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.

5 buildings

Places that commemorate Saint Patrick

The life of St. Patrick is a great source for many traditional stories. As a missionary, the saint travelled a great deal, and is credited with many visits, constructions and miracles. Here are five sites that bear witness to the legend of Saint Patrick.

7 buildings

Musical Churches

Over the centuries, church buildings have given rise to new musical styles within them, linked to their stature and the sacred activities that take place there. Don’t miss out on visiting these churches if you would like some proof!

10 buildings

Top 10 fortified churches

Throughout Europe's history there have been numerous conflicts and eras of turmoil. Religious buildings were often the largest and strongest buildings in urban areas, which meant that people often used them as shelters when problems arose. These 10 fortified sites are outstanding examples of the intersection of defensive and sacred architecture

10 buildings

Flickr

Top 10 futuristic places of worship

The methods and materials of construction may have changed, but today's religious buildings have lost nothing of the tradition of sacred architecture, which seeks to convey a special atmosphere through architectural forms. These 10 futuristic sacred spaces throughout Europe are proof of this.

6 buildings

Wikimedia Commons

Belgian trappist abbeys

Monks and beer have a long history that finds its best example in the brewing activity of the Trappist abbeys of Belgium. Today, these abbeys produce some of the best beers in the world, contributing to Belgian beer culture, which has been listed as a UNESCO intangible heritage site since 2016.

7 buildings

Clandestine places of worship

Greatness and splendour have not always featured sacral architecture, especially when it was intended to be discreet. Throughout history, all over Europe, minority religions have had to build normal-looking buildings of worship to escape repression.

11 buildings

Top 11 royal sanctuaries

Today, monarchies in Europe are few, but centuries of reign have left lasting traces on our heritage, especially churches since European monarchies were legitimised by their proximity to the divine. These 10 churches, closely linked to European monarchies, are important to understand the traditions and beliefs of our ancestors.

4 buildings

Harry Potter churches

As a devoted Harry Potter fan, you may have made your pilgrimage from platform 9 3/4 of King's Cross Station to Edinburgh, where JK Rowling invented the famous wizard. But in order for your journey to be complete, you need to make a visit to these following churches… all of which appeared in the Harry Potter movies.

8 buildings

8 wonderful wooden church sites

Most of our familiar stone churches were built on wooden churches, once common in Europe. Fires, invasions and the development of new architectural styles made these churches increasingly rare to the point where they are now found only in a few European regions. From Norway to Romania, here are eight areas where this fragile heritage can still be admired.