Berlin
Neukölln's magnificent mosque
It's not just Berlin's most beautiful mosque - it's one of the most impressive buildings anywhere in the city.
Completed in 2005, but based on traditional 16th and 17th century Ottoman architecture, the Sehitlik mosque on Neukölln's Colombiadamm is rich in breathtaking detail, from ornately carved stonework to elaborately inlaid entrance doors.
Everyone is welcome to visit, and there are daily guided tours which can also be arranged in English (advance booking required).
Interestingly, the building officially stands on Turkish territory, occupying part of a plot of land gifted to the Ottoman Empire by King Wilhelm I for use as a Muslim cemetery. The burial ground - which can be seen in front of the mosque itself - was inaugurated in the 1860s, making it the oldest of its kind in Germany.
One of Berlin's true gems, the Sehitlik mosque is located just a short stroll from the buzzing heart of tourist-magnet Neukölln. No excuse then, not to add it to your sightseeing itinerary and be dazzled by this stunning place of worship.
See also:
A village in Neukölln
Berlin's Hindu temple
Sehitlik Mosque / Islamic cemetery:
Columbiadamm 128,
10965 Berlin
Check website (in German only)
for details of special events
and to book an (optional) guided tour.
