© dpa
Former Kindl brewery
© Landesdenkmalamt Berlin, Fotograf: Wolfgang Bittner
Catholic church Herz Jesu
© Landesdenkmalamt Berlin, Fotograf: Wolfgang Bittner
Former East German police prison on Keibelstraße
At the Open Heritage Day, also known as Open Monument Day, numerous monuments which are usually closed to the public open their doors for visitors.
The Tag des offenen Denkmals (Open Heritage Day) is a Europe-wide event that takes place every year in September. Its aim is to sensitize people for the meaning of cultural heritage and to awaken their interest for the care and preservation of ancient monuments. In Berlin, more than 300 monuments will participate in 2024.
On Open Monument Day in Berlin, visitors can go on guided tours of monuments that are usually closed to the general public. Monument conservators report on their tasks using concrete examples, show their day-to-day work and make it tangible to visitors. Other experts, such as archeologists, restorers and craftspeople demonstrate special work techniques and lead the visitors' eye to details which would normally remain hidden.
The motto for Berlin in 2024 is "Contemporary Witnesses to History". The organisers are thus focusing on the relevance of buildings and monuments for the city skyline and also for the everyday lives of many people. The need to make a visible statement with buildings will be particularly honoured at this year's edition of Monument Day.
The Open Monument Day is the perfect occasion to explore lesser-known and less prominent monuments. But the annual visitor favourites should not go unmentioned either. Selected tips:
The Petri Visitor Centre on Petriplatz is taking part in the Open Monument Day for the first time. Interested parties will have the opportunity to visit the building before its official opening in 2025.
A visit to the Roxy-Palast in Schöneberger Hauptstraße promises a journey into the past.
In Spandau, the former Osram factory can be visited as part of a guided tour of the construction site. The Luxwerk business campus is also located there.
On the island of Eiswerder near Spandau Citadel, visitors can get to know the former military site of the Royal Fireworks Laboratory with its powder, cartridge and ammunition factory, gun foundry and artillery workshop.
In Charlottenburg Town Hall, bookworms and architecture fans can explore the almost completely preserved magistrate's library of the royal residential town of Charlottenburg.
A notable anniversary is being celebrated in Neukölln: The Rixdorfer Schmiede smithy is 400 years old this year.
© dpa
Berlin Art Week, IFA, Lollapalooza, Berlin Marathon and more: highlights of the cultural program in Berlin in September. more
© dpa
Berlin’s top attractions, palaces and monuments with address, photos, public transport details and more
© dpa
The Institute for Museum Research of the Prussian Cultural Heritage Foundation annually publishes a list of the most visited museums. These are the the Top 10 museums in Berlin. more