Berlin Cathedral is the former court cathedral of Prussia's royal family, the Hohenzollern and was conceived as a protestant answer to St. Peter's Basilica in Rome.
It was built to plans by Julius Carl Raschdorff from 1894-1905, during the reign of Kaiser Wilhelm II. as the royal and memorial church of the Hohenzollern; the previous cathedral, built 1747-50 and refurbished in classical style by Schinkel, had been demolished. Ignoring the criticisms of his contemporaries, the new cathedral arose in accordance with the wishes of Kaiser Wilhelm II. - a sumptuously ornamented, domed building inspired by the Italian High Renaissance style. Following extensive damage to the building during the Second World War, a simplified reconstruction took place from 1975-93.
The magnificent interior was designed by Julius Raschdorff around the turn of the last century. In the "Sermon Chapel", there is a golden altar frieze depicting the 12 apostles, constructed to the designs of K. F. Schinkel; the large, impressive Sauer organ, and the magnificent sarcophagi of the Great Elector and Electress Dorothea, King Friedrich I. and Queen Sophie Charlotte can also be seen there. The main altar, dating from 1850, is the work of Friedrich August Stüler. The Christening and Marriage Chapel contains the altar painting "Miracle of the Pentecost" by K. Begas the Elder. The royal crypt of the Hohenzollern contains around 100 remains. Since November 2005 a museum presents models, paintings and constructions plans of the building's history. The exhibition also informs about the architects.