Berlin Cathedral - a must for church-lovers

For those interested in ecclesiastical architecture, a visit to Berlin Cathedral, with its striking 75-metre copper dome, is an absolute must. The Protestant church was inaugurated in 1905 and is located on an island in the River Spree. It is one of the largest and most significant Protestant churches in Germany.

Located in the city's Mitte district, Berlin Cathedral is built in the Italian high renaissance style. It consists of three parts which are dedicated to baptisms, marriages and the preaching of sermons. The former court church and mausoleum of the Hohenzollerns also used to feature a memorial hall. The cathedral was designed by Julius Raschdorff and built between 1894 and 1905 for Kaiser Wilhelm II, who envisaged it as a Protestant counterpart to St. Peter's Basilica in Rome. Its many fascinating features include the emperor's box designed by Karl Friedrich Schinkel, the cathedral vault, which contains almost 100 tombs of the Hohenzollern dynasty spanning five centuries, the main altar by August Stüler, the altar piece by Karl Begas and the viewing gallery.

The ornately decorated tombs of Friedrich Wilhelm the Great, Friedrich I, Princess Dorothea and Queen Sophie Charlotte are exhibited in the cathedral. Once inside, the size of the building is astounding. The very first thing to catch your eye is the elaborately decorated altar. Looking up towards the ceiling, there is a striking dome with exquisite paintings and the impressive emperor's box. Those wishing to see it close up can take the emperor's staircase, adorned with beautiful landscape paintings, right to the top.

Berlin Cathedral is a striking piece of architecture which attracts large numbers of visitors. Its history goes back to the 15th century and is closely connected with the rise of the Hollenzollern dynasty. Amongst its treasures are the magnificent tombs in the Hohenzollern crypt, which are all marked with the dates of their births and deaths. There is a museum showing the history of the cathedral with models, paintings and architectural plans. Special multilingual guided tours are available. Visitors are not permitted during services. The cathedral has a lift for disabled visitors.


Contact:
E-Mail: info@berlinerdom.de
Internet: http://www.berliner-dom.de/