Schillerdenkmal

★ 4.7 (110)Free

Sculptor Reinhold Begas created this monument to Friedrich Schiller in 1871, placing the German poet, historian, and playwright — ranked by many alongside Shakespeare and Cervantes — at the heart of Gendarmenmarkt between the German and French Cathedrals. The statue was removed during World War II, its bronze intended for the war effort, and the surviving fragments weren't fully restored and reinstalled on the square until decades later. Set against the backdrop of the two domed cathedrals and the Konzerthaus, it's one of the more photogenic single monuments in central Berlin, and its 4.7 rating in this batch is among the highest for any Berlin landmark listed here. A quick ten-minute stop, it's best appreciated as part of a longer visit to Gendarmenmarkt rather than a dedicated trip.

✨ Reasons to go

1Sculpted by Reinhold Begas in 1871 to honor Friedrich Schiller, a poet often ranked alongside Shakespeare and Cervantes.
2The bronze statue was removed during World War II to be melted down for the war effort, with fragments only fully restored and reinstalled decades later.
3It stands at the center of Gendarmenmarkt, framed by the German and French Cathedrals and the Konzerthaus.

💡 Good to know

1Visit as part of a longer stop at Gendarmenmarkt, taking in both cathedrals and the Konzerthaus around it
2go in the evening when the square's lighting makes the statue and surrounding buildings particularly striking
3it's a quick five-to-ten minute look, easy to combine with a coffee at one of the square's cafés.

⏱️ Typical visit

10 min

🚶 Walking intensity

Easy pace

📍

Address

Gendarmenmarkt, 10117 Berlin, Germany · MitteGoogle Apple

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Booking

Walk-in

What people say

"A stunning memorial in a beautiful part of the city. The sculpture honours Friedrich Schiller, a German poet, historian and philosopher. From a distance it looks like a fountain, but it is not. It is nicely placed with the architecturally wonderful buildings of the concert hall and two churches surrounding the sculpture. The memorial is free to view. It is viewable by people who use a wheelchair."

— Shelley C

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