Overview of the ten most beautiful cathedrals in Europe
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Whether they are Romanesque, Gothic, Baroque or contemporary, cathedrals are always extraordinary feats of architecture. Here is a selection of the ten most beautiful in Europe.
Notre-Dame de Paris Cathedral
The emblematic Notre-Dame de Paris Cathedral is situated to the east of Ile de la Cité, overlooking the Seine. This impressive Gothic cathedral spans the centuries with its flying buttresses, its immense rose-shaped stained-glass windows, its interior arches, its entrancing crypts and its famous gargoyles. Our recommendation: climb to the summit to enjoy the spectacular view of the capital.
Notre-Dame de Paris Cathedral
6, parvis Notre-Dame
Place Jean-Paul II
75004 Paris
www.notredamedeparis.fr
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The Sagrada Família in Barcelona
A UNESCO World Heritage site, the Sagrada Família is one of the unfinished masterpieces of famous artist, Antoni Gaudí. Its majestic towers can be seen from all over the city. This monument is an absolute must when visiting Barcelona.
La Sagrada Família
Carrer de Mallorca, 401
08013 Barcelona
www.sagradafamilia.org
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St Peter's Basilica in Rome
With its elliptical circus, its grandiose façade, its prestigious interior and its majestic dome, this is the most mythical and most spectacular church in Rome. It is a true symbol of Catholicism and a must-have visit during your stay!
St Peter's Basilica
Piazza San Pietro
00120 Città del Vaticano
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Duomo Cathedral in Milan
Il Duomo cathedral is a historic and emblematic monument in the famous city of Milan, which commands respectful admiration. With its façade in pink-grey Candoglia marble and its tall spires which look as if they could touch the clouds, the cathedral is today one of the most famous and complex Gothic assemblies in the world. Climb up to the roof to enjoy the exceptional view and admire the city and the sublime square around the cathedral.
Duomo Cathedral in Milan
Piazza del Duomo
20122 Milano
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Hagia Sophia in Istanbul
A basilica, mosque and museum, Saint Sophia in Istanbul is a unique monument. With its immense columns, its vast galleries decorated with mosaics, its smooth marble and its majestic 33-metre-diameter dome, the basilica is one of the most famous monuments in Istanbul. Its style has a strong influence on Oriental Orthodox architecture.
Hagia Sophia
Sultanahmet Mh.
Ayasofya Meydanı
34122 Fatih/İstanbul
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Saint Basil's Cathedral in Moscow
Situated in the middle of Red Square, Saint Basil's Cathedral has become the symbol of the city, with its bold architecture and its multi-coloured onion-shaped domes. According to legend, Ivan the Terrible, who had it built in the middle of the 16th century, ordered his builders to be blinded to ensure they could never again build anything as beautiful.
Saint Basil's Cathedral
Red Square
Moscow
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Westminster Abbey in London
On the banks of the Thames, Westminster Abbey is one of the most famous religious buildings in London. Since William the Conqueror in 1066, it has been England's coronation church. This magnificent 700-year-old building welcomes many believers every day who come here to attend mass, over one million visitors each year.
Westminster Abbey
20 Dean's Yard
Westminster
London SW1P 3PA
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Cologne Cathedral in Germany
Built between 1248 and 1881, it is one of the biggest churches in the world, measuring 7,000 square metres. It features exceptional Gothic architecture, thanks to which it joined the UNESCO World Heritage list in 1996, and is visited by millions of tourists each year.
Cologne Cathedral
Domkloster 4
50667 Köln
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Notre-Dame Cathedral in Strasbourg
Built in the early 11th century, Notre-Dame cathedral dominates the city of Strasbourg with to its impressive height. This emblematic monument is the second most visited cathedral in France, just behind Notre-Dame de Paris. Don't miss the astronomical clock, a masterpiece of the Renaissance and the result of collaboration between artists, mathematicians and technicians.
Notre-Dame Cathedral in Strasbourg
Place de la Cathédrale
67000 Strasbourg
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Santa Maria del Fiore Cathedral in Florence
Decorated in white, green and pink marble and topped, at a height of 114 metres, with the superb brick dome by Filippo Brunelleschi, Santa Maria del Fiore cathedral was built from 1296 to 1436 in the centre of the old town. Today it is one of the most "miraculous" examples of religious architecture of the Italian Renaissance.
Santa Maria del Fiore Cathedral in Florence
Piazza del Duomo
50122 Firenze