Be Inspired

European beautiful landscapes have inspired the creation of places of worship hidden in rocky cliffs, lush vegetation and solitary islands. These 7 heritage sites are both astonishing for their beauty and their environment!

To save you from spending a day in the subway, we have put together an eclectic sample of churches that can be visited in 1 day on foot!

Present on the Iberian Peninsula from 711 to 1492, the Moors, who came from North Africa, left their mark on their passage through culture and architecture. Witness of this period are the mosques, who are rare survivors that were spared because they were converted into churches.

Even in their state of decay, these religious buildings have lost none of their splendour, they have even inspired painters and poets, and still today teach us a lesson about the passage of time.

In order to pay tribute to the heritage of this small state, we looked at the places of worship in its capital, which testifies to the city's cultural diversity.

In order to ensure financial independence, some French monasteries have dusted off old recipes and resumed the art of distillation. These monasteries, often located in wilderness areas, produce herbal liqueurs, some of which have acquired an international reputation.

More than a thousand years ago, pilgrims walked from England to Rome. After the Eternal City, the route continued for them to Jerusalem through the port of Brindisi, along the ancient Via Appia. Now you can follow in their footsteps by cycling EuroVelo 5, the 3,200 km version of this legendary route. Here are some must-see stops on the Via Romea Francigena to discover religious heritage sites.

In Europe, most cathedrals are reconstructions of older cathedrals which were rendered obsolete by their size, condition or style. There are, however, cases where the inhabitants of a city did not want to destroy their old cathedral, and it remains alongside its newer version. Here are five examples of cities where old and new cathedrals coexist.

Stave churches are among Norway's most recognisable and distinctive heritage sites. While they are very often copies of earlier churches, they nevertheless allow us to realise the importance of wood in medieval sacred architecture, a rare testimony on a European scale.

Very few buildings, only 38 in total, bear the European Heritage Label. This label was created by the European Commission in 2007 to celebrate places of remembrance, witnesses of European history and heritage. The following places are or include places of worship, underlining their importance in European heritage.