Garnisonkirche Potsdam

With the rebuilt tower of the Garnisonkirche Potsdam (Garrison Church), a new educational and cultural highlight will be launched in the summer of 2024 - and with it another tourist destination very close to the capital Berlin: in the heart of Potsdam.

The court and garrison church, built in 1735, was once considered an outstanding example of North German Baroque. After a heavy bomb attack in April 1945 it burned down completely. Later, at the time of the division of Germany, the GDR leadership had the ruins blown up in 1968.

Today the almost 90 meter high tower is a symbiosis of historical reconstruction and a modern interior design concept. All floors up to the viewing platform can be reached by elevator. At a height of 57 meters, you have a unique view over Potsdam with its towers, domes and the shimmering water landscape.

Like a mirror, the Potsdam Garrison Church reflects the complexity of German history over the past three centuries: symbolically linked to rise and fall, human achievement and failure, it now stands for historical and current discourse. It has become a place for encounters, learning and inspiration: events and educational formats that strengthen awareness of democracy, responsibility for peace and social cohesion characterize the content of the program.

The permanent exhibition “Faith, Power and Military” offers a critical examination of the history of the place. With its multimedia in-depth stations and exciting exhibits, it invites you to interact and raises awareness of democratic participation through current socio-political references.

“Direct our feet on the path of peace”: This verse from the Gospel of Luke can be found engraved in five languages on the sandstone base of the tower, visible from afar. He points to the ideal foundation of this place of remembrance: strengthening peace and remembering history in order to learn from it for today and tomorrow.

The Cross of Nails Chapel in the center of the tower base is a city church that connects people and brings them into conversation. Her spiritual life is shaped in the spirit of the International Cross of Nails Community of Coventry. The two baroque and romantic organ works of the Nagelkreuzkapelle guarantee the high quality of the concerts taking place here - whether classical, pop, jazz or world music. Because music connects people and has a long tradition in the Garrison Church in Potsdam.