Ruine der Franziskaner-Klosterkirche

Just a few steps from Klosterstraße subway station stand the walls of a 13th-century monastery church. The ruin of the Franciscan Monastery Church is one of Berlin's oldest buildings and today serves as an open-air exhibition space for contemporary art, with free admission.

Franciscan Monastery Church Ruin: Brick Gothic on Klosterstraße

The Franciscan Monastery Church dates back to around 1250 and is one of the last surviving testimonies from Berlin’s founding period. It was the church of the Grey Monastery, named after the grey monastic habit of the Franciscan monks. In 1574, the Gymnasium zum Grauen Kloster, one of the city’s oldest schools, was established on the site.

In 1945, the church was destroyed during World War II. In the 1960s, the walls were secured, and in the 1980s, they were restored. Archaeological excavations later uncovered the foundations of the cloister and chapter house. Through the empty window arches, one can see the TV Tower at Alexanderplatz.

Contemporary Art Under the Open Sky

Since 2016, the Mitte district office has been using the ruin as an exhibition space for site-specific contemporary art. Each year, works are created that engage with the architecture and history of the location, accompanied by performances and events. Currently, artist Nazanin Noori is presenting her installation „BEHOLD GOD IN ALL THAT EXISTS IN HIS NAME” here.

Admission is free. Art historical tours, archaeological walks, and a 3D media guide offer more insights into its history. The ruin is wheelchair accessible via a side entrance, and the U2 subway stops directly in front of it.