Throughout the continent, countless churches stand as testaments to belief, heritage, and stunning artistry. From contemporary creations to centuries-old havens, here are a selection of the most remarkable examples recommended by knowledgeable travelers.
Commonly known as the Arctic Cathedral, the Tromsøysund parish church in Tromsø is a striking example of modernist design. Its simple, elegant facade mirrors the surrounding landscape and evokes traditional Sami dwellings. Inside, visitors will find possibly the most cozy church benches one could ever experience. One breathtaking glass mosaic depicting the Return of Christ might not be for all tastes, but it radiates a powerful feeling of grandeur. Leaving this impressive structure following an organ recital to witness the northern lights dancing in the sky is an unforgettable moment.
I never understood what people find in churches. This monastery in Cimiez changed that.
Its grounds filled with flowers and herbs offer a magnificent vista over the city. A graveyard on-site contains the resting place of painter Matisse, but it is the tiny sanctuary that genuinely captures the spirit of a place of worship. While it would never compare to grander establishments, that is precisely the point. It has quietly absorbed centuries of faith. Being there produced a feeling beyond mere peace or tranquility; it was a profound realization of the comfort these places can provide.
Nestled within a labyrinth of squares and winding streets, Brescia's Baroque New Cathedral is a prime illustration of Italy's religious art, boasting stunning stonework and massive cupolas. However, the true highlight of the complex is the Old Cathedral, finished in the 1100s. This medieval rotunda, with an subterranean vault, is overflowing with history and character. Together, Brescia's two main churches act as a microcosm of the country's changing building styles.
Below Essen in the town of Neviges stands one of the planet's most individual and striking cathedrals. Maria, Königin des Friedens, also known as Mariendom, is a mid-century masterpiece constructed between 1966 and 1968. Uneven galleries of raw concrete and dazzling coloured windows create a soaring, luminous interior of warmth that challenges easy categorization as "brutalist". Furthermore, the appeal of this less-visited location is the close-by 13-kilometer Wuppertaler Schwebebahn, an incredible feat of transport engineering.
Situated prominently above Lausanne, the Gothic cathedral commands views stretching from the charming historic centre all the way to the lake and the far-off Alps. Entry to the cathedral is complimentary, and for a modest charge, you can climb the spire. Aside from its remarkable medieval structure and spectacular panoramas, this 800-year-old edifice presents a varied schedule of no-cost performances, exhibits, and events, making it a popular venue in Switzerland's most vibrant cultural centre.
Seeing the Italian Chapel in the Orkney Islands is a humbling encounter with the skill and faith of its builders. During the 1940s, following a plea from the chaplain, artist Domenico Chiocchetti and his comrades converted a pair of military huts into a chapel. Using scraps of metal, wood, and paint, they created a profoundly beautiful space full of hope and serenity during a time of war—an uplifting place to see decades later.
This rose-coloured stone cathedral of Notre-Dame in Rodez towers over the skyline for kilometres in every direction. Perched on a hill above the River Aveyron, this immense, fortress-like medieval marvel has survived hundreds of years of construction, plague, and war. The interior is a awe-inspiring space of vaulted ceilings and towering pillars, all framing a colossal organ. Its elaborately decorated seats and ledges are worn smooth by time. One's gaze, though, is often captured by the mesmerizing leer of the hundreds of twisting gargoyles that seem to burst out of the outside walls. They look less sculpted and more fossilised, like ancient guardians of this striking church.
The church of St Oswald in Widford stands isolated in a meadow, accessible only by a rough footpath. Leaving your car on a adjacent grass verge, you walk to a structure that looks more like a farm building from a far away. The building is mostly from the 1200s, but inside, traces of an earlier pre-Norman church can be seen. Excavations have uncovered Roman floor mosaics and fragments of medieval frescoes. Box pews from the 18th century are still in situ. The resulting atmosphere is one of mysterious, beautiful, and powerful tranquility.
Arbanasi, near Veliko Tarnovo, is home to one of the most magnificent churches anyone could imagine. From the outside, the Church of the Nativity is quite unassuming—a feature possibly designed to not attract suspicion during the Ottoman rule. The inside, in contrast, more than makes up for it. Every conceivable inch of wall and ceiling is covered in vibrant Orthodox icons and narrative paintings. The result is truly breathtaking and all-encompassing.
The small church in Tudeley, Kent, founded in the 1100s, is architecturally rather simple. Its remarkable feature, however, is its windows. Every single one were created by the celebrated painter Marc Chagall. It started in 1963 with a commissioned piece in memory of a family's daughter. Chagall was so impressed by the site that he offered to create the other windows, a task completed in 1985. The glasswork showcase a dazzling spectrum of blues. Being surrounded by this cascade of colour in a peaceful setting is a blissful sensation. Admission to this extraordinary treasure is gratis.
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