Record Holding Religious Heritage

Ulm Minster, founded in 1377, is a Gothic style church, the largest Protestant church in Germany since its conversion in 1530, towards the end of the first phase of its construction. A second phase of construction lasted from 1844 to 1890, when the 161.53 m tower was completed, making Ulm Minster the highest church in the world. Fortunately, the cathedral survived the two world wars almost intact.

The Svalbard church is the northernmost church in the world. It is a wooden 'long church' built in 1957, consecrated on 24 August 1958 by Bishop Alf Wiig, and rebuilt in 2004. The architect of the church was Hans Magnus. Built in 1921, the former Svalbard Church burned down during the Second World War.

The Basilica of St. Peter, is the largest Christian church on the planet and considered one of the most sacred places of Catholicism. Churches have been built on the site of the basilica since the fourth century. The construction of the current building began on April 18, 1506, under Pope Julius II, and was completed on November 18, 1626. The building is the work of some of the most renowned architects in history, such as Donato Bramante, Miguel Ángel or Bernini.

Kerimäki Church is a wooden church that was completed in 1847. The plan of the church was designed by architect A. F. Granstedt. In its style, the Kerimäki church is a kind of mixture of neo-Gothic and neo-Byzantine. Next to the church is a 42-metre-high bell tower, which was completed in the same year as the church. The Kerimäki church is undoubtedly the largest wooden church in Europe.

The synagogue on Dohany Street is the largest synagogue in Europe and a symbol for Hungarian Jews. The building was constructed between 1854 and 1859 and was one of the first synagogues to be built in the Moorish style. The synagogue was renovated in 1929-1931, and in 1991-1996 after decades of neglect under the Hungarian communist regime. The synagogue complex now includes a museum and a memorial for Hungarian Jewish soldiers of World War I.

The construction of Beauvais Cathedral, in pure Gothic style, began in 1225 and the choir was completed in 1272. A second phase of construction, which lasted from 1499 to 1532, however, saw the elevation of the transept. Although its nave collapsed several times due to its dizzying height, and was never really completed, Beauvais Cathedral has the highest nave in the world.

The Old-New Synagogue, built in 1270, is one of the oldest synagogues in Europe, still used for religious ceremonies. This Gothic synagogue is also one of the best-preserved synagogues in Central Europe. It was once called the "new" because there was an older synagogue in what is now Dušní Street.

The current Albi Cathedral building, made of brick, replaces an old stone cathedral. It was built over two centuries, from 1282 to 1480, with notable complications such as a fire destroying the roof in the 14th century. The interior is richly decorated with paintings from the late 15th / early 16th century. In the 18th century, the façade threatened to collapse and was rebuilt. Its impressive dimensions make Albi Cathedral the largest brick cathedral in the world.

The Moscow Cathedral Mosque is the main mosque of Moscow, the largest in Russia and Europe. The first building of the mosque was built in 1904, but by 1980, the mosque was threatened with demolition. The mosque was saved by Moscow's religious leaders and ambassadors from Arab countries. In 2011, it was demolished for the construction of a new mosque, which was opened in 2015.

Passau Cathedral is a Baroque church that was built between 1668 and 1693 on a site that has seen churches since at least the 8th century. An early Gothic cathedral was located here between 1221 and 1313, but was destroyed by fire in 1662, resulting in the construction of a new cathedral. The cathedral has a richly decorated Baroque interior, containing frescoes by Italian artists. The organ of the church is one the biggest church organ in the world, the biggest in Europe.