Cathedral of Christ the Savior

height: 103 meters

Cathedral Cathedral of Christ the Savior (Cathedral of the Nativity) in Moscow - Russian Cathedral Orthodox Church not far from the Kremlin on the left bank of the Moscow River. The existing structure is an external recreation of the temple of the same name, created in the 19th century, carried out in the 1990s. On the walls of the temple were inscribed the names of officers of the Russian army who died in the War of 1812 and other military campaigns close in time.
The original temple was erected in memory of the Napoleonic invasion: “to preserve the eternal memory of that unparalleled zeal, fidelity and love for the Faith and the Fatherland, with which the Russian people exalted themselves in these difficult times, and in commemoration of Our gratitude to the Providence of God, which saved Russia from the threat her death." It was built according to the design of the architect Konstantin Ton. Construction lasted almost 44 years: the temple was founded on September 23, 1839, consecrated on May 26, 1883.
The newly rebuilt Cathedral of Christ the Savior is considered the largest cathedral of the Russian Orthodox Church. The temple is designed for
10,000 people

Saint Isaac's Cathedral

height: 101.5 meters

Saint Isaac's Cathedral ( official name- Cathedral of St. Isaac of Dalmatia) is the largest Orthodox church in St. Petersburg. Located on St. Isaac's Square. Has the status of a museum; The church community, registered in June 1991, has the opportunity to perform divine services on special days with the permission of the museum’s management. Consecrated in the name of St. Isaac of Dalmatia, a saint revered by Peter I, since the emperor was born on the day of his memory - May 30 according to the Julian calendar.
Built in 1818-1858 according to the design of the architect Auguste Montferrand; construction was supervised by Emperor Nicholas I, the chairman of the construction commission was Karl Oppermann.
St. Isaac's Cathedral - an outstanding example of late classicism

Transfiguration Cathedral

height: 96 meters

Spaso-Preobrazhensky Cathedral is an Orthodox cathedral in Khabarovsk, built on the steep bank of the Amur in 2001-2004. According to a number of sources, it is the third tallest temple in Russia after the Cathedral of Christ the Savior in Moscow and St. Isaac's Cathedral in St. Petersburg, as well as the most tall building Khabarovsk.
The height of the domes of the Transfiguration Cathedral is 83 meters, the height with crosses is 95 meters. For comparison, the height of the Radio House, located next to the temple, is a little more than 40 meters. The temple was built according to the design of architects Yuri Zhivetyev, Nikolai Prokudin and Evgeny Semyonov. The frescoes inside the temple (on the dome of the Savior Pantocrator and the Apostles) were made by a group of Moscow artists, specially invited to Khabarovsk for this occasion by Bishop Mark of Khabarovsk and Amur. The Transfiguration Cathedral is able to simultaneously accommodate three thousand parishioners.

Smolny Cathedral

height: 93.7 meters

Smolny Resurrection Christ Cathedral(Smolny Cathedral) is part of architectural ensemble Smolny Monastery, which is located in St. Petersburg on the left bank of the Neva on Smolnaya Embankment. It is also a classical music concert venue.
According to the model of the Smolny Monastery ensemble (kept in the Museum of the Academy of Arts), a high 140-meter five-tier bell tower was to be built. Thus, the height of this bell tower would be 18 meters higher than the height of the spire of the bell tower of the Peter and Paul Cathedral, and could become the tallest building in Europe. The first tier of the bell tower was supposed to serve triumphal arch- the main entrance to the monastery, the second - the gate church, and the remaining three should have had bell towers. The bell tower was to be completed by a small tower with three round windows and a dome with a cross crowning it.
However, contrary to popular belief, the ensemble of the Smolny Monastery was left without a bell tower by the will of Rastrelli himself, and not because of a lack of funds (construction of the bell tower was suspended in 1756, before Russia entered the Seven Years' War), although both of these facts could have been decisive.

