Deutscher Dom
Baroque domed building on Gendarmenmarkt housing the German Bundestag's free Parliamentary History Exhibition on four floors.
About the museum
The Deutscher Dom traces its origins to the New or German Church, built from 1701 to 1708 as a shared church for the Reformed and Lutheran congregations of the Friedrichstadt district. From 1780 to 1785, Frederick II had Carl von Gontard add the distinctive domed tower – as a counterpart to the Französischer Dom opposite, intended to enhance the Gendarmenmarkt architecturally. The tower itself had no religious function; the church was remodeled in neo-Baroque style in 1881/82.
During air raids in 1943 and 1945, the building burned down to its outer walls. Reconstruction of the secured ruin began in 1983, with the interior designed as a modern exhibition space, and it reopened in October 1996.
Since then, the German Bundestag has used the building as an exhibition venue. First, the exhibition “Fragen an die deutsche Geschichte” moved here from the Reichstag building; it was later developed into the exhibition “Wege – Irrwege – Umwege”. In its current form as the Parliamentary History Exhibition, it has shown the development of parliamentary democracy in Germany on four floors and around 1,900 square meters since 2020 – from its beginnings through the German Empire, the Weimar Republic, the Nazi dictatorship and the GDR to the way today's Bundestag works.
In addition to guided tours and films, the building offers role-plays and project days for school classes in a replica plenary chamber.
Highlights
- Domed tower by Carl von Gontard (1780–1785) on Gendarmenmarkt
- Parliamentary history from its beginnings to the Peaceful Revolution on four levels
- Replica plenary chamber for role-plays and project days
- Free short guided tours every 30 minutes, no registration required
- Daily films on parliament and democracy in the in-house cinema
Permanent exhibitions
- Parlamentshistorische Ausstellung des Deutschen Bundestages – Four exhibition levels lead from the emergence of parliamentary democracy through the German Empire, the Weimar Republic, the Nazi state and the GDR to the way today's Bundestag works.
- Founded
- 1996
- Operated by
- Deutscher Bundestag
Admission & discounts
Admission is free.
| Groups | –Guided tours for groups of 10 to 50 people are free; registration required. |
|---|
Admission, guided tours and film screenings are free.
Accessibility
- Wheelchair accessible
- Elevator
- Accessible restroom: no information
- Accessible parking: no information
- Service dogs welcome: no information
- Tactile models & exhibits: no information
- Sign language tours: no information
- Easy-to-read materials: no information
- Audio description: no information
According to the Bundestag, the exhibition in the Deutscher Dom is accessible; all levels can be reached by elevator.
Kids & families
Only partly suitable for kids
No dedicated family programs listed. Registered groups can book tours for children and young people aged 10 to 14; other group tours are for ages 15 and up; the “Plenarsitzung” role-play and student projects are generally for ages 14 and up. The exhibition is accessible.
Getting there & parking
By public transit
U Stadtmitte
U2 and U6 to Stadtmitte.
By car
No on-site parking at the museum.
The Bundestag does not provide visitor parking.
Amenities & dining
The museum hasn’t published any information on this – please ask the museum directly.
Events & venue rental
The museum hasn’t published any information on this – please ask the museum directly.
Plan your visit
| Guided tours | yes · approx. 30 min |
|---|---|
| School programs | yes |
| Good to know | Between 11:00 and 17:00, free 30-minute themed tours every half hour for individual visitors and groups of up to 10 people, no registration needed, also in English or French by arrangement. Groups of 10 to 50 people (tours for ages 15 and up or for 10- to 14-year-olds) register with the exhibition office (030 227-30431/-30432/-31277). Democracy project day, the “Plenarsitzung” (plenary session) role-play and student projects for lower and upper secondary school by registration. Films daily (Tue–Sun) at 14:00 in the cinema (54 seats). |
