Heilandskirche Sacrow
Heilandskirche Sacrow, the Church of the Redeemer, is a striking Italianate church on the banks of the Havel near Potsdam. Walled off for 28 years during the division of Germany, it became one of the most powerful symbols of the Berlin Wall’s impact on daily life.
Designed by Ludwig Persius in the style of an Italian basilica, the church was built in 1844 on the instructions of King Friedrich Wilhelm IV. Its distinctive bell tower and colonnaded portico extend into the water of the Havel, creating one of the most photographed architectural compositions in the Potsdam landscape.
Heilandskirche am Port von Sacrow (Photo: Matthias Süßen)
When the Wall went up in 1961, the church found itself directly in the border zone. Its bell tower was incorporated into the barrier wall, and the building was left to decay. Although clearly visible from West Berlin across the water, it was completely unreachable from either side. The congregation was dissolved, and the church stood abandoned and deteriorating for nearly three decades.
The first service after reunification was held on Christmas Eve 1989, while the church was still in ruins. Restoration work began in the 1990s and was completed in 1995. The church has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1990, as part of the Palaces and Parks of Potsdam and Berlin.
Heilandskirche Sacrow, Potsdam.jpg (Photo: Glamourqueen)
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