Berliner Dom (Berlin Cathedral), Berlin (must see)
Despite its name, the Berlin Cathedral has never been a "cathedral" in the true sense of the word, because Berlin itself has never been the seat of a Catholic bishop.
A castle chapel on this site has stood since 1451, established by Prince-Elector Frederick II 鈥淚ron-tooth.鈥� Originally Catholic, the church became Lutheran, in 1539, and then Calvinist, in 1608. The current Neo-Renaissance iteration was built between 1894 and 1905 by order of Emperor William II, as a Protestant counterpart to Saint Peter's Basilica in Vatican City.
Distinguished as the largest Protestant church in Germany, the colossal temple, upon its completion, dwarfed any existing structure in Berlin, measuring 114 meters in length, 73 meters in width, and 116 meters in height.
The Royal House of Hohenzollern 鈥� German monarchs 鈥� worshiped here. The cathedral also served as their dynastic tomb until the abdication of King Wilhelm II in 1918 and his departure for Holland.
Fast forward to the aftermath of the World War II chaos, the massive structure was heavily damaged and in dire need of a makeover. It was partially restored by East German authorities, but its Memorial Church was demolished in 1975.
Following a profound restoration in 1993, the cathedral emerged as a true gem laden with a fully restored magnificent pipe organ, exceptional acoustics, priceless artworks, and transcendent ambiance. In addition to that, nowadays, the cathedral hosts various choirs, including the English Choir Berlin, which performs monthly Choral Evensong in the Anglican tradition.
Ascending to the dome provides visitors with a rewarding vista. The journey is further facilitated by a roomy stairwell, plenty of landings decked out with vintage snapshots and models, and even a few seating areas for those who like to take it easy. Meanwhile, down in the crypt, you will find 94 sarcophagi of Prussian royals 鈥� this is like a history nerd's dream come true, and you can practically hear them whispering their secrets.
Tips:
Consider investing in the audio guide for a nominal fee, providing a wealth of fascinating information, or opt for a printed guide at a modest cost. During the summer, a generous open lawn with a fountain across the street offers an ideal setting for a picnic.
A castle chapel on this site has stood since 1451, established by Prince-Elector Frederick II 鈥淚ron-tooth.鈥� Originally Catholic, the church became Lutheran, in 1539, and then Calvinist, in 1608. The current Neo-Renaissance iteration was built between 1894 and 1905 by order of Emperor William II, as a Protestant counterpart to Saint Peter's Basilica in Vatican City.
Distinguished as the largest Protestant church in Germany, the colossal temple, upon its completion, dwarfed any existing structure in Berlin, measuring 114 meters in length, 73 meters in width, and 116 meters in height.
The Royal House of Hohenzollern 鈥� German monarchs 鈥� worshiped here. The cathedral also served as their dynastic tomb until the abdication of King Wilhelm II in 1918 and his departure for Holland.
Fast forward to the aftermath of the World War II chaos, the massive structure was heavily damaged and in dire need of a makeover. It was partially restored by East German authorities, but its Memorial Church was demolished in 1975.
Following a profound restoration in 1993, the cathedral emerged as a true gem laden with a fully restored magnificent pipe organ, exceptional acoustics, priceless artworks, and transcendent ambiance. In addition to that, nowadays, the cathedral hosts various choirs, including the English Choir Berlin, which performs monthly Choral Evensong in the Anglican tradition.
Ascending to the dome provides visitors with a rewarding vista. The journey is further facilitated by a roomy stairwell, plenty of landings decked out with vintage snapshots and models, and even a few seating areas for those who like to take it easy. Meanwhile, down in the crypt, you will find 94 sarcophagi of Prussian royals 鈥� this is like a history nerd's dream come true, and you can practically hear them whispering their secrets.
Tips:
Consider investing in the audio guide for a nominal fee, providing a wealth of fascinating information, or opt for a printed guide at a modest cost. During the summer, a generous open lawn with a fountain across the street offers an ideal setting for a picnic.
Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in Berlin. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "51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.
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
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
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
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
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
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
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