Literaturhaus Berlin

An oasis of quiet in the city. Literaturhaus is located in a nineteenth-century townhouse and is one of Berlin's most important and most beautiful places for literature.
Countless literary events take place each year in the large hall on the first floor of the listed villa, including readings, symposiums, and writing workshops. The range of event is quite impressive. Literaturhaus Berlin holds readings of poems, poetic lyrics, narrative prose, and novels, as well as essays, diaries, letters, nonfiction, and academic papers. In addition, many of the presented texts are especially written as Literaturhaus commissions.

You can also visit the regular literature exhibitions.

A colourful past

The villa itself has had quite a history. It was built in 1889 as a fine townhouse and then served as a military hospital during the First World War. It has also been a soup kitchen, a centre for foreign students, a café, a brothel, and a nightclub. But high culture moved in when Literaturhaus Berlin took over the property in 1986.

Even more books and a café

The lower level of the villa is home to the Kohlhaas & Company book shop offering a select range of current literature and classical works to assuage your hunger for more reading. If it's your stomach that's hungry, then the café-restaurant Wintergarten will take care of your needs. In summer, they also serve the tables in the front yard of the villa. An idyllic spot, right around the corner from the hustle and bustle on Kurfürstendamm.

Information for school groups

School groups are invited to book guided tours of the temporary exhibitions at the Literaturhaus (advance booking only, please). The current events schedule with its numerous readings can be found on the Literaturhaus website. Students receive reduced admission to all Literaturhaus events.

Tickets