Memoria Urbana Berlin

Memoria Urbana Berlin stands in Bethlehemkirchplatz, Mitte district, marking the exact site of the original Bohemian Church destroyed in the war. The sculpture by Spanish artist Juan Garaizabal recreates the church’s silhouette in the air using 800 metres of steel tube and 300 metres of LED lighting. It measures 25 by 15 by 31 metres and weighs 40 metric tonnes. The monument honours freedom of conscience and immigration, reflecting the spirit of Europeanism. The original church was built between 1733 and 1735 for Czech refugees fleeing religious persecution, welcomed by King Frederick William I of Prussia. The church was badly damaged in 1943 and demolished in 1963, later incorporated into Checkpoint Charlie’s facilities. Visitors find a striking steel outline of the lost church, illuminated at night. The sculpture stands on a mosaic marking the church’s former footprint. Bethlehemkirchplatz itself is a quiet public space in the heart of Berlin’s Mitte district. The Lux-Bethlehem cultural trust ensures the sculpture’s upkeep. The work was originally temporary but now has permanent status.