Kapelle der Versöhnung

Kapelle der Versöhnung stands where a 19th-century church once rose above the neighborhood. The original Church of Reconciliation, completed in 1894, became trapped within the fortified border zone known as the “death strip” after Berlin was divided.

A church erased by the border

With the Berlin Wall cutting through streets and families, the church fell behind barbed wire and watchtowers. In 1985, long after regular services had ceased, authorities of the GDR demolished the building to remove what they viewed as an obstacle in the restricted zone. The site remained empty, heavy with memory.

A quiet place for remembrance

Today, the Kapelle der Versöhnung offers a modest, light-filled space shaped by remembrance. Its walls and setting point back to a difficult past, and the chapel hosts occasional memorial services honoring those who died at the Wall. The calm atmosphere and simple design invite reflection on separation, loss, and the long path to reconciliation.