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Because music often plays an important part in the performance of the liturgy, cathedrals generally have a pipe organ to accompany the choir. Because many cathedrals took centuries to build and decorate, they constitute a major artistic investment for the city in which they stand. Moreover, the cathedral often plays a major role in telling the story of the town, through its plaques, inscriptions, tombs, stained glass and paintings. Although the first church at Reims was built in the 5th century, the construction of the current cathedral began in the early 13th century, around 1211, and it was completed in the 14th century. Reims Cathedral is particularly renowned for its magnificent facade adorned with intricate sculptures.Reims Cathedral was the traditional site for the coronation of French monarchs.

Origins and characteristics of the first cathedrals in Europe

Its history is closely tied to the French monarchy and the celebration of royal coronations. Unlike many other cathedrals in France, Chartres Cathedral largely escaped damage during the French Revolution. It was spared from significant damage during the First and Second World Wars as well.

#15 York Minster

Unfortunately during the English Reformation in the 16th century, many religious relics and images were destroyed, and the cathedral’s role changed. Canterbury Cathedral suffered further damage and was even used as a barracks during the English Civil War in the 17th century. The most famous event to occur in Canterbury Cathedral happened in 1170, when Archbishop Thomas Becket was murdered within the cathedral, leading to his martyrdom and the cathedral’s increased importance as a pilgrimage site. Today Canterbury Cathedral remains one of the most important Catholic pilgrimage sites in Europe.

Duomo di Milano, Milan Cathedral

The large room was indeed found to have a raised pulpitum at one end, big enough for one person in turn to read, preach and preside from; but too low to have been surmounted by a throne, and too small to have contained an altar. The Metropolitan Cathedral is Latin America’s oldest and largest cathedral, and its unique design was inspired by Mexico’s indigenous and colonial influences. Its famous Altar of the Kings is the oldest-known example of Churrigueresque—Mexican Gothic—and its exterior was built by stones taken from Aztec temples. It houses the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Mexico today and is one of the capital city’s most popular landmarks.

You could spend days here and still feel like you’ve only scratched the surface. This Gothic masterpiece is the fifth-largest Christian church on Earth, covering over 109,000 square feet—the size of an entire city block. With 3,400 statues, 135 gargoyles, and 700 decorative figures, it holds the record for the most statues of any building in the world. St. Mark’s Basilica (Basilica di San Marco) is more than just a cathedral—it’s a shimmering mosaic of history, art, and resilience.

St. Peter’s Basilica, Vatican City

After the Catholic Emancipation Act of 1829 allowed for greater religious freedom for Catholics in England, Catholics in London desired their own place of worship. England and Ireland are home to some of the most magnificent Cathedrals in all of Europe. While many beautiful Cathedrals in the United Kingdom are Roman Catholic, many have become Church of England or Anglican over time.

Sagrada Família (Barcellona, Spagna)

• The history of Durham Cathedral is intricately tied up with Saint Cuthbert.
• The relics of Saint Mark are still enshrined in the basilica’s high altar, making it a significant pilgrimage site in Italy.
• Rising from the heart of Île de la Cité, it’s not just a building; it’s the soul of Paris.
• It has witnessed various historical events, including the declaration of Finnish independence in 1917.

Today, while it no longer serves as a place of worship, stepping inside still feels sacred. The air is thick with centuries of devotion, and the architecture reflects a fascinating blend of Christian and Islamic influences—from mosaics of Christ and the Virgin Mary to Arabic calligraphy and mihrabs. The cathedral’s exterior is equally captivating, with polychrome marble panels in shades of green, pink, and white that shimmer in the Tuscan sun. Florence itself is a treasure trove of Renaissance architecture—cathedrals, churches, palaces, and mansions line every street.

• Honestly, I’d go back to Rome just to spend a full day (or three) appreciating them one by one.
• While the terms are not synonymous (a duomo is a collegiate church, similar to the English “minster”) many cathedral churches are also collegiate churches, so that duomo, and Dom, have become the common names for a cathedral in those countries.
• Remarkably, the cathedral wasn’t fully completed until 1929, making it a 600-year architectural journey.
• Nestled in the heart of Moscow’s Red Square—a place already bursting with monumental Russian architecture—this iconic building somehow manages to steal the spotlight.

Inside, richly decorated mosaics and miniatures depict icons of Georgian history and faith. The cathedral’s resilience through wars and its cultural significance make it a symbol of perseverance and faith. Cologne Cathedral remains a beacon of architectural brilliance and spiritual devotion. Cologne Cathedral is a triumph of Gothic architecture, with twin spires that pierce the sky. Commissioned by Ivan the Terrible, the cathedral’s design represents a bonfire’s flames, a striking visual for its time. The Sagrada Família in Barcelona is a symphony of architecture and art, still under construction more than a century after its inception.

Artworks, treasures and tourism

Yes, it has the sculptures, frescoes, mosaics, and treasures you’d expect from a grand European cathedral—but what truly sets it apart is its uneven marble floor. The gentle rise and fall of the mosaic tiles aren’t a design flaw—they’re the result of centuries of flooding, creating ripples that resemble waves in the chicken road app download ocean. It’s hauntingly beautiful, a reminder of Venice’s delicate dance with water. And in a city that feels like stepping into the pages of a medieval novel, it’s the chapter you’ll never forget. The construction of Milan Cathedral began in 1386 when Archbishop Antonio da Saluzzo decided to replace the older basilica with something grander.

Helsinki Cathedral

The original Canterbury Cathedral on the site was built by King Ethelbert of Kent in the early 7th century. In 1070, Archbishop Lanfranc began the construction of a new Caterbury Cathedral in the Romanesque style after the Norman Conquest of England. Victorian architect John Francis Bentley was hired to create a catholic church and Cathedral in London that drew on Byzantine and Romanesque style influences. The formal cathedral services are linked to the cycle of the year and respond to the seasons of the Northern Hemisphere, Christmas falling in the winter and Easter in the spring. Cathedrals often hold a service of thanksgiving called Harvest Festival in the autumn. These orders had been of considerable importance in earlier centuries; but tended to be sidelined in cathedrals from the 4th century onwards.

The construction of Antwerp Cathedral began in the 14th century, around 1352. The cathedral was built in the Brabantine Gothic style and reflects the architectural trends of the late medieval. The Cathedral of Antwerp wasn’t completed in it’s current form until the 16th century. The role of dean (from decanus) seems to have derived its designation from the Benedictine “dean” who had ten monks under his charge. The role of dean came into existence to supply the place of the provost in the internal management of the church and chapter.

Many historians believe that a Roman temple dedicated to a pagan deity once stood on the site where Chartres is now, and only in the 4th century a Christian basilica was built there. The first Mass was held in Notre Dame in 1182, even though it was not yet finished. Notre Dame has played a huge role in French history, including the coronation of Henry VI of England in 1431.

Its iconic red-tiled dome, engineered by Brunelleschi, dominates the Florence skyline. The abbey houses the tombs of famous figures like Sir Isaac Newton and Charles Darwin, linking science and faith. Visitors marvel at the intricate carvings and the stunning fan-vaulted ceiling. Its Gothic architecture has witnessed coronations, weddings, and funerals of British royalty.