Groups and Tours

Why is there an old church ruin in the centre of Berlin, so close to the television tower? In the Middle Ages, more than 700 years ago, monks in grey habits – the Franciscans – came to Berlin and built the “Grey Cloister” at the edge of the town. After the Reformation in the 16th century the cloister was given up, and the alchemist and physician to the elector, Leonhard Thurneisser, lived and worked in the buildings.

Among other activities he established Berlin’s first printing press. Later the cloister became the site of Berlin’s first grammar school, which many famous people attended. The site was destroyed during the Second World War and now exists as a historic monument, and as one of the last remaining relics of old Berlin.

Today, the ruins of brick walls, the old funerary monuments and the remnants of inscriptions still tell many stories, which the guided tours playfully investigate. After visiting and learning about the minster ruins, a walking tour leads the visitor past the medieval city wall and across the Spree to the Märkischen Museum. The intergenerational walk ends in Köllnische Park. 



Book guided tours through the Stiftung Stadtmuseum
Call the hotline at: +49(0) 30 24002 162 or
Or via e-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
stadtmuseum.de
Please book the tour at least 4 days prior to your planned visit.

Klosterruine is member of Bildungsverbundes „Urbane Künste“ of Fachbereich Kunst, Kultur und Geschichte, Bezirksamt Berlin Mitte, which is making this offer possible.

The focus of the guided tour is on the history of the various ways the Franciscan minster has been used, as well as on its significance as a relic of early sacred brick Gothic architecture (Backsteingotik) in Berlin. During the tour various selected artefacts, like moulded bricks and funerary monuments, will be presented and discussed.

The free tour is offered during the summer: it is conducted in German and lasts roughly 60 minutes.

Concept and implementation: Elfi Müller

For guided tours for larger groups,
please enquire via e-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.