Lower Church

Four grave chapels in the Frauenkirche served as burial places in the 18th century. Among others, the composer Heinrich Schütz and the builder of the Frauenkirche, George Bähr, were buried here. However, when the church was destroyed, only one burial chamber remained intact. The placement of the coffins in the brick graves have also been largely preserved. But although the majority of the lower church had to be re-vaulted during reconstruction, the fate of the destruction as a whole remains clear.

Between 1996 and 2005 the lower church served as a church room. Church services, devotions and ecumenical evening prayers took place here. People were also able to experience concerts and church tours here during the reconstruction of the Frauenkirche. The monumental altar stone was and is striking. This was made from black Irish limestone by Indian-born Jewish artist Anish Kapoor.

The tradition of evening prayers and artistic use of the lower church continues. Apart from that, the lower church has become a place of silence, personal devotion and prayer. The five chapels were artistically designed by the Berlin sculptor Michael Schoenholtz and address destruction and new beginnings in a variety of ways.