In the dialogic-active guided tour, the young people explore Berlin's oldest preserved church building according to their own areas of interest.

Freely inspired, the students first sketch their spontaneous impressions of the architecture or individual objects of the city's history. They collect the sketches and their questions about them in a large floor plan of the Nikolaikirche. In this way, they determine the tour for their class through the museum, and together they create a legend with designations and the answers they have found.

One place - many themes

The medieval architecture of the former church building and its construction methods, as well as the gravestones and objects in thepermanent exhibition, give the young people an insight into a large part of Berlin's urban history.

The exhibition encourages them to talk about a wide range of topics: War destruction and reconstruction, art and music, burial culture over the centuries, religious symbols, sacred customs, connections between built architecture and liturgy, and the culturally and religiously diverse population of today's Berlin. In facilitated conversation, students relate this to themselves and their own life-world experiences.

Building history - city history

Why, how and by whom was the church built on this site? Which part is considered the "oldest preserved room" of Berlin? What do the tower and the wall remains of the late Romanesque fieldstone church tell about the founding period of the city?

Together, the young people interpret clues to the building history from the materials and shapes themselves. Fieldstones, bricks, round windows, pointed windows - the differences quickly become clear. At what times did the people of Berlin rebuild their church, and what secular statement can be found in their decision to use a new building material?

The role of St. Nicholas Church

In conversations like these, the students become aware of the role that Berlin's oldest church and main parish church played for people in the past. Why is it actually called Nikolaikirche? What did it look like inside in the past? Who was allowed to stay where? Who was buried here?

In addition to the historical church interior, a model shows the reconstruction of today's Nikolai quarter. It becomes clear why the church, which was destroyed in the Second World War, is now a city museum.

Faith in Berlin today

The installation "Faith in Berlin" vividly conveys the diversity of people living in Berlin today. It shows personal approaches to religion and spirituality of individual people in the multicultural city. In the dialogue about exhibits and people, the young people can contribute their own knowledge and personal experiences and exchange ideas about their own attitudes or migration experiences.

Possible curriculum references:

Methodological and interpretive competencies: opening up, describing and naming spaces; methods of creative research

Fine arts, grades 7-10: building and construction, architecture and sculpture, interior and exterior spaces, rhythm, movement and change, phenomena of time and contemporary history

Fine arts, high school: building concepts and structures, functions of architecture

History: epochs from the Middle Ages to the 20th century; life and faith in the Middle Ages, Christian world view, church and church reform, Reformation

Religion: shape of faith and signs of the religious, liturgical processes and places in the church space as well as in the change of the history

Note: The life and work of the pastor and songwriter Paul Gerhardt and the cantor Johann Crüger are closely connected with the Nikolaikirche. If desired, a special focus can be placed on this.

Duration: 90 minutes