Berlin Cathedral is a Protestant church. And yet, about a minute after stepping inside, the surprise begins. Because nothing looks quite the way I expected. There’s no Gothic gloom, no austere Protestant simplicity. Instead, there’s gold, marble, opera-like organs, and royal sarcophagi. The Berlin Cathedral – formally Protestant – seems designed to impress. And it does, though in a way that defies all assumptions.

Berlin Cathedral | Cathédrale de Berlin | Berliner Dom | Catedral de Berlín | Cattedrale di Berlino | Katedra Berlińska | Берлинский кафедральный собор | 柏林大教堂 | ベルリン大聖堂 | 베를린 대성당

The Berlin Cathedral (in German: Berliner Dom) is a prominent Protestant church and the largest church in Berlin. It is located on Museum Island in the Mitte borough of Berlin. Its construction began in 1894 under the architect Julius Carl Raschdorff. It was built on the site of a previous Baroque-style cathedral that had been demolished. The Cathedral was completed in 1905.

I have already seen countless cathedrals, basilicas, or churches in Europe. But upon entering this one, I was impressed by its perfect design and imperial look. It holds your eyes with impressive Baroque and Renaissance architecture, but it is not overdosed like many Baroque churches. You see gold, but not too much. It is adorned with beautiful mosaics, sculptures, and stained glass windows. Under closer scrutiny, you see the symmetry of the interior design that conveys a sense of order and authority.

The Berlin Cathedral on approach from its front and back, and the first look onto its interior and the dome.

The idea of constructing a cathedral in Berlin gained momentum in the late 19th century. It was the time when the German Empire that emerged upon the Kingdom of Prussia, led by Kaiser Wilhelm II, sought to assert its influence and compete with other European powers. The German Empire was officially proclaimed on January 18, 1871, in the aftermath of the Franco-Prussian War. The German Empire was a federal state with a constitutional monarchy. The monarch, initially Kaiser Wilhelm I, only briefly his son Frederick III, and later his grandson Kaiser Wilhelm II. It collapsed after World War I in November 1918. The war resulted in significant economic strain, social unrest, and military defeat. Kaiser Wilhelm II abdicated. The Weimar Republic was established.

The look onto the altar, the back and the organs which are located on your left hand side as you look onto the altar. Beneath the latter you can see sarcophages of the Prussian royalty.

The Cathedral became the main church for the Protestant Church of the Prussian Union. The Prussian Union was a historical Protestant church union that emerged in the Kingdom of Prussia, the predecessor of the German Empire in the early 19th century. The primary aim was to create a unified Protestant church structure that could bridge the theological and liturgical differences between Lutherans and Reformed Protestants. It was initiated by King Frederick William III of Prussia through a royal edict on September 27, 1817. At this time, Prussia was a significant German state with a diverse population practicing various forms of Protestantism, including Lutheran and Reformed (Calvinist) traditions.

The Berlin Cathedral suffered significant damage during World War II due to Allied bombings. The dome and much of the interior were severely affected. In the post-war years, the East German government took charge of the cathedral. As in all countries under Soviet influence, there was an overall trend of secularization. While the state allowed for the existence of churches, they were subject to state control and scrutiny. The interior was initially used for secular purposes. But later in the seventies extensive restoration efforts were undertaken, and the cathedral was reopened to the public in 1993 after substantial reconstruction.

Details of the Berliner Dom opulent interior.

There are various members of the Kingdom of Prussia burried beneath the Cathedral in the Hohenzollern Crypt – Frederick William I, the King of Prussia, and his wife, Sophia Dorothea of Hanover; Wilhelm I, the first German Emperor (Kaiser) and King of Prussia; Empress Augusta Victoria, wife of Wilhelm II (the last German Emperor), and others. Besides in the dome we can admire the so called canotaphs erected as symbolic memorials to individuals whose remains are located elsewhere – Frederick III, the German Emperor and King of Prussia for a very brief period in 1888. The sarcophages are made from luxurious materials such as precious metals, marble, or other valuable materials. They are adorned with intricate carvings, engravings, and decorative elements that symbolize the deceased person’s position. The cathedral also contains various memorials and plaques dedicated to individuals, including military personnel and clergy, who played significant roles in German history.

Opulent canotaphs inside the cathedral. It is difficult to make photos of them as they are placed behind massive bars.

The Berlin Cathedral’s dome is accessible to visitors willing to get to the roof. As I can recall it there was no lift inside, so I had to climb it using narrow stairs. The dome offers panoramic views of Berlin.