and here is the model of Smolny

Alexander Nevsky New Fair Cathedral

height: 87 meters

Cathedral of the Holy Blessed Prince Alexander Nevsky (Novoyarmarochny) is an Orthodox cathedral (since 2009) in Nizhny Novgorod. Built in 1868-1881 according to the design of the architect L.V. Dahl.
In the protruding western vestibule, in the choirs of the large cathedral, there is the winter church of Macarius of Zheltovodsk and Unzhensky.
In 1856, the fair merchants expressed a desire to build a second Orthodox fair church in memory of Emperor Alexander II’s visit to the fair and petitioned Nizhny Novgorod Bishop Anthony for the construction of a new cathedral, and he, in turn, to Governor A. N. Muravyov. A collection of donations was held. The necessary funds (454 thousand 667 rubles 28 kopecks) were collected over 10 years.
On September 8, 1864, a symbolic laying of the foundation stone for the future temple took place. By 1864, the project of the provincial architect R. Ya. Kilevein was ready. It had to be reworked due to insufficient strength; After this, it turned out that there was not enough funding for such a project. The new project proposed by the young architect L.V. Dahl was also not approved.
On November 18, 1865, the church project was approved by the government. The authorship of the government-approved project has not yet been established with certainty. In 1866 L.V. Dal returned to permanent residence in Nizhny Novgorod from abroad and finalized the design of the cathedral.

Blagoveshchensky cathedral

height: 85 meters

The Annunciation Cathedral is an Orthodox church of the Russian Orthodox Church, located in the center of Voronezh. Built according to the design of architect V.P. Shevelev in the Russian-Byzantine style. The cathedral is located on Revolution Avenue on the territory of the Pervomaisky Garden. Construction took place from 1998 to 2009. The construction of the temple was blessed by Patriarch Alexy II of Moscow and All Rus' during his visit to Voronezh.
In Voronezh, the Annunciation Cathedral (until 1836), the Trinity Smolensk Cathedral (closed in 1932), and the Intercession Cathedral (from 1948 to the present) had cathedral status. The first two cathedrals were destroyed in due time.
Different researchers give different dates for the founding of the Annunciation Cathedral. Metropolitan of Kiev Evgeniy (Bolkhotnikov) believed that it was founded in 1620. Others believed that the founding date should be 1586, that is, the year the city of Voronezh was founded.
Initially, the Annunciation Church was built of wood. Due to frequent fires, the temple was rebuilt, sometimes even moved to another location.

Savior on Spilled Blood

height: 81 meters

The Cathedral of the Resurrection of Christ on the Blood or the Church of the Savior on Spilled Blood in St. Petersburg is an Orthodox memorial single-altar church in the name of the Resurrection of Christ; built in memory of the fact that at this place on March 1, 1881, Emperor Alexander II was mortally wounded as a result of an assassination attempt (the expression on the blood indicates the blood of the king). The temple was built as a monument to the Tsar-Martyr with funds collected throughout Russia.
Located in the historical center of St. Petersburg on the banks of the Griboyedov Canal next to the Mikhailovsky Garden and Konyushennaya Square, not far from the Champs of Mars. The height of the nine-domed temple is 81 m, capacity up to 1600 people. It is a museum and a monument of Russian architecture.
On March 1, 1881, on the embankment of the Catherine Canal, Emperor Alexander II was mortally wounded as a result of an attack by the Narodnaya Volya terrorist I. I. Grinevitsky.
Already on March 2, at an emergency meeting, the City Duma asked Emperor Alexander III, who had ascended the throne, to “allow the city public administration to erect... a chapel or monument at the expense of the city.” He replied: “It would be desirable to have a church... and not a chapel.” However, it was still decided to erect a temporary chapel.
The architect L.N. Benois was assigned to develop the project. The work was carried out quickly, so that on April 17, 1881, the chapel was consecrated and memorial funeral services began to be held in it. It cost the Duma practically nothing: it was built by the merchant of the 1st guild Gromov, the construction work was paid for by the merchant Militin, who also became the headman. This chapel remained on the embankment until the construction of the temple began - until the spring of 1883, after which it was moved to Konyushennaya Square, where it stood for another 9 years and was finally dismantled.

