Explore Religious Heritage Across Europe

Riga Dome is the cathedral of the Latvian Evangelical Lutheran Church. Built in the 13th century, it is the largest medieval church in the Baltic states and a national architectural monument. The former Dome Monastery now houses the Riga History and Navigation Museum (founded in 1773).

The Islamic Centre and Mosque of Rijke opened in 2013. The building was designed by Croatian sculptor Dušan Džamonja in cooperation with Branko Vučinović and Darko Vlahović. The mosque has been described as a masterpiece of contemporary mosque architecture.

People believe that The Monastery of Sain Ivan of Rila (better known as the Rila Monastery) was founded by hermit Ivan of Rila in the first half of the 10th century. He lived in a cave not far from the monastery’s current location. From the beginning on, the monastery has been supported and respected by Bulgarian rulers who made large donations. From 1334 until 1335, a protective tower, monastic cells and a temple were built. Unfortunately, the monastery underwent numerous raids and destruction by Ottomans from the end of the 14th century until the middle of the 15th century. The monastery got rebuilt at the end of the 15th century. In 1833, the monastery was destroyed by fire and reconstructed between 1834 and 1862. Today it is seen as the largest and most famous Eastern Orthodox monastery in Bulgaria.

The Rindal church is a long church completed in 1874 by the architect Johan Martin Helgesen, modified in 1935 by Sivert Glærum and Ola Sæter. On 26 September 2014, the church was hit by a fire in the bell tower which was quickly extinguished.

The Stave church in Ringebu is a monumental cruciform church from the 13th century. The church already had a transept in the Middle Ages, which is not the case with many famous Stave churches. In the 1630s, the church was rebuilt. It was extended to the east with new transepts, a new choir and a sacristy, and the tower and spire were also built at that time. During the restoration of the church, which was completed in 1921, the roof of the nave was removed and the 18th-century wall decorations were restored.

Ringkøbing church was built from the 15th century, while the tower dates from around 1550. A large transverse arm was added in 1592-1593 in the north and in 1934-1935 in the south. From a restoration in 1995-96 came the altarpiece, the altar table and the baptismal font, all made by the expressionist painter Arne Haugen Sørensen.

The Ringsaker church was probably built in the second half of the 12th century and enlarged in the second half of the 13th century. Originally the church had a rectangular nave with a square chancel, probably with an apsidal end. On the north side of the choir was a narrow sacristy and on the east side of the nave a powerful tower. At the end of the 13th century, the church was enlarged.

The Ringvassøy church is the work of architect Nils Toft, dating from 1977. The idea of building a church in Hansnes was first proposed in the post-war years, with a first official proposal in 1953. However, work did not progress until the priesthood was also transferred to Hansnes in 1970.

Rinkberg Chapel (Rinkberg Kapellchen) stands on a small plateau, overlooking the picturesque village of Monschau in Germany.

The Sainte-Chapelle de Riom is located within the current Law Courts. Built in the 15th century within the last vestige of the castle built by Guy de Dammartin for Duke Jean de Berry in the 14th century.