Berger Kirche (Berger Church), Dusseldorf

The Berger Church, a Protestant church in Dusseldorf’s old town, carries a rich historical significance as the first Lutheran church built in Dusseldorf. Constructed between 1683 and 1687, it was inaugurated on August 31, 1687, as a “court church,” tucked away from main streets, reflecting the limited tolerance of Lutheranism in re-Catholicized Düsseldorf. Situated near Wallstrasse, the Berger Church is a classic hall church with exposed red brick masonry, embodying a simple, late-German Renaissance style. Despite its austere exterior, the interior was lavishly redesigned in the Baroque period, although much of the original features were lost due to war damage in 1943. Rebuilt in the 1960s and rededicated in 1966, it has been part of the Diakonie Düsseldorf since 2003.

A noteworthy feature of the Berger Church is its connection to other places of worship through an innovative electronic installation by Frankfurt artist Tobias Rehberger. His design integrates a white acrylic altar connected to the Protestant John's Church (Johanneskirche) and the Catholic Saint Lambertus Church, allowing sounds from these churches to influence the brightness of the altar lights. Above it hangs a striking red-orange light orb, complementing the geometrically patterned wall hangings in gradient colors on the side walls.

Outside, the Dusseldorf Psychosocial Center for Refugees, in collaboration with artist Anne Mommertz, created a “mourning place” for immigrants, refugees, and people of all cultures. This space, designed with curving natural stone paths forming a spiral, offers a tranquil setting for reflection with bamboo screens for privacy and a water bowl in the recessed center. Inaugurated on the Sunday of the Dead in November 2011, this place of mourning reflects the church’s ongoing commitment to inclusivity and remembrance across cultural and religious boundaries.