Be Inspired

Summer often means long journeys on the highways. In northern European countries the main roads are dotted with Road Churches, a network of churches open to truckers and holidaymakers passing through. In Germany, more than anywhere else, Road Churches have been given a special architecture, which these examples illustrate.

From the largest church in the world to the oldest European synagogue in use, we have made a list of religious buildings that are distinguished by their size, age or location.

While Switzerland is known for its natural heritage, wonderful religious heritage sites have also been built in the middle of its mountains.

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!

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.