Be Inspired

Europe is a diverse and inspiring continent, full of fascinating details, places, people and events. Our religious heritage is not only a window into this past, but also provides enjoyment and inspiration for its architecture, its beauty and its splendour. These lists show some of the ways that Europe's religious heritage can be enjoyed today.

10 buildings

Wooden churches of the Ukrainian Carpathians

The Ukrainian Carpathians, like many mountainous regions throughout Europe, are home to many minorities. Gorals, Boykos, Lemkos, Rusyns and Hutsuls all share a great deal of expertise in building with wood, the material with which they erect their churches.

6 buildings

Churches of Cork

Cork, Ireland's second most populous city, has its origins in a 6th-century monastic settlement. It is no exaggeration to say that the religious culture is deeply present. Today, like other cities in Ireland, Cork bears the mark of the long imposed separation between Catholics and Anglicans.

7 buildings

High Crosses of Ireland

High Crosses are the main surviving monumental works of Celtic art. They have existed in Ireland since the 6th century. Today these crosses are often found on monastic or ecclesiastical sites.

7 buildings

Churches of Dublin

Dublin is famous for its beautiful Georgian buildings, its music scene and of course its pubs. Dublin's religious heritage is just as interesting, it tells the story of the city's foundation by the Vikings, its long occupation by the English, and the birth of nationalism through Catholicism.

7 buildings

Irish abandoned abbeys

Ireland was an important monastic centre during the early Middle Ages, famous for the education it provided. During the Viking raids and the occupation of England, which became Anglican in the 16th century, these monasteries closed en masse and many of them are in ruins today.

11 buildings

Brick Gothic Churches of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern

Among the many variants of Gothic architecture, brick Gothic can be seen over a large area in Northern Europe due to its popularity in the former Hanseatic League cities. In the cities of Stralsund and Wismar, Gothic brick buildings are even listed as UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

11 buildings

The Jewish Heritage of Rhineland-Palatinate

Germany has the largest number of synagogues of any country in Europe (about 860). The German state of Rhineland-Palatinate can be considered the heart of Jewish culture due to the presence of cities such as Speyer, Worms and Mainz, which have been home to large Jewish communities since the Middle Ages.

10 buildings

Half-timbered Churches of Hesse

The countryside of the state of Hesse is an invitation to go for a walk, with stops in small villages whose churches are in no way inferior to those in the metropolises of the south of the state.

9 buildings

Churches of Brussels

The historic city of Brussels, included in what locals call the "sacred island", contains an astonishing mix of architectural styles and a history that is reflected in its churches.