Berlin Cathedral - history and modernity

On the river Spree, which flows in Berlin, is the island of Spreeinsel, which in the Middle Ages was an ordinary swampy meadow, today it is called Museum. Popular metropolitan museums are built here, as well as the Berlin Cathedral, the largest Protestant church in Germany. It is about him that will be discussed in our today's review.

Photo: Berlin Cathedral

General information

If you have already been to Berlin, you probably saw a magnificent building with green domes. The architecture and decoration of the church resembles the church of St. Peter, built in the Vatican, and skillful Prussian masters worked on the interior decoration of religious attractions.

Interesting fact! The cathedral in the capital of Germany is the main residence of the German Evangelical Church, at the same time the tomb of the royal dynasty.

A visit to the church can be combined with a visit to the capital's museums, as there are five interesting sights of Berlin within walking distance of the cathedral.

The building of the Berlin Cathedral is well known and recognizable throughout the world, largely due to its rigor, elegance and green roof. According to the creators of the church and architects, it was supposed to be the place where all European Lutherans gather. Despite the Protestant teachings preaching restraint and asceticism, the exterior and interior of the cathedral turned out to be luxurious and rich.

Interesting Facts:

construction lasted 11 years, and was completed in 1905;
for the sights they chose a place where another church in the neoclassical style used to be located, but since Emperor William did not like it, the authorities decided to demolish the building and then build a new cathedral;
two German specialists worked on the project - Otto and Julius Rushdorff;

many tourists note that the rich decoration does not leave a pressing feeling, every detail I want to carefully study and leave in mind;
Before the Second World War, the Berlin Cathedral was considered the tallest building in the German capital - its height was 114 metro, unfortunately, the building was damaged during the fighting and today its height is 98 meters;
An interesting attraction of the church is the organ designed by the local craftsman Wilhelm Sauer;
here is the tomb of the Hohenzollern dynasty, so inside they ask to be quiet;
a platform is equipped under the dome, from where one of the best views of the capital opens;
After sightseeing, you can take a walk and relax in the Lustgarten park.

Historical excursion

If we talk about the history of the Cathedral in Berlin, it is necessary to recall the eternal confrontation between Protestants and Catholics. The irreconcilable rivalry of the two religions turned into real wars. It was it that became the main reason for the construction of the Berlin Cathedral - the Protestants wanted to outdo Catholics and build something more ambitious and monumental than St. Peter's Church (Vatican).

Interesting fact! Berlin Cathedral is rightfully considered one of the best Protestant buildings in the world. This fact is recognized by Protestants, as well as representatives of other religions. Today, the temple is called the pearl of world architecture.

It should be noted that this cathedral was not like this, since representatives of the Roman Catholic Church were never in the capital of Germany. In 1930, the first Catholic diocese appeared in the capital.

Construction work was carried out from 1895 to 1905. After the Second World War, the building was badly damaged and after reconstruction it reopened only in 1993.

Decor

In many historical documents, confirmation that the cathedral in the capital of Germany really liked King William II. The attraction is decorated in the Baroque style, Silesian granite was used for its construction. 270 steps lead to the observation deck, with chapels with smaller domes built on both sides of the main dome.

The facade of the building with rich decoration attracts attention, it is decorated with stucco, columns, arches, statues of evangelists made of bronze - such a rich architecture evokes a feeling of lightness. Inside there are a lot of stained-glass windows and religious-themed images. For city dwellers and guests of Berlin, sermons from the pulpit are decorated.

Words are difficult to convey the luxury of the cathedral. One thing is obvious - such a rich decoration does not match the appearance of traditional Protestant churches. The cathedral in Germany is decorated with marble columns, elaborate carvings, a gilded altar, an onyx and marble throne, and a polychrome mosaic. The vault is painted with images of the Sermon on the Mount.

Interesting fact! Famous German masters worked on the external and internal appearance of the cathedral - the organ is the work of Sauer, the mosaic and stained glass were created by Anton von Werner, and the main marble altar was preserved from the original cathedral, its author is Frederick Augst Stuller.

Many temple visitors note that the stained glass windows depicting scenes from the Old Testament seem to be alive. The beauty of the decoration of the temple will be appreciated by believers and admirers of art, since the paintings adorning the cathedral are rightfully considered masterpieces of fine art.

The organ is more reminiscent of a whole musical house, admires the size and design. Its 7269 pipes provide a deep, beautiful sound. The tool was created in 1903, and in 1993 was restored with the building.

Interesting fact! The organ of the Berlin Cathedral is the largest church organ in Germany; for greater stability and reliability, it is mounted on marble supports.

Separately, it must be said that the cathedral is the family tomb of the Hohenzollern dynasty. To date, 89 members of the monarch's family are buried in the crypt, but, unfortunately, only 70 of them were saved. The sarcophagus of Elector Brandenburg Friedrich Wilhelm I was recognized as the most luxurious. His wife Dorothea was buried next to him. The burial place of Prussian monarch families is also located in the crypt. The sarcophagi for them were created by Andreas Schlüter.

Another amazing detail of the cathedral in Berlin is the observation deck, which offers a picturesque view of the Under Linden boulevard, as well as the capital and the park near the temple. The appearance of the park corresponds to the idea of the monarch Karl Friedrich Schinkel - this is a huge lawn, its heart is a fountain.

Interesting fact! In Berlin there is another historical and architectural attraction associated with the royal dynasty - the palace of Charlottenburg. Previously, the castle was a royal residence.

Practical information

What to see near the temple

Bode Museum

Bode Museum.
Girl's bridge.
The new museum.
Khaki courtyards.
Pergamon Museum.

Schedule

The temple is open daily:

Monday to Saturday - from 9-00 to 20-00;
on Sundays and holidays - from 12-00 to 20-00;
from October to April - from 9-00 to 19-00 (on Sundays and holidays - from 12-00 to 19-00).

Cost of visiting

Adult ticket - 7 euros.
Ticket for schoolchildren and students - 5 euros.
Family ticket - 14 euros.

How to get there

The Cathedral is located located at: Am Lustgarten, 10178 Berlin. You can get there by public transport:

Tram No. М4, М5, М6;
bus No. 100, 200, 248, M4, M48 (Alexanderplatz stop);
Metro - branches U2, U5, U8;
commuter trains S5, S7, S75.

Official website: berlinerdom.de.
Compare accommodation prices using this form

Useful Tips

Be sure to listen to the organ, but check out the schedule on the official website first.
There are lockers in the cathedral.

Berlin Wellcom Card holders get a discount on admission.
There are no ticket offices, special machines are installed for the sale of tickets. You can pay in cash and by credit card.
The toilet in the temple is paid (1 euro), but the Historical Museum is opposite, there is a free toilet.
Climbing to the observation deck is quite tedious, so stock up on water and calculate strength.
The ticket price includes inspection of the cathedral, visiting the crypt and climbing to the observation deck.
To admire the cathedral from all sides, you can take a walk on the river bus.
There is an audio guide in Russian.

The reviews of the Berlin Cathedral are delightful, but there are opinions that this attraction is undeservedly popular, it looks too pompous and even bulky. Nevertheless, the German Kaiser was very fond of the temple, and one should not argue about the tastes of the ruler. In any case, the cathedral is worthy of the attention of tourists, because it is an important religious relic, a historical and architectural monument of Germany.

Detailed inspection of the Berlin Cathedral.