Worldwide

Europe is home to a treasure trove of different historic buildings and artefacts, and not many places show these things off better than its churches. They are beacons for their architecture and stories behind their often grand facades, with many of them attracting hundreds of thousands of visitors every year; they have become known and loved worldwide for their beauty, too. In this blog, we will take a journey through some of the most notable historic churches across Europe, highlighting what makes each of them unique and important, and how they are able to continue to captivate visitors from all around the world.

While exploring European culture and travel, audiences sometimes also engage with broader digital entertainment in their downtime, including casual games such as Twin Spin, though these are entirely separate from heritage experiences.

Notre Dame

This Gothic cathedral in France has been open for 860 years and is world-renowned for its architecture, which is considered to be one of the finest examples still around today of French Gothic architecture. 1163 is when construction was started for the Paris building, and it was completed in 1260, but the building did continue to be modified throughout history.

The cathedral faced a terrible time in 2019 when a fire engulfed it, destroying a large section of the roof and the spires; it was reconstructed over the following three years.

St Peter’s Basilica

St Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican City stands proud at almost 140 meters high, looking over St Peter’s Square in front of it. A total of 15 architects have been responsible for the building's style and construction, including some who are very well known, such as Michelangelo and Raphael; it is not surprising or accidental that the building is so magnificent and breathtaking. The Basilica is built in both the Baroque and the Renaissance styles, which are characterised by distinct features, but both draw visitors in from around the world.

The Baroque style is characterised by an extremely ornate, theatrical aesthetic, while the Renaissance style draws inspiration from both Greek and Roman thought and culture, resulting in some of the most stunning buildings.

Durham Cathedral

Durham Cathedral is in the North East of England, and it was granted Grade 1 listed status as a protected building in 1952; it is home to a lot of interesting history. The cathedral was built to house the bodies of St Cuthbert and St Bede, and it is the largest and finest example of Norman architecture in the whole of England. The vaulting inside the building was innovative for its time and is reminiscent of Gothic architecture. Behind the cathedral stands the castle, an ancient Norman fortress which was used to house the prince-bishops of Durham

Cologne Cathedral

The cathedral in Cologne is world famous for its facade; it has the largest facade of any church in the world, it is also Germany’s most visited landmark, and it boasts of its ability to attract, on average, 6 million people a year! The cathedral is the tallest twin-spired church in the entire world, the third tallest church in Europe, standing at 157.38 meters tall, after the Sagrada Família and Ulm Minster, and the third tallest church of any kind in the world.

Sagrada Família

This is not only one of the most stunning churches in Europe but also one of the most awe-inspiring buildings in the world. It is such an imposing structure, more ornately decorated with stone carvings than can be described; it is truly a sight to behold. What makes it so incredible is that it is still under construction and has been being built since 1882, which is 143 years ago, and it is forecast to be completed in 8 years’ time, in 2034. Active construction on the building has only been stopped twice in the entire time it has been being built; the first time was because of the Spanish Civil War, and also during the COVID pandemic.

St Vitus Cathedral

The Czech Republic is home to a lot of history and beauty; one example is the St. Vitus Cathedral, the largest and most important temple in the country. Apart from religious services, coronations of Czech kings and queens were also held in this building, and the cathedral is also the burial place of several patron saints, sovereigns, noblemen, and archbishops. An interesting fact about this church is that the current cathedral is the third in a series of religious buildings built on the same site, all dedicated to the same saint, St. Vitus. It is famous for its stained glass windows, which are beautiful and different in each chapel, and the start of them all has to be a rosette window called ‘The Creation of the World’.

Why Europe?

Europe is home to so many amazing and beautiful sites because of its deep, rich history and the many different countries all so close together, creating a melting pot where many changing styles and designs are at play, especially over hundreds or thousands of years.. It is also a place that has hosted so many amazing architects and skilled stonemasons who call it home, to design and craft beautiful spaces.

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