When we think of the Reichstag, we think of the glass dome, a beautiful view over Berlin, heated debates, and maybe even graffiti. What we don’t think of: at 8:40 a.m., bells ring through the halls of the venerable building, summoning all those willing to the first floor.
There, behind a heavy door, lies a place designed to radiate the very opposite of all the stress of a lawmaker’s life: the prayer room.
A crypt in Parliament brings Cologne Cathedral to Berlin
(Picture above: the Emperor’s Bell, formerly the largest bell in Cologne Cathedral, which was replaced in 1923 by the Peter’s Bell—also known as “Dicker Pitter.”)
During session weeks, a Christian devotional service takes place on Thursdays and Fridays shortly before the start of the plenary session. The service is announced by a recorded recording of the bells of Cologne Cathedral ringing.
The tradition dates back to the Bonn era: In 1949, Konrad Adenauer decided that the recorded chime should call members of parliament to pray together. When the parliament moved to Berlin, the Cologne bell chime simply came along with it.
A very distinctive design that doesn’t appeal to everyone
The room was designed by the Düsseldorf artist Günther Uecker (†2025). A partition wall in front of the windows blocks the direct view outside and allows light to enter indirectly. The result is a dim light that reminds Andreas Kaernbach (curator of the Bundestag’s art collection) of an early medieval crypt.
In the center stands an altar made of sandblasted granite, topped by a simple wooden cross. In front of it, 24 wooden chairs with high backs are arranged in four rows. Leaning against the walls are seven wooden panels that Uecker has worked on with nails and stones and covered with sand and ash.
Open to all, used by few
The room is deliberately designed to be non-denominational and is open to everyone, regardless of religious affiliation. Nevertheless, only a few still heed the call of the bells: while an average of about 120 parliamentarians attended in the 1960s, the Bundestag reported only 10 to 15 in 2013.
If you’re interested in the Reichstag building, you can book guided tours of the Reichstag. Disclaimer: Unfortunately, you won’t be able to hear the bells ringing—the tours don’t start until noon.
