Explore Religious Heritage Across Europe

The Old Church in Bad Suderode is a Romanesque building currently used for concerts, presentations, and travelling exhibitions.

The Old Synagogue of Erfurt is a former synagogue whose oldest remnants date back to around 1094, making it the oldest synagogue in Europe. Most of the current building was erected around 1270, but in 1349, Jews of the city were blamed for the plague and were massacred in great number. Onward, the synagogue was then used as a warehouse, until became part of a restaurant at the end of the 19th century. In 1998, the city of Erfurt bought the Old Synagogue and after renovation, turned it in a museum on Erfurt's Jewish community.

The Old Synagogue in Essen was constructed from 1911 to 1913. It was originally consecrated as the Neue Synagogue (New Synagogue). It is one of the largest and best preserved testimonies to Jewish culture from pre-war Germany. The building was reconstructed in 1986 from destruction and disuse after World War II.

Osnabrück Cathedral was founded in 785, fifteen years after Charlemagne founded the bishopric. After its destruction by the Normans in 890, it was restored. The damage caused by fire in 1254 required considerable repairs, the vault of the passage was rebuilt and the pillars of the passage were reinforced. The rectangular choir begun later was completed in 1270, and the new high altar was consecrated in 1277. However, the ambulatory and the Lady Chapel were not added until 150 years later, between 1434 and 1444. Between 1454 and 1482, Bishop Konrad III had the entire building renovated. Until around 1500, the cathedral had two Western Romanesque towers of the same size. From 1509 to 1544, the south tower was replaced by the larger Gothic tower of today, which was given a high pyramidal pointed roof. Alexander Behnes, who was responsible for the preservation of the building from 1882 to 1910, made several modifications and additions.

Ottobeuren Abbey is a Benedictine Abbey founded in the 8th century. It offers one of the richest concert programmes in Bavaria.

Saint Liborius Cathedral in Paderborn was founded in the 8th century, but the present building dates mainly from the 13th century. In the crypt, one of the largest in Germany, the relics of St Liborius are kept. The church was restored with Baroque additions after the Thirty Years' War, during the reign of Prince-Bishop Dietrich Adolf, and also had to be rebuilt after the bombings of the Second World War. These later additions and reconstructions did not fundamentally alter the overall appearance of the building. The church is recognisable by its large Romanesque tower from the 13th century.

The Palatine Chapel of Aachen was built between 792 and 804 by Odon of Metz (742-814). It was Charlemagne's private chapel in Aachen, which was part of his palatine complex. It contains the remains of Charlemagne and was a place of coronation for about 600 years. In the 21st century, the chapel has been preserved almost intact, despite later additions and major repairs in the 19th century. As part of Aachen Cathedral, it is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.

The Parochialkirche is the oldest parish church of the Reformed Community of Berlin, built between 1695 and 1703. The building was initially constructed according to the plans of the architect Johann Arnold Nering, who died on 21 October 1695 before completing his work. Further construction was then supervised by the architect Martin Grünberg. The vault collapsed on itself on 27 September 1698, delaying the work. The inauguration finally took place on 8 July 1703.

Passau Cathedral is a Baroque church that was built between 1668 and 1693 on a site that has seen churches since at least the 8th century. An early Gothic cathedral was located here between 1221 and 1313, but was destroyed by fire in 1662, resulting in the construction of a new cathedral. Of the early buildings, only the eastern part of the late Gothic style has survived. The cathedral has a richly decorated Baroque interior, containing frescoes by Italian artists.

Built in 1958, the Paul-Gerhardt Church in Bielefeld merged in 2005. Protests erupted in 2007 when it was sold to the Jewish community. After renovations, it became the Beit Tikwa synagogue in September 2008.