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.

6 buildings

The Jewish Heritage of Belarus

Once part of the Jewish centre of Eastern Europe, Belarus was famous for its synagogues and yeshivas, but its Jewish heritage was devastated during the last century, both by World War II and by the Soviet regime.

9 buildings

Old Belarussian Orthodox Cathedrals

As in many former Soviet socialist republics, much of the Belarusian religious heritage has been destroyed. Despite the repression of the Orthodox faith during the long Soviet era (1920-1991), some Orthodox cathedrals survived abandonment and dilapidation.

8 buildings

Religious Heritage of Minsk

It is not commonly known that the capital of Belarus once stood at the crossroads of an ethnically diverse Eastern Europe, which has left its mark on the city’s religious architecture.

6 buildings

The Churches of the Master of Pernå

Little or nothing is known about the Master of Pernå, a master builder, probably of German origin, who worked from the 1430s to the 1460s. However, this church builder has left an important trace in the Finnish religious heritage as he is known to be the builder of some of the most beautiful medieval churches in Finland.

11 buildings

Helsinki's Sacred Architecture

Although the buildings in Helsinki are not a thousand years old, its religious buildings display the diversity of modern architecture, of which Helsinki is one of the world's capitals.

8 buildings

Churches of Tallinn

The city of Tallinn, whose medieval centre is listed by UNESCO, is visited for its castle, art museum, but also for its churches, which bear witness to the city's rich history through their diversity.

7 buildings

Saaremaa Churches

Churches of Estonia are indicative of the rich history of the country, marked by successive occupations by Scandinavian merchants, German religious orders and neighbouring Russians. The beautiful island of Saaremaa contains an extremely well-preserved and representative sample of Estonia's rich sacred heritage.