PETRI Berlin

About the museum

PETRI Berlin stands on the Spree Island, at a site that is central to the early history of the city. Excavations at Petriplatz in 2007–2009 and in 2015 uncovered settlement traces from the founding period of the twin city of Berlin-Cölln, the foundations of several Petri churches, the walls of a medieval Latin school and around 3,800 graves. Analysis of the skeletal remains showed that Berlin is at least 60 years older than its first documentary mention in 1237 would suggest.

The new building was designed by Florian Nagler Architekten and built on the remains of the Latin school; construction began in 2019. The house has been open to visitors since June 24, 2025. It is a cooperation between the Museum für Vor- und Frühgeschichte (Museum of Prehistory and Early History) of the Staatliche Museen zu Berlin and the Berlin State Monument Office. It combines exhibition space, restoration workshops, storage and project rooms into a route across several floors.

The route leads from the archaeological window on the basement level, with the original wall remains and the ossuary, past find cleaning and restoration, into the storage areas, where the study collection of the Museum für Vor- und Frühgeschichte can be seen, from the Paleolithic through Schliemann's Trojan antiquities to modern objects. At the end, a loggia on the sixth floor offers a view over central Berlin. The exhibition design is by Ralph Appelbaum Associates.

Highlights

• Glass workshops and restoration, with a view of the ongoing work
• Original wall foundations of the medieval Latin school of Cölln
• Ossuary with bones reburied from the Petri churchyard
• Study collection of the Museum für Vor- und Frühgeschichte
• Interactive find game for children
• Loggia with a view over central Berlin

Permanent exhibition

• Entdecke die Archäologie! – A route across several floors that traces the path of a find from excavation through cleaning and restoration to storage and the exhibition.

Founded

2025

Operated by

Staatliche Museen zu Berlin (Museum für Vor- und Frühgeschichte) und Landesdenkmalamt Berlin

Admission & discounts

Admission is free with the Museumspass Berlin. Group tours cost extra on top of admission.

Accessibility

• Partially wheelchair accessible
• Elevator: no information
• Accessible restroom: no information
• Accessible parking: no information
• Service dogs welcome: no information
• Tactile models & exhibits
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

Access to the building is largely barrier-free. On the basement level there are tactile building models as well as audio and video features; the website also has a page in Easy Language.

Kids & families

Great for kids & familiesRecommended for ages 8+

• Family tours & workshops
• Activity booklet, scavenger hunt or kids’ audio guide
• Hands-on stations

Open hands-on workshops ("Scherben bringen Glück" and "Berlin geschichtet") are included in admission and need no registration. A free activity booklet and an interactive find game guide children aged 8 and up through the house. During the autumn school holidays, the workshops take place twice a week.

Getting there & parking

Visitors enter the house at Gertraudenstraße 8.

Amenities & dining

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit