French Cathedral, Berlin
French (Reformed) Church of Friedrichstadt | |
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Französisch-reformierte Friedrichstadtkirche | |
Evangelical Church of Berlin-Brandenburg-Silesian Upper Lusatia | |
Location | |
Location | Friedrichstadt, a locality of Berlin |
Geographic coordinates | 52°30′52″N 13°23′32″E / 52.514323°N 13.392119°E |
Architecture | |
Architect(s) | Louis Cayart and Abraham Quesnay (1701–05), Carl von Gontard (design), Georg Christian Unger (tower construction in 1780–05), Otto March (interior reshape 1905), Manfred Prasser, Roland Steiger and Uwe Karl (reconstruction 1977–81) |
Completed | 1 March 1705, reconstruction 1981 |
The French (Reformed) Church of Friedrichstadt (French: Temple de la Friedrichstadt, German: Französische Friedrichstadtkirche, and commonly known as Französischer Dom, meaning 'French cathedral') is in Berlin at the Gendarmenmarkt, across the Konzerthaus and the German Cathedral. The earliest parts of the church date back to 1701, although it was subsequently expanded. After being heavily damaged during World War II, the church was rebuilt and continues to offer church services and concerts.
Name
The church is officially known as the "French Church of Friedrichstadt", but is commonly referred to as Französischer Dom, or "French Cathedral". Despite their names, neither of the churches on Gendarmenmarkt is a cathedral, as neither was ever seat of a bishop; instead, the name element Dom ("cathedral" in German) refers to the French word "dôme" (dome/cupola), using terminology as a relic of francophone Frederick the Great, who was instrumental in enhancing Gendarmenmarkt.
History
In 1785, Carl von Gontard modified the church and built an adjacent domed tower, which eventually gave the church its name. Technically speaking, the tower is not part of the church, and both buildings have different proprietors. The tower was built to embellish the Gendarmenmarkt ensemble at the instigation of Frederick the Great. The Deutscher Dom, however, on the other side of Gendarmenmarkt, consists of church building and tower as an entity.
In 1817, the French Church community, like most Prussian Calvinist
Nevertheless, already before the union of the Prussian Protestants the congregation underwent a certain acculturation with Lutheran traditions: in 1753, an organ was installed, competing with the Calvinist tradition of congregational singing without accompaniment.
The Französischer Dom was severely damaged during
The public observation deck of the domed tower offers a panoramic view of the downtown area. There is a restaurant in the basement underneath the sanctuary. The tower also contains the Berlin Huguenot museum.
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The Protestant Temple in Charenton before its demolition.
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War-destroyed Französischer Dom tower and damaged actual prayer hall with the destroyedSchauspielhaus(left), photo of 4 October 1951.
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Cathedral during Festival of Lights
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Cathedral in 2007
References
- ISBN 3-372-00077-3
- ISBN 3-372-00077-3
- ISBN 3-360-01013-2
- ^ Ingrid Bartmann-Kompa, Horst Büttner, Horst Drescher, Joachim Fait, Marina Flügge, Gerda Herrmann, Ilse Schröder, Helmut Spielmann, Christa Stepansky, and Heinrich Trost, Die Bau- und Kunstdenkmale in der DDR: Hauptstadt Berlin: 2 parts, Institut für Denkmalpflege (ed.) (11983), Berlin: Henschelverlag Kunst und Gesellschaft, 21984, part I, p. 218.