Spandovia Sacra – Museum der St. Nikolai-Kirche

About the museum

The Spandovia Sacra museum belongs to the Protestant parish of St. Nikolai, which is as old as the town of Spandau. Over the centuries, paintings, communion vessels, church registers and charters accumulated. Until 1994, the museum was located in the church tower; on October 6, 1994, the new building at Reformationsplatz 12 opened, a half-timbered house with a medieval core.

The changing exhibitions focus mainly on church history as part of local and regional history, and show almost exclusively objects from the museum's own holdings. The current basic exhibition, "Nicht nur auf Sand gebaut", traces the close ties between the parish and the town from the Middle Ages to the present. A cabinet exhibition presents the church library, one of the few collections in Brandenburg whose holdings have remained largely complete over the centuries. Its oldest book is a manuscript from 1447; there are also incunabula and around 500 funeral sermons (Leichenpredigten).

On the old attic, concerts, readings and lectures take place several times a year. An adjoining café with a winter garden, a half-timbered room and seating on the Reformationsplatz invites visitors to linger after the tour. The house is run by the parish with a volunteer team.

Highlights

• Basic exhibition "Nicht nur auf Sand gebaut" on Spandau church history
• Historic church library with a manuscript from 1447
• Medieval half-timbered building with café
• Concerts and readings "Unterm Dach" (under the roof)
• Admission free, donations welcome

Permanent exhibitions

• Nicht nur auf Sand gebaut. Geschichte(n) von Kirche und Stadt – The basic exhibition shows how closely the history of Spandau is intertwined with the St. Nikolai parish, from the Middle Ages to the present, mainly through church registers and archival items.
• Ein Kulturdenkmal aus Papier. Die Spandauer Kirchenbibliothek – Cabinet exhibition on the historical library, with a room modelled on a pastor's study and a selection of funeral sermons.

Operated by

Evangelische Kirchengemeinde St. Nikolai Berlin-Spandau

Admission & discounts

Admission is free.

Admission free; donations welcome.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible: no information
• Elevator: no information
• 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

The museum is housed in a medieval half-timbered building; the concert series "Unterm Dach" takes place in the attic and is not accessible.

Kids & families

A family-friendly tour of Spandau's old town with twelve stations, "Bier und Fische für Melanchthon", is available as a download.

Getting there & parking

The museum is at Reformationsplatz 12, directly next to St. Nikolai Church (Reformationsplatz 6).

Amenities & dining

• Café

Café in the museum with a winter garden, a half-timbered room with fireplace, and seating on the Reformationsplatz (Fri–Sun 15:00–18:00).

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit