Berlin Cathedral - Berliner Dom
Among the glamorous and spectacular symbols of Berlin is its trailblazing Berlin Cathedral, known as the Berliner Dom. Berlin Cathedral is located in the western part of Berlin and is distinguished by its beautiful architecture. Its dome is about 100 meters high and won the place of the largest Protestant church in Germany. Designed originally with a baroque form, Berlin Cathedral was completed in neoclassical style by architect Karl Friedrich Shinkel in 1905.
Berlin Cathedral stands on an island in the middle of the river Spree, also known as the Museum Island. Basis of the religious temple were laid in 1894 and the cathedral was completed 11 years later. Religious temples of this place were existing long before the current erected the Berlin Cathedral. It is the third church built on Museum Island.
The first church was built here in 1465, it was a modest building that later served as a family chapel of the family Hohenzollern.
The church was replaced by the Cathedral, built between 1745 and 1747 in Baroque style. The project is the work of Johann Boumann. Berlin Cathedral was renovated in classic architectural style between 1816 and 1822, the project was led by the famous architect- Karl Friedrich Schinkel.
This structure is completely destroyed by order of Emperor Wilhelm II in 1894 and replaced by the current Berlin Cathedral. Much larger than the previous religious buildings, Berlin Cathedral was built as a Protestant competitor to the Catholic Cathedral of St. Peter in Rome. Berlin Cathedral is markedly baroque design with Italian Renaissance architectural influence. It was designed by Julius Raschdorff and the final version of the Berlin Cathedral is a very ornate building for the Protestant church.
Berlin Cathedral is about 114 meters long and 73 meters wide. During World War II, the bombings caused a huge fire in the temple, actually destroying it. In the years after the war, over Berlin Cathedral was placed a protective layer that was trying to preserve what is left of her interior. Despite unsuccessful attempts to overthrow the East German church, in 1975 it’s reconstruction was underway.
Restoration of the interior of the Berlin Cathedral began in 1984 and was completed in 1993 Three years later the Berlin cathedral was consecrated a second time. During the massive reconstruction of its original design, the design is brought to a more simplified version. Before this major reorganization of the structure of the cathedral in the northern part was a museum of the Hohenzollern family, which today does not exist.
The dome of the Berlin Cathedral is decorated with elaborate and beautiful mosaic. Very interesting is the organ. Built originally in 1905, it has more than 7, 000 pipes. Impressive also in the Berlin Cathedral are the neo- baroque pulpit and stained glass made by Anton von Werner. The main altar of the Berlin Cathedral dates from 1850. Do not miss to climb to the dome of the cathedral, boasting spectacular views of Berlin. To reach the top must go through 270 steps, but they are quite large with places to rest.
