The Berliner Dom and Crypt - #1
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"Overlooking the cluster of museums is the neo-Renaissance Berliner Dom (Berlin Cathedral). It is the former court church of the royal Hohenzollern family, members of which are buried in its crypt. It's almost miraculous that this ostentatious symbol of monarchical power survived the GDR's fervour for erasing all traces of Berlin's imperial past, especially since it suffered grave damage during WWII. Rebuilt mostly with money pouring in from the western churches, its restoration was not completed until 1993, three years after the Wende.

The colossal structure (114m long, 73m wide, 85m high) is crowned by a central copper dome topped with a golden cross and ringed by four smaller towers. To get a sense of its vastness, you can climb the 270 steps to the viewing gallery at the base of the dome [next section].

The main church itself is richly decorated. The niches in the northern and southern apses hold the ornate sarcophagi of members of the Hohenzollern family. More of these elaborate coffins, including those designed by Schluter for King Friedrich I and his second wife Sophie Charlotte, are on view in the crypt."


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Here we are


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Nice entrance


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Pretty ornate way to start out


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Here's a bad photo of a nice building


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Inside the main chamber


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Too bad this place is bigger than my flash


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That is supposed to be the organ


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Organ, with pews for scale


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This place is just too big


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Main altar

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