Prussia

Though the history and legacy of Prussia are not without controversy, they are much broader than commonly assumed. A closer look shows that equating Prussia with authoritarianism and militarism is an over-simplification. Among other achievements, the early Prussian state set standards of public administration and education still in place today. Perhaps less well known are the ideals of religious and ethnic tolerance and intellectual exchange furthered by early Prussian rulers such as Frederick William, the Great Elector (1620-1688), Frederick William I (1713-1740), and the ever-popular Frederick the Great (1740-1786).

At the same time that the Prussian kings were building up military power, they also opened Prussia's borders to immigrants fleeing from religious persecution in other parts of Europe. Prussia became a safe haven in much the same way that the United States welcomed immigrants seeking freedom in the 19th century. An admirer of the French philosopher Voltaire, Frederick the Great was an enlightened ruler. He introduced a general civil code abolishing torture and establishing the principle that the crown would not interfere with matters of justice. He also furthered an advanced "high school" education, forerunner of today's gymnasium system, which prepares the brightest students for university studies. In response to a devastating defeat at the hands of Napoleon in 1806, reformers such as Baron Karl vom Stein and Prince Karl August von Hardenberg went about modernizing the Prussian state - liberating the peasants from serfdom, emancipating Jews and making them full citizens, and instituting self-administration in municipalities.

While the once sprawling state of Prussia no longer exists - Prussia as an entity within Germany was dissolved in 1947 - its leaders left an enduring legacy that still enriches the German culture and landscape. Its architectural legacy is visible in palaces and other structures, especially in and around Berlin. The twin cathedrals that flank the Schauspielhaus on the Gendarmenmarkt in central Berlin form one of the most beautiful squares in the city. The French Cathedral was first constructed from 1701 to 1705 under Frederick I. It was a gift of sorts to the 5,000 Protestant Huguenots allowed to come to Berlin from France as religious refugees in 1685 by Frederick William, the Great Elector. The early version of this church must have made the Huguenots feel at home in their new city, for it was modeled after the Temple of Charenton, a Huguenot church near Paris that was destroyed in 1658.

A few highlights:

• Tours of the Hohenzollern Crypt in the Berlin Cathedral (Berliner Dom). Throughout the year
• Guided walking tours of central Berlin trace topics like the Berlin of the Hohenzollerns and the Life of Kaiser William II. Once a month from February through June and in September and October

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