Gendarmenmarkt is one of the most beautiful squares in Europe - a must for every tourist. Here the Deutscher Dom (German Cathedral), the Französischer Dom (French Cathedral) and the Konzerthaus create a beautiful architectural ensemble.
The square was laid out from 1688 to the plans of J.A. Nering; it was originally known as Linden Markt, then Friedrichstädtischer Markt or Neuer Markt. Because the square was used by a curassier regiment "gens d´arms," from 1736-82, complete with sentry boxes and stables, the name Gendarmenmarkt arose. From 1777, the square was developed according to unified plans drawn up by Georg Christian Unger. It was badly damaged in the Second World War; on the occasion of the 250th anniversary of the Prussian Academy of the Sciences (Akademie der Wissenschaften), it was renamed "Platz der Akademie," but its previous name was restored in 1991.
Französischer Dom (French Cathedral)
The church Französische Friedrichstadtkirche was built from 1701-05 to the designs of Cayart, as a church for Berlin's Huguenot community, thus the reason for its name. From 1780-85, the imposing tower of the French cathedral (Französischer Dom) was added to plans by Gontard and Unger as part of the redesigning of Gendarmenmarkt. The cathedral, which was badly damaged in the war, was rebuilt from 1977.
Deutscher Dom (German Cathedral)
From 1701-08, the so-called "Neue Kirche" was built by Giovanni Simonetti to plans by M. Grünberg. From 1780-85, Carl von Gontard extended the building with the addition of the domed tower of the "German Cathedral", during the redesigning of the Gendarmenmarkt. The cathedral was destroyed in the Second World War and reopened on October 2, 1996 following complete restoration.
Konzerthaus/Schauspielhaus
The Konzerthaus is the new building designed by Karl Friedrich Schinkel to replace the Nationaltheater built from 1800-02 by Karl Gotthard Langhans, which was burnt to the ground in 1817. The conception of the Konzerthaus integrates the remains of Langhan's rectangular building and adds a higher, wider, gabled solidium in the center, complete with an ionic columned hall projecting at the front. Following its destruction in the Second World War, the building was initially only made safe, and the systematic restoration of the original design only began in 1979. Since its reopening in 1984 it has served not as a theatre, but as a concert hall.
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