Berlin's churches and cathedrals

Berlin`s churches always played an important part in Berlins life - from medieval to present times. They are not only interesting because of their religious importance, but also because of their architecture.

  Berliner Dom (Berlin Cathedral)

It took ten years (1895-1905) until the Berlin Cathedral was finished. However, the history of the Berlin Cathedral dates back to the 15th century, when the chapel of the Berlin castle was founded. The predecessor of today's cathedral was erected in the 1750’s. On the present site, Berlin’s gifted architect Karl Friedrich Schinkel rebuilt the cathedral. But King Frederick William IV. decided to demolish the Schinkel building to replace it by a new, more elaborate cathedral. The draft was supplied by Julius Raschdorff. Of particular interest is the Hohenzollern crypt, where the remains of many rulers of the Hohenzollern Dynasty rest. 
How to get there: 
S-Bahn: S5, S7, S75 (Hackescher Markt)
Bus:100, 200 (Lustgarten)
Tram M5, M6 (Spandauer Str./ Marienkirche)

                                                            Berliner Dom (Berlin Cathedral)

Kaiser-Wilhelm-Gedächtniskirche (Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church)

 The ruined tower of the Kaiser-Wilhelm-Gedächtniskirche is a landmark of Berlin. On September 1.1895 the church was inaugurated in memory of the German emperor Wilhelm I. In World War II bombs destroyed this splendor; only the tower was left as a sad reminder. It houses splendid mosaics and a memorial hall to remind of the horrors of war. The architect Egon Eiermann built in the early 1960’s a new church and a new steeple.

How to get there:
S-Bahn: S5, S7, S75 ( Zoologischer Garten)
U- Bahn U9 ,U2 (Zoologischer Garten)
Bus: 100, 200 ( Breitscheidplatz)

Deutscher Dom and Französischer Dom (German Cathedral and French Cathedral)

On the Gendarmenmarkt lie two of the most beautiful churches in Berlin. At first glance, it is difficult to distinguish the French Cathedral of the German Cathedral, because they are so alike.
From 1701-05 the French cathedral was buildt - from 1701-1708 the German cathedral.
From 1780-85 the churches got their towers. An exhibition in the German Cathedral informes about the development of parliamentary democracy in Germany. In the French Cathedral it is worth to visit the Huguenot Museum.

Underground: U6 (Französische Str, ), U2 (Hausvogteiplatz) 
Bus: 100,200 (Lustgarten)
Tram: M5, M6 (Spandauer Str./ Marienkirche)

Deutscher Dom at Night

Nicolaikirche (St. Nicholas Church)

St. Nicholas Church is the oldest church in the city and one of the few remnants of the Middle Ages. Construction begun around 1230. The church was rebuilt several times over the centuries. The twin towers date from the late 19th century. During World War II the church was razed to the ground. Only in the 1980s it was rebuilt for the 750th anniversary of Berlin. It is no longer used as a church, but as a museum about the church and its history.

U2 (Klosterstr.)
Bus: M48, 248 (Nikolaiviertel)
Tram: M5, M6 (Spandauer Str./ Marienkirche)

St. Nicolas church is the oldest church in Berlin

  

Marienkirche (St. Mary’s Church)
Marienkirche ( St. Marys Church) is the second oldest church in Berlin. It was erected some decades later than the Nicolai Church. Construction began around 1270. The 90 meter high tower (1789/90) was designed by Carl Gotthard Langhans, who also built the Brandenburg Gate. The main attraction of the Marienkirche is the barely visible fresco dating from 1484. 28 scenes show the personification of death. Also worth seeing are: the font (1437), the Baroque pulpit (1703) by Andreas Schlüter and the organ (1720/21) by Joachim Wagner. The cross in front of the church commemorates the murder of the provost Nicolaus of Bernau in 1324.

S-Bahn: S5, S7, S75 (Hackescher Markt)
Bus:100, 200 (Lustgarten)
Tram M5, M6 (Spandauer Str./ Marienkirche)

Marienkirche (St. Mary's church)

St. Hedwigs Kathedrale (St. Hedwig's Cathedral)

In 1747 began the construction of the Hedwigskirche for the French population. But it was not until 1773 that the church was completed, because the Seven Years’ War (1756-62) prevented further construction. In 1930 the church was elevated to a cathedral.T ragic is the fate of Bernhard Lichtenberg, who served as provost of St. Hedwig's Cathedral. Bernhard Lichtenberg resisted the Nazis. He died on 5 November 1943, on the way to Dachau concentration camp and is buried in the cathedral. On 23 June 1996 Bernhard Lichtenberg was beatified.
How to get there: U2 (Hausvogteiplatz)
Bus: 100, 200 (Staatsoper)
Tram: 12, M1 (Am Kupfergraben)