Cathedrals are among the most visited buildings in many European cities, something that does not surprise us at all, since in some cases they are truly spectacular religious temples. In fact, the main attraction of many places is precisely its cathedral, as is the case for example with Santiago de Compostela, a city that we will talk about below.
Visiting a cathedral can become a great experience regardless of how religious we are. That is why today at Vuela Viajes we want to show you the most beautiful in Europe. Of course, before showing you our selection we want to make it clear that we have excluded basilicas, religious temples that differ from cathedrals in some aspects. In addition, we want to warn you that we have had to leave some beautiful buildings in the pipeline. Still, the following ranking is worth discovering. Would you like to join us?
Notre Dame Cathedral, France
First of all, we want to talk about the Cathedral of Notre Dame de Paris, one of the symbols of the French capital. Built in the Gothic style, construction began in 1163, although the building was not finished until 1345. It is located on the Ile de la Cité and is surrounded by the waters of the River Seine.
Chartres Cathedral, France
We continue in Paris to tell you about the Cathedral of the Assumption of Our Lady, better known as the Cathedral of Chartres, as it is located in this city located about 80 kilometers from Paris. Also in the Gothic style, it influenced other later constructions, which were based on its many innovations.
Cologne Cathedral, Germany
We moved to Germany to tell you about the Cologne Cathedral, also in the Gothic style. It is a religious building that began to be built in 1248 but was not finished until the end of the 19th century. Apparently, it is the most visited monument in the country. To discover more information about the cathedral and the city, we recommend that you take a look at our article "Five essential visits in Cologne".
Milan Cathedral, Italy
We also want to tell you about the Cathedral of Milan, better known as the Duomo. It is a Gothic building which is considered one of the largest Catholic churches in worship of the planet. Inside it is possible to find numerous altars, statues, paintings and altarpieces that are worth visiting.
Saint Basil’s Cathedral, Russia
Also in Russia it is possible to find spectacular cathedrals. This is the case of St. Basil’s Cathedral in Moscow, an Orthodox temple located in the famous Red Square. It stands out for its bulb-shaped domes and has been included in the list of World Heritage Sites by UNESCO.
St. Paul’s Cathedral, England
We continue our tour of the most beautiful cathedrals in Europe in England, and more specifically in the capital, London. Here you can find the wonderful Cathedral of St. Paul, which is located at the highest point in the city: Ludgate Hill. It is an Anglican cathedral that stands out for its dome, which dominates the London skyline.
Cathedral of León, Spain
We want to end our ranking with two of the most beautiful cathedrals in Spain. First of all, we want to tell you about the Cathedral of León, a Gothic-style building with French influences. It is located on the Camino de Santiago and is known as the Pulchra Leonina.
Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela, Spain
To finish, we want to tell you about the famous Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela, which is attended by thousands of parishioners every year, as it is the final destination of the Camino de Santiago. And it is that here is the tomb of the Apostle Santiago.