Why go
It is the seat of the archbishop of Berlin. History and architecture St. Hedwig's Church was built in the 18th century following a request from local parishioners to King Frederick II. He donated the land on which the church was built.
What to look for
- The circular cathedral and its modern interior form a distinct part of the Bebelplatz ensemble.
The full story
He donated the land on which the church was built. The church was dedicated to the patron of Silesia and Brandenburg, Saint Hedwig of Andechs. It was the first Catholic church built in Prussia after the Protestant Reformation. The building was designed by Georg Wenzeslaus von Knobelsdorff and modeled after the Pantheon in Rome. Construction started in 1747, interrupted and delayed several times by economic problems. It was not opened until November 1, 1773, when the king's friend, Ignacy Krasicki, the Bishop of Warmia (later Archbishop of Gniezno), officiated at the cathedral's consecration. After the Kristallnacht pogroms that took place over the night of 9–10 November 1938, Bernhard Lichtenberg, a canon of the cathedral chapter of St Hedwig since 1931, prayed publicly for Jews in the evening prayer following.
Useful to know
- Verify current opening hours, closures and timed-entry rules on the official visitor page before setting out.
- Allow extra time for security or ticketing when the visit includes an interior collection or viewing platform.