The Berlin Cathedral (Berliner Dom), is a beautiful stone church built between 1894 and 1905 by order of William II, the last German emperor, as a symbol of the German Protestantism and the emblem of the ancient Prussian empire.
The Berlin Cathedral (Berliner Dom), is a beautiful stone church built between 1894 and 1905 by order of William II, the last German emperor, as a symbol of the German Protestantism and the emblem of the ancient Prussian empire.
Thanks to its impressive dimensions, this church became one of the most important cathedrals in Germany. This breathtaking construction has 116 meters high and 73 meters wide that make it a very remarkable landmark of the city.
Right next to your Berlin apartment, in the place where the cathedral stands, several churches were built, while evolving over the years with different architectural styles. Their history dates back to 1465, year in which the first church was raised as part of the castle of the Hohenzollern dynasty that was in power for many decades and who were also owners Tiergarten, before it became a public space.
Years later (between 1747-1750), a Dutch architect named Johann Boumann was commissioned by Frederick the Great to build a new Baroque church of larger dimensions that ended up having a very similar look to the Berliner Dom that we all know today.
In 1895 and by express order of William II, the church was demolished to build a new cathedral; the Berliner Dom. This Protestant Cathedral has an area of about 6,270 square meters and can host over 2000 worshipers.
With the World War II bombings, the cathedral was badly damaged. When the Allies took advantage in the war, the cathedral became a target of the bombing that inundated Berlin, finally the cathedral survived, but its structure and its dome were practically destroyed. However in 1975, it was rebuilt thanks to donations from several Protestant institutions.
When you enter the church you will appreciate its beautiful octagonal shape, which is composed of 8 columns adorned with sculptures of four princes and four reformers: Martin Luther, Philipp Melanchthon, John Calvin and Ulrich Zwingli who were reformers and Philip the Generous of Hesse, Elector Frederick the Wise of Saxony, Elector Joachim II of Brandenburg, and Duke Albert of Prussia, who were the princes and ideological defenders of the Luther and Calvin ideas.
The chancel of the church was designed in 1820 and is exactly the same as the one in the first cathedral built by Boumann. Right there you can see three wonderful windows depicting the Birth, Crucifixion, and Resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Located north of the church, the organ was built by Wilhelm Sauer, the most famous organ builder of the time. For many years, this organ was the largest and most popular throughout Germany for its size and harmonious sound.
The Baptismal and Marriage Chapel, located on the south of the church, is an space for worshipers who wish to pray silently and it receives its name because of the two representations inside.
Right in the center of the church we will be able to find the famous dome, which is, without any doubt, one of the most famous in Europe. Its mosaics, restored in 1984, have 40 meters long each and represent the 8praises of forgiveness.
Do not forget go upstairs to get a marvellous view of the city from a very privileged, such as when you stay in apartments in Berlin.
Author Bio
Hans Beltran is a world traveler, who enjoys writing everything regarding holidays and vacations. Passionate about SEO and world history, found in writing the perfect way to share his experiences with his fellow travelers.
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