Trinity-Izmailovsky Cathedral

height: 80 meters

Trinity-Izmailovsky Cathedral (Trinity Cathedral) is an Orthodox cathedral on Trinity Square in the Admiralteysky district of St. Petersburg. Full name - Holy Cathedral Life-Giving Trinity Life Guards Izmailovsky Regiment.
The parish of the church belongs to the St. Petersburg diocese of the Russian Orthodox Church and is part of the Admiralty deanery district. The rector is Archpriest Gennady Bartov.
Under Emperor Peter I, a wooden chapel stood on this site.
After the flood, the architect V.P. Stasov was asked to develop a project for a new stone temple. At the same time, the old wooden church should remain the model.
The foundation stone for the new church was laid on May 13 (25), 1828 by Metropolitan Seraphim (Glagolevsky). Empress Maria Feodorovna and Tsarevich Alexander Nikolaevich were present at the celebration. Construction was carried out with the personal funds of Emperor Nicholas I and government money. The cost of constructing the cathedral was 3 million rubles. Four years later, the building was roughly ready and interior decoration began. During the construction process, it was necessary to restore the dome, which was torn down by a storm on February 23 (March 7), 1834, and to rewrite some of the images.

Trinity Cathedral

height: 78 meters

Holy Trinity Cathedral in Pskov is an Orthodox church, the cathedral of the Pskov and Velikoluksk diocese. It is part of the architectural ensemble of the Pskov region and is its main building.
Today's fourth building of the cathedral was built in 1699, on the same spot where the previous churches stood. The first cathedral, built in the 10th century, by order of Princess Olga, was wooden, and stood until the first half of the 12th century, when it was destroyed by fire. The second cathedral was already made of stone and was founded, according to church legend, in 1138 by the holy noble prince Vsevolod Mstislavich.
In 1363, the temple vault collapsed and in 1365 a new cathedral was founded on the old foundation. In 1609, during a strong fire, a powder warehouse in the Kremlin exploded, and the third building of the cathedral was destroyed by the blast wave. In 1699, construction of the fourth cathedral was completed, which has survived to this day.

Nikolo-Ugreshsky Monastery

height: 77 meters

Nikolo-Ugreshsky Monastery is an Orthodox male stauropegial monastery. Located at: Moscow region, mountains. Dzerzhinsky, St. Nicholas Square, 1 (metro Lyublino).
The monastery was founded in 1380 by Grand Duke Dmitry Donskoy on the site of the appearance of the icon of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker. According to legend, it was in this place that the army of the Grand Duke stopped to rest on the way to the Kulikovo field. The appearance of the icon strengthened Dmitry Donskoy with faith and hope, which is why the Holy and Blessed Prince said, “This whole thing has sinned my heart” (“This has all warmed my heart”). Since then, this place has been called Ugresha, and the monastery itself has been called Nikolo-Ugreshsky.
The monastery was repeatedly burned and ruined, but was quickly restored. In 1521, the monastery was burned to the ground during a raid on Moscow by the Crimean Khan Mehmed I Giray, but, as in previous cases, it was quickly restored.

Ascension Cathedral

height: 74.6 meters

The Ascension Military Cathedral is an Orthodox church in Novocherkassk, the second cathedral of the Rostov and Novocherkassk diocese and the main temple of the Don Cossacks. Here lie the remains of the Don atamans M.I. Platov, V.V. Orlov-Denisov, I.E. Efremov, Ya.P. Baklanov.
After the Rusky brothers left Russia in 1818, the construction of the cathedral was continued by the architect Amvrosimov. In 1846, when the main dome was being demolished, part of the temple unexpectedly collapsed. The same thing happened in 1863 with the second version of the cathedral, built according to the design of I. O. Valprede.
Initially, all the domes of the cathedral were covered with red gold, and the main cross was inlaid with rock crystal. The height of the central dome with a cross reaches 74.6 meters. IN Soviet time The gilded copper covering was removed from the domes; instead, the temple should have been covered with sheets of iron, but this was not done for a long time and the building was constantly exposed to the elements - it was flooded, covered with snow, and the heating system was also disabled. In 1903-1923, the keymaster of the cathedral was the holy martyr Zacharias (Lobov). In 1934, the Ascension Cathedral was closed, the building itself was used as a warehouse.
The cathedral was reopened in 1942, during the German occupation. In the post-war years, a food warehouse was located in the basement, and church services were held upstairs. Large-scale restoration work began in 2001. In 2005, on the occasion of the 200th anniversary of Novocherkassk and the 100th anniversary of the opening of the cathedral, the restoration of the building's facade was successfully completed. A lighting system and projections of biblical scenes onto the façade are equipped. In 2010-2011, the domes were again covered with gold sheets, and a rock crystal stone was inserted into the cross.

