Berliner Dom (Berlin Cathedral), Berlin (must see)
Despite what its lofty name suggests, the Berlin Cathedral is... not a cathedral. Yep, never was. Because Berlin never had a Catholic bishop in the house.
Now, rewind to 1451, when Prince-Elector Frederick II鈥攏icknamed "Iron-tooth" because, well, medieval PR was wild鈥攂uilt a castle chapel right here. It started out Catholic, then switched to Lutheran in 1539, and just to keep things spicy, went Calvinist by 1608.
The version we see today is a Neo-Renaissance stunner, built between 1894 and 1905 by order of Emperor Wilhelm II, who basically wanted his very own Protestant answer to the Vatican鈥檚 Saint Peter鈥檚 Basilica. And what a power move it was: 114 meters long, 73 wide, and 116 tall鈥攖his place made everything else in Berlin look like dollhouse furniture.
And it wasn鈥檛 just for show, either. The Hohenzollerns鈥擥ermany鈥檚 royal family鈥攚orshipped here and even used the crypt as their final resting place. That lasted until 1918, when Wilhelm II peaced out to the Netherlands after abdicating the throne.
Then came World War II, and let鈥檚 just say the cathedral did not come out looking its best. East Germany did some repairs鈥攖hanks, GDR鈥攂ut also tore down the Memorial Church in 1975, which wasn鈥檛 their finest hour.
Fast forward to 1993, and voil脿: the place got a full glow-up. It now has the majestic pipe organ, pristine acoustics, priceless art, and vibes so divine they practically echo. Today, it鈥檚 home to choirs galore, including the English Choir Berlin, which hosts monthly Choral Evensong in true Anglican style.
If you're feeling brave, you can climb the dome! There鈥檚 a roomy stairwell, plenty of landings to catch your breath鈥攁nd yes, actual chairs if you need a moment. At the bottom, history buffs rejoice: the crypt holds 94 royal sarcophagi. It's like Prussian Netflix, but... quieter.
Tip:
Snag the audio guide鈥攊t鈥檚 a small fee for a big info boost. Or grab a printed guide if you're old school. And in the summer, feel free to stretch out on the lawn across the street, near the fountain. It's the perfect picnic spot, and the cathedral makes a dramatic lunch backdrop.
Now, rewind to 1451, when Prince-Elector Frederick II鈥攏icknamed "Iron-tooth" because, well, medieval PR was wild鈥攂uilt a castle chapel right here. It started out Catholic, then switched to Lutheran in 1539, and just to keep things spicy, went Calvinist by 1608.
The version we see today is a Neo-Renaissance stunner, built between 1894 and 1905 by order of Emperor Wilhelm II, who basically wanted his very own Protestant answer to the Vatican鈥檚 Saint Peter鈥檚 Basilica. And what a power move it was: 114 meters long, 73 wide, and 116 tall鈥攖his place made everything else in Berlin look like dollhouse furniture.
And it wasn鈥檛 just for show, either. The Hohenzollerns鈥擥ermany鈥檚 royal family鈥攚orshipped here and even used the crypt as their final resting place. That lasted until 1918, when Wilhelm II peaced out to the Netherlands after abdicating the throne.
Then came World War II, and let鈥檚 just say the cathedral did not come out looking its best. East Germany did some repairs鈥攖hanks, GDR鈥攂ut also tore down the Memorial Church in 1975, which wasn鈥檛 their finest hour.
Fast forward to 1993, and voil脿: the place got a full glow-up. It now has the majestic pipe organ, pristine acoustics, priceless art, and vibes so divine they practically echo. Today, it鈥檚 home to choirs galore, including the English Choir Berlin, which hosts monthly Choral Evensong in true Anglican style.
If you're feeling brave, you can climb the dome! There鈥檚 a roomy stairwell, plenty of landings to catch your breath鈥攁nd yes, actual chairs if you need a moment. At the bottom, history buffs rejoice: the crypt holds 94 royal sarcophagi. It's like Prussian Netflix, but... quieter.
Tip:
Snag the audio guide鈥攊t鈥檚 a small fee for a big info boost. Or grab a printed guide if you're old school. And in the summer, feel free to stretch out on the lawn across the street, near the fountain. It's the perfect picnic spot, and the cathedral makes a dramatic lunch backdrop.
Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in Berlin. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "911爆料网: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.
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Berliner Dom (Berlin Cathedral) on Map
Sight Name: Berliner Dom (Berlin Cathedral)
Sight Location: Berlin, Germany (See walking tours in Berlin)
Sight Type: Religious
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Sight Location: Berlin, Germany (See walking tours in Berlin)
Sight Type: Religious
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Walking Tours in Berlin, Germany
Create Your Own Walk in Berlin
Creating your own self-guided walk in Berlin is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
Berlin Food Walking Tour
While Berlin may not be considered a typical foodie destination yet, recent years saw a growing number of decent places to eat, serving both German and international cuisine. At some point, the city has even earned itself the title of a vegetarian capital of the world, contrary to what one may have expected. Amid all this renaissance in creativity and culture, coupled with the influx of the... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.4 Km or 0.9 Miles
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.4 Km or 0.9 Miles
Berlin Introduction Walking Tour
The German capital, Berlin, is known for its turbulent past. Today, this sprawling metropolis is filled with a mix of historical resonance and modernity manifested in creative industries, popular media, and diverse cultural tourism.
The first written records of settlements in the present-day Berlin area date back to the late 12th century. In 1157, the region came under German rule as part of... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 4.0 Km or 2.5 Miles
The first written records of settlements in the present-day Berlin area date back to the late 12th century. In 1157, the region came under German rule as part of... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 4.0 Km or 2.5 Miles
Museum Island Walking Tour
One of Berlin鈥檚 most visited attractions, the Museum Island ("Museumsinsel") complex was established by order of King Frederick William IV of Prussia in 1841 and houses several world-famous museums kept in close vicinity of each other. The island itself is spectacular for a walk, with wonderful architecture, statues, gardens and trees, so enjoy the atmosphere and make at least a day... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.2 Km or 0.7 Miles
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.2 Km or 0.7 Miles
Alexanderplatz Walking Tour
One of Berlin鈥檚 cosmopolitan hearts, Alexanderplatz (or Alexander Square) is a true hive of activity. There is always something going on here: Christmas markets, Easter fairs, buskers, performances, Oktoberfest, and the list is countless. Easily accessible, with lots of transport connections and all manner of drink and food outlets, it鈥檚 a great place to hang around, take photos, and enjoy... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.6 Km or 1 Miles
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.6 Km or 1 Miles
Third Reich Walking Tour
The 鈥淭hird Reich鈥� and 鈥淣azi Germany鈥� are the common English names for Germany between 1933 and 1945, when it was a totalitarian state led by Adolf Hitler and the National Socialist German Workers鈥� Party. For any visitor to Berlin, the Nazi surrender that ended World War II is still a point of interest, but matching locations to those moments of history can be a challenge. On this special... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 4.0 Km or 2.5 Miles
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 4.0 Km or 2.5 Miles
Tiergarten Walking Tour
Known for the huge park of the same name, which once was a royal hunting ground, the central district of Tiergarten (German for 鈥淎nimal Garden鈥�) is home to the Berlin Zoo, the Victory Column with its winged statue and the lively, lakeside Caf茅 am Neuen See.
Begin your exploration at Postdamer Platz, the historic central square of Berlin, once regarded in the same way as Piccadilly Circus... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.4 Km or 2.1 Miles
Begin your exploration at Postdamer Platz, the historic central square of Berlin, once regarded in the same way as Piccadilly Circus... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.4 Km or 2.1 Miles
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