An Online Tour of Berlin Dom: Deciphering Its Past and Present Lives

Berlin Dom is an eye-catching building in Berlin, and anyone who has been there would not miss it. Because this behemoth nears the Spree River, stands on the eastern side of Museum Island, it is an "alien" of the island's museum architectural complex.

Although it does not have the extensive collections of the five surrounding museums, the existence of Berlin Dom is both a continuation of the cultural tradition and an echo of history.

Berlin Dom, dating back to 1465, there was a church near the present site of it, where was a place of religious service for the Hohenzollern family and a graveyard for family members.

About 300 years later, the King of Prussia was not satisfied with the style of the original church and ordered its demolition and reconstruction. So an extravagant baroque church was built in 1750 on the present site of Berlin Dom as a court church for the Prussian royal family.

However, Berlin Dom had its most fateful years in the 19th and 20th centuries.

First, it was "changed" into an elegant classical style by Schinkel, and then the King of Prussia ordered its demolition and reconstruction again.

Berlin Dom was built in 1905, which was similar to the one we see today and it was the Renaissance style. The building was even larger in scale, with a strikingly large dome that echoed the city palace across the street, reflecting William II's ideal empire.

Berlin Dom, which has tried various architectural styles, has not escaped the war. During World War II, a shell ignited the dome of the church.

Due to the height of the dome, it was difficult to fight the fire and the top of the tower eventually collapsed. The post-war "crippled" posture lasted for many years.

The restoration of the Berlin Dom began in 1975, which simplified the original design and decoration, it reopened in 1993.

After entering the church, the first thing that comes to mind is the Predigtkirche, with magnificent interior decoration, organ, pulpit, altar and other essential church facilities.

The hall is surrounded by eight pillars, each topped by a figure statue, eight of them are prominent Protestant figures.

The most eye-catching thing is the dome, both from the outside and the inside. Eight mosaic paintings adorn colored windows under the dome, which can be enlarged to look over one by one.

In front of the lobby is the Altarbereich, an area inaccessible to visitors. Every detail is exquisite, one can take a closer visit than real tour during the online tour.

The triptych on the Altarbereich is about the birth, sacrifice and resurrection of Jesus.

The other noteworthy thing is the organ on the left side of the lobby, which consists of 7269 pipes and is one of the largest organs in Germany. If you have the opportunity, enjoying an organ concert here will be a unique experience unlike a other concert halls.

On the right side of the lobby, opposite the organ, is a baptismal room (Tauf- und Traukirche). It is more ornate and solemn than the lobby, where baptisms and wedding ceremonies are held.

After visiting the first floor, you can take a look in the stairwell. The stairwell of the Berlin Dom is also impressive, and the Imperial Staircase (Kaiserliches Treppenhaus) used to be the passageway for William II and Empress Augusta to enter the church.

In the red-carpeted stairwell, 13 tempera paintings depict the life story of Jesus hanging on the walls.

Then walk upstairs, where hang old photos of the Berlin Dom. On the second floor, there is a small exhibition room showing the different periods of the Berlin Dom and its design schemes.

A microscopic model made in 25:1 ratio according to the present style is particularly conspicuous.

Berlin Dom can be climbed to the top (the actual visit requires 270 steps), there is an outdoor walkway that takes you around the dome, giving you a 360° view of the surrounding buildings and landscape, as well as a closer look at the sculptures on the cathedral roof.

The exit of Berlin Dom is on the ground floor, which also serves as an important royal tomb, there are nearly a hundred members of the Hohenzollern family for 500 years, including Frederick I and his queen Sophie Charlotte.

After a brief look at the past and present lives of Berlin Dom and the highlights, start your own online tour.