The most beautiful churches in Europe

The best of churches and cathedrals in Europe

Petr Liška
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The most beautiful churches in Europe
Updated: 31.10.2021
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In Europe you will find the most magnificent and most beautiful Christian churches and cathedrals all over the world. The most important buildings were built here mainly during the Gothic and Middle Ages. Come and see the most beautiful of them

1.
Mont Saint Michel

The second most visited place in France

Rating:
| Altitude: 42 m / 138 ft

Mont Saint Michel is located in Normandy. This building stands on a granite island, which is washed by the sea, but only at a time when the tide is (Normandy and Brittany beaches are known for their huge tides that reach up to 14 km into the interior of the country). It is actually a fortified town with an abbey and a monastery. This beautiful place is listed in UNESCO continue reading

2.
St Peter's Basilica

Center of the Vatican

Rating:
| Altitude: 27 m / 89 ft

St Peter's Basilica in Vatican is one of the largest churches in the world, and one of Rome's greatest landmarks. continue reading

3.
St. Mary's Cathedral in Seville

The largest Gothic cathedral in the world

Rating:
| Altitude: 20 m / 66 ft

St. Mary's Cathedral in Seville is the largest Gothic cathedral in the world. Even more than the exterior of this sanctuary, you will admire here mainly the interior. You will find here amazing columns, arches and gold covered altar. There is also the tomb of Christopher Columbus – you will easily find this place thanks to a number of tourists gathering around. Although there are many people in the cathedral, there is an amazing atmosphere. In addition, shaded patio and amazing Giralda tower are adjacent to the cathedral.   continue reading

4.
Saint Basil's Cathedral

Colorful temple at the southern end of Red Square

Rating:
| Altitude: 147 m / 482 ft

In the places where the southern side of the Red Square decreases to the Moscow River, there are the colorful domes of the Saint Basil's Cathedral – unique monuments of Russian architecture built by Ivan Hrozny to celebrate the conquest of Kazan in 1552. The interior of the temple is atypically divided into eight more or less separate churches, which symbolize the days of crucial struggles for Kazan. continue reading

5.
St. Mark's Basilica

The best example of Byzantine architecture

Rating:
| Altitude: 2 m / 7 ft

St. Basil's Cathedral Mark is the main church and one of the most important monuments of Venice and Italy. Today it is probably the best preserved example of Byzantine architecture. It is located on Saint Mark's Square next to the Doge's Palace. The basilica hase about 1000 years old core, with five domes, arches and windows decorated with a tracery, and with stunning interiors is rightly one of the most beautiful medieval buildings in the world. continue reading

6.
Sacré Coeur

Basilica at the highest point in Paris

Rating:
| Altitude: 125 m / 410 ft

Sacré Coeur is among the most impressive places in Paris. It stands on the summit of Montmartre. Sacré Coeur, translated into English, means the Holy Heart and is therefore dedicated to the Holy Heart of Jesus. The foundation stone was laid in 1875. The basilica is built of a travertine that colored this monument to the white colour. continue reading

7.
Heddal Stave Church

The most beautiful church in Norway

Rating:
| Altitude: 25 m / 82 ft

The Heddal Stavkirke (Stave Church) is considered to be probably the most beautiful wooden church in Norway. It is certainly the biggest one. Like other similar churches, it was built in the 13th century continue reading

8.
Notre Dame in Paris

The most visited cathedral in France

Rating:
| Altitude: 34 m / 112 ft

Although not one of the largest cathedrals in France is the most visited. Its construction began in 1163 and after 182 years, in 1345, it was completed. The cathedral at the entrance impresses with its size (130 m long, 50 m wide, 35 m high) and is capable up to 9,000 people. continue reading

9.
Cologne Cathedral

The magnificent Gothic cathedral of St. Peter

Rating:
| Altitude: 53 m / 174 ft

St. Peter's Cathedral, shortly the Cologne Cathedral, is a magnificent Gothic cathedral and the seat of the Archbishop. It stands near the river on the western bank of the Rhine, on the northern edge of the former Roman colony and in the immediate vicinity of the main railway station. With a length of 147 m and a tower height of 157 m, is one of the largest Gothic churches on the world. continue reading

10.
The Temple of Hagia Sofia in Kiev

Temple of Holy Wisdom

Rating:
| Altitude: 194 m / 636 ft

The Orthodox Church together with its surroundings is one of the most famous monuments of Kiev. The construction of the temple began in 1037, and nowadays serves as a museum. Among other things, the temple is included in the UNESCO list and is listed as one of the seven wonders of Ukraine. During socialism, there was a proposal for the destruction of the temple, which fortunately had never been done. continue reading

11.
Hallgrímskirkja

Tallest Church in Iceland

Rating:
| Altitude: 38 m / 125 ft

Hallgrímskirkja is a church in Reykjavik. With its height of 74.5 meters, it is one of the tallest buildings in Iceland. It was named after Hallgrímur Pétursson. Designed by architect Guðjón Samúelsson in 1937. Its construction began in 1945, and 38 years later, in 1986, it was completed. With its location in the city center became one of its symbols. continue reading