Cathedral of Christ the Savior

height: 73 meters

The Cathedral of Christ the Savior is the main Orthodox church in Kaliningrad, built according to the design of the architect Oleg Kopylov. Designed for 3,000 people. The height (up to the cross) reaches 73 meters. The temple is located on central square Kaliningrad - Victory Square. The temple was built in the style of Vladimir-Suzdal temple architecture.
Built in 1995 (foundation stone installed). In 1996, Russian President Boris Yeltsin and Metropolitan Kirill laid a capsule with soil taken from the Moscow Cathedral of Christ the Savior into the foundation of the building. The construction was actively promoted by the regional governor L. Gorbenko.
The Upper Church of the Resurrection of Christ was consecrated on September 10, 2006 by Patriarch Alexy II, the consecration was timed to coincide with the 20th anniversary of the opening of the first Orthodox church in Kaliningrad.
The lower temple serves as a temple military glory and is a temple-monument in memory of Russian soldiers who died in the Seven Years' War, the Napoleonic Wars, the First world war and World War II in East Prussia, present-day Kaliningrad region.

Majestic Christian churches were created by famous architects of their era. Some of them took centuries to build. Let's find out which cathedral is considered the largest and tallest.

The largest Christian temple is located in West Africa, in the capital of Cote d'Ivoire - Yamoussoukro. It's called Notre-Dame de la P uh(Cathedral of Our Lady of Peace).

The temple was built in 1990. The height of Yamoussouk Notre Dame is 158 m (including the cross), the height of the main dome is 60 m. The temple is listed in the Guinness Book of Records not only as the tallest, but also as having the largest stained glass window in the world ( 7.4 thousand m2).

The temple with an esplanade and a garden was donated by the president of this country to the Pope and is the property of the Vatican. The operating costs of maintaining Notre Dame are very high, so full lighting is turned on only once a year - at Christmas.

The largest Orthodox church

There are two Orthodox cathedrals in the world, which have the right to be called the largest. The Church of St. Sava in the Serbian capital delights with its dimensions. Its length is more than 90 meters and its width reaches 81 meters. Area - 7400 square meters. The building is made in the Macedonian style and is located on the site of the burning of the relics of St. Sava by the Ottoman invaders.

The construction of the temple began before the start of World War II. During the armed confrontation between the countries, its construction stopped. It resumed only half a century later. Today the cathedral has been practically rebuilt, only minor finishing work remains.

The central dome of the temple weighs four tons. On it there is a gilded cross 12 meters high. A few years ago, more than 900 thousand people gathered around the Cathedral of St. Sava. On that day, a prayer service was held for the soul of Patriarch Paul.

The largest cathedral for Orthodox Christians in Russia is the Cathedral of Christ the Savior. It was opened on the threshold of 2000. The total area is eight thousand square meters. It also has its own architectural features:

• the facades consist of marble high reliefs;
• bronze entrance doors are decorated with the faces of saints;
• The area of ​​painted walls is more than 22 thousand square meters, nine of them are gilded.

During excursion route tourists visit the observation deck, the hall for cultural events, and the gallery. Elevators have been built for quick travel to the fourth floor. Co observation deck The center of Moscow and the Kremlin are perfectly visible.

The largest Catholic church

The Catholic Roman Cathedral of St. Peter is rightfully considered the largest and most famous building of the Renaissance. Its construction began in the mid-16th century and was completed only 120 years later. Several generations of famous masters worked on its creation. Among them are Michelangelo Buonarroti, Santi Raphael, Donato Bramante. The length of the church building is 220 meters, width - 150 meters. In the adjacent square there can be 400 thousand believers at once.

The building is located in the west of the Vatican. At the entrance, people are greeted by the figures of the apostles Paul and Peter. The 45-meter facade is decorated with sculptures of John the Baptist and Jesus.

The main dome of the cathedral reaches a height of 138 meters. It is decorated with quotes from Jesus from the Gospel. The structure is supported by huge columns. At the end of the corridor there is a figure of St. Peter, which every believer should touch.

