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Berlin Cathedral is without doubt one of the most famous landmarks in the German capital. The baroque building is not only visited by devout Berliners who want to attend the Protestant church service, but also fascinates numerous tourists with its unique architecture and history. Find out here what makes the cathedral so special and why it is worth a visit for you too.
Berlin Cathedral is already a magnificent sight from afar. The four-storey east side in particular has become an integral part of Berlin's cityscape. Here, the view of the huge dome and the elaborate palace architecture with its towers and religious statues is impressive. But the two-storey main façade with its portico and granite staircase right next to the Lustgarten is also breathtaking. However, the view from the 50-metre-high domed gallery cannot be beaten. From here you can not only see the much-visited Museum Island, the new Humboldt Forum, Unter den Linden, the Gendarmenmarkt, the Reichstag, the Rotes Rathaus and the Berlin Synagogue, but you can also enjoy an incredible panoramic view of Berlin Mitte.
The first historical records of Berlin Cathedral date back to well into the 15th century. At this time, the medieval brick church near the recently completed palace was converted into the new court church of Joachim II. The cathedral was consecrated in 1536.
Between 1747 and 1750, it was Frederick II who had the now dilapidated brick church torn down and a new cathedral built in the neo-baroque style on its current site. After Johann Boumann and Georg Wenzeslaus von Knobelsdorff had been commissioned with the construction, Karl Friedrich Schinkel transformed the cathedral into a simpler, modern classicist form at the beginning of the 19th century. Later, King Frederick William IV had the building in the heart of the city redesigned again. The cathedral was to be transformed into a more magnificent church with Italian style elements based on designs by Friedrich August Stüler.
After the founding of the German Empire, a new reorganization seemed necessary. Berlin was now not only the capital, but also a rapidly growing metropolis. An old cathedral was therefore no longer considered representative enough. And so, in 1885, Julius Carl Raschdorff was commissioned to draw up detailed plans for a comprehensive rebuild. The result was an extraordinary building in the neo-renaissance and neo-baroque style. However, as the Prussian House of Representatives only approved ten million Reichsmarks for the building instead of the planned twenty million, Raschdorff had to adapt his plans several times. And so it was not until June 17, 1894 that work began on the new building. After a number of difficulties and delays during construction, the new cathedral was finally consecrated on February 27, 1905. The design of the altar windows, the beautiful dome mosaics, the pulpit and the impressive bronze doors was carried out under the guidance of Anton von Werner.
While an Allied air raid during the Second World War severely damaged the impressive building in places, the cathedral is still the largest Protestant church in Germany in terms of area. In addition, the Hohenzollern crypt in the basement of the cathedral is one of the most important dynastic burial sites in the whole of Europe. Princes and kings from the House of Hohenzollern such as King Friedrich I, Sophie Charlotte and Queen Elisabeth Christine still rest here today.
In addition to the panoramic view over the city from the domed gallery, the chancel and the Hohenzollern crypt, it is particularly worth taking a look at the imperial staircase. Until 1918, the German emperors only entered the cathedral from here and thus benefited from direct access to the baptistery and wedding church, as well as the imperial box. In addition to the original steps, a modern elevator was also available for Empress Auguste Victoria in the magnificent staircase, which was lined with marble and numerous paintings.
Anyone who would like to visit the unique Berlin Cathedral in person currently has the opportunity to do so from Monday to Saturday from 10:00 to 17:00 and Sunday from 12:00 to 17:00. The preaching church, the baptistery and wedding chapel and, last but not least, the fantastic view of the dome are open to the public.
Admission for adults costs 9 euros. A reduced ticket, on the other hand, costs just 7 euros. However, it is even cheaper with the Berlin WelcomeCard. A ticket now costs just 6.50 euros.
As Berlin Cathedral is located right in the city center, there is hardly any way around this impressive building. Whether you want to visit the television tower at Alexanderplatz, the fabulous Pergamon Museum on Museum Island, the Brandenburg Gate or the government district, the cathedral is always within easy reach. And a visit to the enchanting Monbijou Park or Hackescher Markt can also be perfectly combined with a visit to the cathedral. From here, it is just 7 minutes to the cathedral on the Berlin streetcar.
Meanwhile, if you are exploring Berlin in a hire car or in your own car, there are various paid parking garages in the immediate vicinity of the cathedral.
Berlin is always worth a visit. Regardless of whether you want to visit the DDR Museum and Checkpoint Charlie, the Wall or the Victory Column, choose comfortable accommodation in one of Berlin's lively districts. For example, if you would like to visit the cathedral and explore Berlin Mitte, you should book one of the popular rooms at the Hotel Berlin Alexanderplatz in good time. But even if you would prefer to explore the German metropolis from a different location, you are guaranteed to find the perfect B&B Hotel Berlin for your stay on our website.
Benefit from an unbeatable price-performance ratio, spacious rooms with private bathrooms, free Wi-Fi, a comprehensive, bookable breakfast and lots of other services that will make your time in the capital an unforgettable travel adventure.
