15 Most Beautiful and Awe-Inspiring Churches and Cathedrals in Europe

Churches and cathedrals have provided people with places to go when they require sanctuary, or when they need someone to talk to, or even just to pray. Of course, every Sunday and sometimes during the week, there is mass when hundreds of people may congregate in the house of worship. As church-goers in Europe start to dwindle, many of these churches and cathedrals have become attractions for tourists.

The following list is 15 of the most beautiful and awe-inspiring churches and cathedrals in Europe. Many are the most famous churches in the city that tourists flock to. Their beauty is unmatched and great to witness firsthand. Let’s take a look.

Duomo di Milano

Located in Milan Italy, the cathedral has a Renaissance Gothic look and its intricacies are possibly unmatched by any other cathedral, except for La Sagrada Familia. Of course, there is a reason why its façade is so detailed — it took a whopping 600 years to complete from 1387 to 1965.

La Sagrada Familia

Officially called the Basilica i Temple Expiatori de la Sagrada Familia, the church is located in Barcelona, Spain. Antoni Gaudi, the famous Catalan architect designed the church. Unfortunately, he did not live to see the church completed as he died after he was run over by a tram in 1926. La Sagrada Familia is still under construction but is expected to be completed in 2026.

Notre Dame de Paris

Located in Paris, France, the cathedral is fashioned in French Gothic architecture. It was the major landmark featured in Victor Hugo’s novel The Hunchback of Notre Dame. Completed in 1345 after nearly 185 years, Notre Dame de Paris was damaged in a fire in April 2019 and is currently closed to the public due to repairs. It is expected to be reopened in December 2024.

Cologne Cathedral

The Cologne Cathedral is located in Cologne, Germany. Construction began in 1248 and for centuries it was on and off until finally being completed in 1880. Its style is Gothic, like many of the churches on this list. The cathedral is one of the most visited in all of Europe with more than 20,000 tourists per year.

St. Paul’s Cathedral

Located in London, England, St. Paul’s Cathedral looks regal when you look at it. It was constructed in 1675 and was completed in 1708. The Anglican church has been used for various important religious ceremonies including the wedding of then-Prince Charles and Princess Diana in 1981.

Kyiv Pechersk Lavra

Located in Kyiv, Ukraine, this Eastern Orthodox church is a conglomeration of caves, museums, and churches. It has been a monastery since 1051 and its golden domes with crosses on top have been one of the most recognizable in history. 

Borgund Stavkirke

Located in Borgund, Norway, this church was built in 1200 and made entirely of wood. It has dragon heads on top of the gables of the roof. Painted black, it is probably one of the most unique Christian churches in the world. It belongs to the Church of Norway and no longer serves a religious purpose, but it is maintained and can be visited throughout the year.

Sacré Coeur Basilica

Sacré Coeur is atop Montmartre, which is an area in Paris that was made famous as an artists’ community. Constructed in Romanesque-Byzantine architecture and built with white stones that are made of travertine limestone, the church was completed in 1914. The church receives more than 11 million visitors.

St. Peter’s Basilica

Located in Vatican City, St. Peter’s Basilica is the largest church in the world, and for Roman Catholics, it is the most important church in the world. The Pope delivers mass in front of thousands of people at St. Peter’s Basilica. It is called St. Peter’s because St. Peter is rumored to be buried on the site of the church.

Hallgrímskirkja

Hallgrímskirkja is a Lutheran church in Reykjavik, Iceland. The landscape of the lava and waterfalls in Iceland was used as a reflection of the unique design of the church. You can visit the church and go to the top to see the view of the entire capital city.

St. Basil’s Cathedral

Its official name is the Cathedral of the Intercession of the Most Holy Theotokos on the Moat, but to everyone worldwide, it is known as St. Basil’s Cathedral. Located in Moscow, Russia, it was constructed in a fast 6 years from 1555 to 1561 because Ivan the Terrible demanded the Russian Orthodox church be built to commemorate the capture of the Russian cities Kazan and Astrakhan.

Westminster Abbey

Originally built as a burial site for King Edward the Confessor, Westminster Abbey was constructed in its current form by King Henry III in 1245. Located in London, England, it was completed in 1517. The church has seen history in the making. Coronations of kings and queens take place here, most recently King Charles III’s coronation in 2023.

Basilica di Santa Maria del Fiore

Officially known as the Cattedrale di Santa Maria del Fiore, the basilica was constructed between 1296 and 1436. Located in Florence, Italy, It is one of Italy’s largest churches and its dome was at one point in time the largest dome ever constructed.

St. Stephen’s Cathedral

Located in Vienna, Austria, St. Stephen’s Cathedral is a stunning church built in limestone, but the roof is what attracts attention. The roof’s tiles form a mosaic of a double-headed eagle on the south side of the roof. On the north side, there are the coats of arms of the City of Vienna and the Republic of Austria.

Mont Saint-Michel

Last we have Mont Saint-Michel, located on a tiny island in Normandy, France. It used to be an abbey that would be accessible only during low tide. It is one of the most popular tourist attractions in France. More than 3 million visitors flock to Mont Saint-Michel every year. Likewise, the abbey has played a historical military role in France, and at one point, it served as a prison.

Conclusion

And there you have it, these are 15 of the most beautiful and awe-inspiring churches and cathedrals in Europe. Wherever you go in Europe, you’ll see amazing churches — both on the inside and outside. Even the church on the corner is just stunning.

The next time you find yourself in Italy, make sure you go to the Duomo di Milano. Likewise, if you’re flocking to Paris for the 2024 Olympics, take a little trip to Sacre Coeur or Notre Dame. And of course, if you’re yearning to see La Sagrada Familia completed, you’ll have to wait until 2026.

15 Most Beautiful and Awe-Inspiring Churches and Cathedrals in Europe