The largest Protestant temple

There are many Protestant churches and associated associations in the world. One of the largest cathedrals in which people preach this direction of Christianity is the Temple of Solomon in Rio de Janeiro. His inauguration took place in the summer of 2014. It was built by order of the Kingdom of God organization, which was founded by Edir Macedo. Today this man is on the list of the richest people in the world.

The size of the temple is impressive. Its length is 126 meters, width - 104 meters. The height is 55 meters. In total, the temple has 12 floors, which can accommodate about 10 thousand believers.

The Protestant temple is comparable in area to five football fields. Inside there are two large screens that show what is happening in the building. Seven million euros were spent on the evening consecration alone. In total, construction cost about $113 million.

The most spacious Christian temple

Tsminda Sameba in Georgia is considered the most spacious Orthodox church on earth. This is the first place that tourists who arrive in Tbilisi tend to visit. Jerusalem soil was used in the construction of the temple. The first worship service was held here in 2002. The convenient location allows you to see the church building from anywhere in the Georgian capital.

In the Main Cathedral fifteen thousand people can be present at once. For comparison: the Cathedral of Christ the Savior can accommodate five thousand less.

Tsminda Sameba includes:

• nine chapels, five of them underground;
• central temple;
• bell tower;
• hotel;
• cafe for tourists;
• residence of senior clergy;
• clerical seminary.

Thus, the cathedral is a whole complex for Orthodox Christians.

If we talk about the most spacious Catholic church, then St. Peter's Cathedral is the leader here. It can accommodate 60 thousand people at the same time.

Tallest Christian temple

The title of the highest temple was earned by Ulm Cathedral in Germany. It reaches a height of more than 160 meters. The construction of the building took place over five centuries. It was finally erected in 1890. In 1543 the cathedral became Lutheran. The building was built in the Gothic style. It has its own characteristics:

• massive vaults;
• battlements;
• sharp outlines;
• gray tones;
• chimeras;
• elongated windows.

Today, tourists climb the highest structure of the church building using a stone staircase. To do this you need to overcome 768 steps. From the observation deck there are beautiful views of the roofs of the houses and the sacred river of the Slavs - the Danube.

There are other Christian churches worthy of the highest title. Construction began in Europe in 1248 Cologne Cathedral. Its construction was completed after 632 years. Today the height of the building is about 155 meters. The largest facade in the world also belongs to him.

The longest Christian temple

St. Vitus Cathedral, which is located in Prague, looks quite majestic, although its height does not reach 100 meters. But the length of the main corridor is 124 meters. The building is a masterpiece of Gothic architecture. This is the symbol of the capital of the Czech Republic, which dates back to 1344. Today it serves as the residence of the archbishop.

The construction of the church building lasted six centuries. The luxurious interior includes golden walls, various sculptures and stained glass windows. The space inside is a cross. The cylindrical vault, which is located at a height of 33 meters, is supported by 28 columns. A triforium, a decorative gallery, runs along the entire perimeter. Tourists note that the view of the temple does not get boring. He amazes me every time.

The most ancient Christian temple

The first Christians built churches on Slavic lands. Few buildings have survived to this day. There are those that still stand today, albeit in a rebuilt form. The oldest Christian temple is the church on Byzantium Square, which was later renamed Constantinople. Its construction began during the time of Emperor Justinian (in the 6th century). In the first two hundred years of its existence, the church was damaged by wars and fires. In 1537, builders erected a basilica from high-quality marble. After the capture of Constantinople by the Turks, the temple was converted into a mosque.

Today it is a museum, worldwide famous monument Byzantine Empire, which is called Hagia Sophia Cathedral. It is listed as a World Heritage SiteUnesco . For several hundred years it remained the largest in the world of Christianity. Its height is equal to a house with 33 floors, the diameter of the dome is 31 meters.

The largest Christian temple made of glass

A Protestant cathedral was built in California that can seat more than 2,500 people. It is located near Los Angeles and is a gigantic church, the height of which is comparable to a 12-story building. The unique project was built from 10 thousand mirror panels. They are attached to the steel frame using silicone adhesive. This way, none of the glass is bolted down. Despite this, the structure is capable of withstanding a magnitude 8 earthquake.

