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.

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.

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.