Französischer Dom – The French Cathedral in Berlin

Französischer Dom or Französische Friedrichstadtkirche is a French Cathedral in Berlin:

Französischer Dom

Französischer Dom or Französische Friedrichstadtkirche is a French cathedral located on the Gendarmenmarkt in the historic heart of Berlin. This French Calvinist cathedral stands opposite the Deutscher Dom (German Cathedral), and forming a triangle with these two cathedrals is the Konzerthaus Berlin, the centre for classical music in Berlin.

A French Calvinist Church

Französischer Dom was built from 1701 to 1705, at a time when the Huguenots made up about 25% of Berlin’s population. Berlin granted asylum to about 6,000 French Protestants fleeing religious persecution and expulsion from France. The original Französische Friedrichstadtkirche was modelled after a now destroyed Huguenot church in Charenton-Saint-Maurice in France. The tower was not part of the original church and in fact there is no access between the church and the tower. The domed tower and porticos were added in 1785 to match the Deutscher Dom and give the Gendarmenmarkt a symmetric design. Französische Friedrichstadtkirche was then called Französischer Dom – the ‘Dom’ being a reference to its domed tower.

Huguenot Museum

The Französischer Dom has been home to the Huguenot Museum (Hugenottenmuseum) since 1929. The museum documents the history of the Huguenots in Berlin and their influence in helping Berlin flourish during the 18th century.

Today, visitors can climb the spiral staircase to the gallery of the tower for a spectacular view of Gendarmenmarkt Square and the Berlin Mitte district. There is also a restaurant located in the basement underneath the prayer hall.

Classical Concerts at Französischer Dom

With its fine acoustics, Französischer Dom is a regular venue for classical concerts in Berlin.
Find out what’s on at Französischer Dom and you can also book concert tickets Here.

For hotels near Gendarmenmarkt, see Here.

Address:
Französischer Dom
Gendarmenmarkt 5
Mitte, 10117 Berlin

Map of Berlin:

Things to do in Berlin

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