In the year 1237, a simple signature on a document mentioned Symeon, the pastor of St. Petri Church in Cölln. This seemingly minor event marked the birth of Berlin. Petriplatz, nestled between Scharrenstraße and Gertraudenstraße, stands as a silent witness to this history. Petriplatz wasn’t always a plaza. It began as the churchyard of St. Petri Church, one of Berlin’s oldest churches. The church, dedicated to Saint Peter, the patron saint of fishermen, served the nearby Fischerinsel community. Over centuries, three different churches occupied this sacred ground. The first church gave way to two successors, each built upon the foundations of the last. A bustling marketplace and the Cölln town hall also called Petriplatz home.
The church’s presence shaped the area for centuries. A cemetery surrounded the church until 1717. After its closure, the land was paved and opened to the public. The area continued to evolve. In 1809, fire ravaged the baroque church. The ruins were cleared, and the space formally became Petriplatz. A new church, designed by Johann Heinrich Strack, rose from the ashes over 40 years later. Petriplatz then became the area around this new church.
World War II brought devastation. The church and surrounding buildings lay in ruins. Only the Rudolph Hertzog department store survived. The church’s remains were finally removed between 1960 and 1964. Petriplatz then became a parking lot. East German Plattenbau apartment blocks and government buildings rose to the north. The Fischerinsel housing development replaced everything between the south of the square and the Spree Canal. Gertraudenstraße expanded into an eight-lane thoroughfare. Brüderstraße extended to Gertraudenstraße.
The 21st century brought renewed interest in Petriplatz. In 2006, the Berlin Senate decided to rebuild the area. Archaeological excavations uncovered a wealth of history. Foundations of all four churches, the Cölln town hall, medieval houses, and over 3,700 graves emerged. Today, Petriplatz is being reborn. The House of One, an interfaith center for Christians, Jews, and Muslims, is under construction. The PETRI BERLIN archaeological visitor center showcases the site’s rich history. As you stand on Petriplatz, imagine the centuries of life, worship, and commerce that unfolded here. This unassuming square holds the very heart of Berlin’s story.