The Romanesque-Gothic Dom in Havelberg with its mighty westwork is a popular stop on the Elbe Cycling Route and the Straße der Romanik in Saxony-Anhalt in Germany. The Havelberger Dom (St Marien) is a large Romanesque-Gothic cathedral church with an impressive fort-like westwork, a triple-nave basilica, and a large monastery-like complex. The origins of the bishopric … [Read more...]
Visit the Gothic St Michael’s Church (Michaelskirche) in Schwäbisch Hall
St Michael’s in Schwäbisch Hall is a late Gothic church with magnificent vaulting and a surprising amount of art for a Lutheran church. The St Michaelskirche is the main church in the picturesque village Schwäbisch Hall in Baden-Württemberg in southern Germany. It is a mostly late Gothic church with an impressive choir and elegant vaulting. The interior is filled with art … [Read more...]
Visit the Gothic Marktkirche with Handel and Bach Organs in Halle
The late Gothic Marktkirche Unser Lieben Frauen in Halle has organs familiar to Handel and Bach, art by Cranach, and four towers from two previous churches. The Marktkirche Unser Lieben Frauen (Market Church of Our Dear Lady), or the Marienkirche (St Mary’s), in Halle an der Saale is a late Gothic hall church built mostly between 1529 and 1554. The original idea was to … [Read more...]
Visit the St.-Jakobs-Kirche (St James Church) in Rothenburg ob der Tauber
The high Gothic St.-Jakobs-Kirche (Church of St James) in Rothenburg ob der Tauber is full of art including the Holy Blood Altar by Tilman Riemenschneider. The St.-Jakobs-Kirche (Church of St James) is the largest church in the wall-enclosed medieval city of Rothenburg ob der Tauber in northern Bavaria in Germany. This High Gothic church is filled with art in … [Read more...]
Visit the Le Corbusier Chapel in Ronchamp, France
The iconic post-modern Chapelle Notre Dame du Haut de Ronchamp designed by Le Corbusier is a popular site to visit for religious pilgrims and architecture lovers. The whitewashed concrete post-modern Chapel of Notre Dame du Haut in Ronchamp, France, is one of the most instantly recognizable designs of the twentieth century. The small chapel was designed by the Swiss … [Read more...]
Visit the Romanesque Duomo (Cathedral) in Pisa
The Duomo in Pisa a romanesque masterpiece of white marble with black detailing. The cathedral is filled with art — admission is free. Pisa Cathedral (Cattedrale Metropolitana Primaziale di Santa Maria Assunta or more commonly simply Duomo di Pisa) is best known for its campanile — the famous leaning tower of Pisa. However, this large marble church is a magnificent … [Read more...]
Visit the Baptistery in Pisa (Battistero di Pisa)
The Battistero di Pisa is the largest baptistery in Italy and like the famous leaning tower leans at a slight angle. The white marble Baptistery is in many ways the most beautiful building on Pisa’s field of miracles. It combines a round Romanesque base with Gothic upper floors with dainty details. The white of the marble is often offset beautifully by the green lawn … [Read more...]
Visit the Mezquita Mosque-Cathedral in Córdoba, Andalusia
The Mezquita Mosque-Cathedral in Córdoba is one of Spain’s finest Islamic buildings — a top sight to visit in Andalucia. The Mezquita is the top attraction to see in Córdoba and one of the most important Moorish monuments in Andalusia. Despite now being a consecrated Roman Catholic cathedral, the highlight remains the thousand-year-old prayer hall of the great mosque of … [Read more...]
Tips for Visiting the Mezquita Mosque-Cathedral in Córdoba, Andalusia
Opening hours for the Mezquita Mosque-Cathedral in Córdoba are long. Tickets are only sold onsite. Admission is free early mornings. The Mezquita Mosque-Cathedral in Córdoba is one of the top sights to see in Andalucia. It is one of the most-important Islamic buildings in Spain but as a working Roman Catholic Church, opening hours are influenced by religions services. … [Read more...]
Visit the St Petri Dom Cathedral in Schleswig, Germany
The wood carved Bordesholm Altar and marble cenotaph of Danish King Fredrick I are art highlights in the brick Gothic St Peter’s Cathedral in Schleswig. The St. Petri Dom zu Schleswig (Cathedral of St Peter at Schleswig) is one of the most important and most impressive historic buildings in Schleswig-Holstein in northern Germany. It combines Romanesque and Gothic styles … [Read more...]
Visit Saint Ouen – a Huge Gothic Abbey Church in Rouen
The High Gothic Church of St Ouen in Rouen with marvelous stained-glass windows and a magnificent Cavaillé-Coll organ is even bigger than Rouen cathedral. The former Benedictine abbey (abbaye) church of St Ouen in Rouen, Normandy, is one of the jewels of Gothic architecture. Many bishoprics would be honored to have such a church as a cathedral but in Rouen, it plays a … [Read more...]
Visit the Historic Churches of Mechelen
Mechelen near Antwerp has eight historic churches filled with art including paintings by Rubens and Van Dyck, Baroque wood carved pulpits and statues. Mechelen has eight important churches full of art in its historic old town. Mechelen was an important town in the Middle Ages and experienced a further cultural Golden Age during the Baroque leaving this small university … [Read more...]