French Cathedral

When you stroll across Berlin’s Gendarmenmarkt, one building immediately catches the eye: the Französischer Dom. This elegant cathedral has a fascinating history tied to the French Huguenots who fled to Berlin in the late 17th century. Construction began in 1701, led by architects Louis Cayart and Abraham Quesnay. Originally, the Französischer Dom lacked the striking dome we see today. That feature was added only in 1785, when Frederick II of Prussia sought to further beautify the square.

He commissioned architects Carl von Gontard and Georg Christian Unger to crown both the Französischer Dom and its neighbor, the Deutscher Dom, with domes. Their design was inspired by Christopher Wren’s Old Royal Naval College in London. Like much of Berlin, the Französischer Dom was heavily damaged during World War II. Determined to preserve it, the city carefully restored the church between 1981 and 1987.

To celebrate Berlin’s 750th anniversary in 1987, a carillon with sixty bells was installed in the dome, filling the square with its chimes. Today, visitors can climb to the viewing platform, sixty-six meters high, for stunning views of the city. Inside, the Huguenot Museum, established in 1935, tells the story of the Huguenots in France and Brandenburg.