The search for Berlin’s shortest street turned out to be a scavenger hunt of superlatives and contrasts!
Surrounded by pastel-colored buildings with historical flair, it lies hidden from view. Eiergasse is only 16 meters long and is located in Berlin’s oldest area: The Nikolai quarter.
The shortest way to the Middle Ages
What the Eiergasse loses in distance, it makes up for in pure atmosphere. It functions as a portal between the metropolis of Berlin and its medieval core. It almost makes you forget that you are traveling in one of the largest cities in Europe! Eiergasse also connects one of Berlin’s busiest streets with one of the capital’s quietest places: Nikolaikirchplatz.
The church that gives the district its name sits enthroned on it. It is characterized by its red bricks, which stand out perfectly against the patina-covered twin towers that sit on top of them. Its layered look, which isa testament to its age, is also striking. The Nikolaikirche was built around 1230 and over the course of its age has been rebuilt in the modern styles of the time. The last major renovation did not take place until around 1984, after the entire district had suffered severe damage from the Second World War.
Actually longer!
In the Middle Ages, Eiergasse was a much-used street, as it led from the city center to Molkenmarkt, a trading district at the time. The Alte Münze, a former mint that has been converted into a cultural center, is a reminder of its function as such. Consequently, it was much longer in its original form and probably measured around 50 meters. However, it was completely blown up by the bombing during the Second World War and was also renovated in 1984 – albeit only in a mutilated form.
With this background knowledge, the name of Eiergasse can be deduced quite quickly. While some farmers haggled over their dairy products on the whey market, others offered eggs on the way to the market square – both just an egg run away from the Bollengasse. Bolle is the Berlin expression for an onion, which were offered on this very street.
Get to know even the smallest street and take a (short) trip to the Nikolai quarter!