![]() ![]() Chartres Cathedral in Chartres, FranceĪbout 50 miles southwest of Paris, you’ll discover this amazing French Gothic cathedral which was built from 1194-1260. You may want to take a tour to learn other historic bits of information about both the cathedral and the catacombs that lie beneath. If you can do it, climb up the 343 steps to the top of the Alter Steffi tower where you’ll enjoy incredible views of Vienna.Ī bit of trivia: Mozart was both married and had his funeral at this church. The exterior design of the church is Gothic, and the roof is a very colorful diamond-pattern constructed out of tiles that were donated by local citizens in 1950. It was first constructed in the 12th century, but has undergone major reconstruction and repairs over the years due to various fires and sieges of war. This cathedral sits in the center of busy Vienna. ![]() Climb the wooden steps to the top of the tower to see the Zygmunt bell, which is 350 years older than Big Ben in London, and rung only on very solemn state and church occasions. You’ll want to visit Sigismund Chapel, easily identified by its golden dome. In side chapels you’ll find the tombs of all, except four, of Poland’s 45 rulers. Inside the church you’ll find 18 different chapels containing beautiful works of religious art. ![]() Pope John Paul II was a priest and later archbishop of Krakow from this church before becoming Pope. Wawel Cathedral was constructed in the 14th century and remains mostly unchanged today. The cathedral is a major pilgrimage site for people coming to see its most famous treasure – a large, gilded sarcophagus believed to hold the remains of the three wise men from the biblical story of the birth of Jesus. Other renovations continue to present day. It underwent extensive repairs that were completed in 1956. It is the largest Gothic cathedral in Northern Europe and from 1880-1884 was the tallest building in the world.ĭuring World War II the cathedral was hit by bombs 14 times, and sadly, used as a rifle range by American troops. This cathedral has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1996, and was added to the “World Heritage in Danger” list in 2004. The cathedral is an active parish church and when services and other ceremonies are occurring, it is closed to tourists. These additions show the interesting development of architecture in Denmark over a period of 800 years. The inside of the original cathedral was not large enough to accommodate specific altars for saints, so separate chapels have been added on to the original building. The Danish royal family has been buried here since the 15th century. It was built in the 12th and 13th centuries and has the significance of being the first Gothic style cathedral built out of brick. Located on a ridge in the center of Roskilde, this cathedral has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1995. ft.) with colorful mosaic tiles that swirl and intertwine to show incredible pictures of birds and animals. The floor is literally covered (45,622 sq. Inside, everywhere you look you’ll find golden mosaics depicting scenes from the Old and New Testaments. Spires and five huge domes grace the roofline. You’ll find the originals protected inside the museum. Directly above the entrance you’ll see four life-sized gilded bronze horses, copies of the originals that were brought from Constantinople in 1204. In fact, any ships returning from abroad were required to bring back a precious gift for the church.Īcross the front of the church is a series of high arches, and the main entrance is covered with intricate Romanesque carvings. The construction of the present church was begun in 1063 and the Byzantine style reflects an East meets West flair. ![]() This unbelievable cathedral sits just off the Grand Canal in Venice on Piazza San Marco. There are so many that sometimes it’s hard to determine which ones to see and which to skip. In larger cities you’ll definitely find more than one. There is at least a small church in every village, and often times you’ll be surprised by something even bigger. Eleven Most Beautiful Cathedrals in EuropeĮuropeans took the worship of God very seriously and it’s demonstrated in the fantastic cathedrals you see wherever you go. ![]()
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