculpture is titled Memorias Urbanas and is a light installation shaped to match the outline of the church.

The sculpture is made from 800 meters of steel tubing and 300 meters of LED lighting. It was actually intended to be only a temporary installation, but it was made permanent in December 2013.

In addition to serving as a memorial to the Bethlehem Church, the sculpture is also intended to symbolize freedom of conscience and immigration in the European tradition.

Location:
Bethlehemkirchplatz
10117  Berlin

Distance: Loading…

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Family friendly: Yes
Price: Free