12.
Ulm Minster

The Tallest Church of the World

Rating:
| Altitude: 481 m / 1 578 ft

Ulm Minster is a Lutheran dome in the German city of Ulm, built in Gothic style. In the church sense, it is not a cathedral because this church has never been the seat of a bishop. Originally, it was a Catholic dome, and during the Reformation it went into the hands of Protestants. Thanks to a 161.5 meter high tower, it is the tallest church in the world. The dome is 123 m long and 48 m wide. It covers approximately 8260 m². Its construction began in 1377 and was completed in 1890. continue reading

13.
Holy Family

“Eternal“ building

Rating:
| Altitude: 33 m / 108 ft

The Basilica i Temple Expiatori de la Sagrada Família (Temple of the Holy Family) is located on the east coast of Spain in Barcelona. Construction work on it began in 1882 and continues to this day. The temple is the main building of the famous Catalan architect Antoni Gaudí. This extraordinary building was intended to encourage a return to the teachings of the Roman Catholic Church. The church was consecrated on November 7, 2010 by Pope Benedict XVI, who also granted it the title of basilica minor. Completion of the construction is planned for 2026. continue reading

14.
Cathedral of Christ the Savior in Moscow

The largest orthodox church in the world

Rating:
| Altitude: 132 m / 433 ft

The Cathedral of Christ the Savior was built between 1839–1883 in honor of the victory of the Russians over Napoleon. Stalin let him down in 1931, but after the fall of the regime, the temple was rebuilt in the same place, and on December 31, 1999, he was ordained. It is the largest Russian church and the largest orthodox church in the world. It measures 103 m in height and holds up to 10,000 believers. continue reading

15.
St. Stephen's Cathedral in Vienna

The most important Austrian cathedral

Rating:
| Altitude: 179 m / 587 ft

St. Stephen's Cathedral (Stephansdom) is one of Vienna's most dominant landmarks. Thanks to the almost 137 meters high South Tower, you can see many places in Vienna from here. Nowadays it is the seat of the Archbishop of Vienna. continue reading

16.
Cathedral of St. Vitus

The most important cathedral of the Czech Republic

Rating:
| Altitude: 251 m / 823 ft

Cathedral of St. Vitus is one of the most important church buildings in the Czech Republic. It is a distinct dominant of the Prague Castle with a tower nearly 97 meters high. continue reading

17.
Cathedral of St. Stephen in Passau

The cathedral with the largest organs in Europe

Rating:
| Altitude: 311 m / 1 020 ft

St. Stephen cathedral is located in the Domplatz Square between the Danube and the Inns rivers. It has three towers with green-colored dunes. The church became the cathedral, the site of the Bishop's Depar­tment, in the first half of the 8th century, when a bishopric was established in Passau. The interior of the three-aisled church is the largest inner Baroque space north of the Alps. It is decorated with rich stucco and paintings. continue reading

18.
Notre Dame in Rouen

The largest cathedral in France

Rating:
| Altitude: 17 m / 56 ft

There are many Notre Dame churches in France and some know only Notre Dame in Paris. The Notre Dame in Rouen, where Joan of Arc was burned, is the largest in France. By 1880, it was the tallest building in the world with its 151-meter-high tower. In the Cathedral there are some of the remains of English King Richard I the Lion Heart. The construction began in 1020 and was completed in 1506 continue reading

19.
Dome of Our Lady Assumption

The magnificent cathedral next to Leaning Tower

Rating:
| Altitude: 5 m / 16 ft

The Italian city of Pisa is famous for its „Leaning Tower“. But only few visitors know that the beautiful five-lingled Romanesque basilica with an elliptical dome was first built in Piazza dei Miracoli. The surrounding buildings were only an associated part of the highest sanctuary. The construction of the Duomo di Pisa, as the local abbreviation is called, began in 1064 and was completed for about 100 years. The creation of this building inspired other temples throughout the Tuscan region. continue reading

20.
Moorish style

A unique building important for Christians and Muslims

Altitude: 108 m / 354 ft

The entire cathedral has a strange, a bit mysterious atmosphere due to its vastness and half-light. You will be amazed by the picturesque Moorish-style of decoration.   continue reading

21.
Church of St. Barbara

The most important building in Kutná Hora

Rating:
| Altitude: 263 m / 863 ft

You can find the Church of St. Barbara in every picture from Kutná Hora. It is a beautiful Gothic building dedicated to the patron saint of miners – St. Barbara. The church is built in a nice place above the river Vrchlice. It is inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List continue reading

22.
Cathedral of St. Paul

The seat of the Bishop of London

Rating:
| Altitude: 16 m / 52 ft

This majestic Anglican Cathedral is the seat of the Bishop of London and has stood here since the 17th century. However, the predecessors of this building have stood here since the 6th century, when the diocese of London was established here. Visitors can take a tour inside and see the interior, or ascend to the gallery of the dome, from where there is also an interesting view of the city. continue reading

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