The Crystal Cathedral was built in 1980. The project cost eighteen million dollars. In 2010, the temple was sold for $27.5 million to the Roman catholic church because of the community's debts. Soon it was decided to rename it Christ Cathedral.

The deepest Christian temple

The Cathedral of Zipaquira is an underground church building for Catholics, built in salt workings. The depth of the structure is about two hundred meters. A unique structure is located in the center of Colombia. Three-quarters of the temple walls are made of pure salt and are carved directly into the rock. Judging by historical references, its development began in the fifth century and was associated with the development of Indian culture. The total area of ​​the building is 32 hectares. Operating temple accommodates up to three thousand people.

Tourists descend into it using a shaft elevator, the height of which is 25 meters. In the ancient salt building, they can see many sculptures made of marble and salt. The excursion “The Miner’s Path” is especially popular. Those who wish to do so put on helmets with flashlights and walk through narrow corridors. For better effect, an underground explosion is simulated. Tourists are invited to chop off a piece of solid rock as a souvenir using a pickaxe.

The Cathedral of Zipaquira is one of the most popular shrines in the southern continent of America. It is considered the eighth wonder of the world and the greatest achievement of the building art of Colombian masters.

Cathedrals and churches have always been built on a special scale. The main task of any architect was to build a majestic, unusual and eye-catching building. There was a serious struggle over who would build the taller and larger structure. A selection of the 10 tallest religious temples in Europe.

So - TOP - 10 tallest temples in Europe:

The tallest religious building in the world is Ulm Cathedral - its height including the spire is 161.5 meters. It is also notable for the fact that its construction dragged on for more than 5 centuries, from 1377 to 1890, when the spire was completed.

The second tallest cathedral is Notre-Dame de la Paix in Côte d'Ivoire. The most grandiose and enormous building with an interesting and extremely sad story... Its height together with the cross is 158 meters. Besides the height, it is also the largest christian cathedral in the world.

In third place, in my subjective opinion, beautiful cathedral Gothic style - Cologne Cathedral in the city of the same name Cologne. The cathedral took 632 years to build, which is not surprising given its scale. Once it was the tallest cathedral, and occupied the first line of the rating, but even now it has something to boast about - it has the largest church façade in the world.

The fourth largest, immortalized by Claude Monet Rouen Cathedral in France. Its construction began in 1020, its height is 151 meters.

In 5th place, not restored after the Second World War, is St. Nicholas Cathedral in Hamburg. Its height is 147 meters.

Strasbourg Cathedral in France was the tallest building in the world for 200 years. Now it ranks 6th among cathedrals with a height of 142 meters.

In Poland there is the Basilica of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Lichen, its height is only half a meter lower Strasbourg Cathedral— 141.5 meters.

The height of St. Stephen's Cathedral in Vienna is 136.4 meters. The Gothic cathedral is the main attraction of Vienna, which is not surprising.

The new cathedral in Linz rises to 134.8 meters. It was built in 1924.

Rounding out the top ten famous cathedral St. Peter's in the Vatican. Its height is 136.4 meters, which is not much lower than the other cathedrals from the second five, but in terms of area it is one of the largest in the world.

Outside the competition is St. Vitus Cathedral in Prague, although its height is only 96.5 meters, it is no less majestic than the rest of the buildings on this list. But it is one of the longest cathedrals in the world, with the main nave 124 meters long.

Cathedrals and churches have always been built on a special scale. The main task of any architect was to build a majestic, unusual and eye-catching building. There was a serious struggle over who would build the taller and larger structure. I suggest you get acquainted with the tallest and largest cathedrals in the world

We have already talked in detail about each of these cathedrals, so the article will provide links to more detailed description. Let's arrange all these structures in descending order:

1. The tallest religious building in the world is Ulm Cathedral - its height together with the spire is 161.5 meters. It is also notable for the fact that its construction dragged on for more than 5 centuries, from 1377 to 1890, when the spire was completed

2. The second tallest is the Notre-Dame de la Paix Cathedral in Cote d'Ivoire. The most grandiose and huge structure with an interesting and extremely sad history... Its height together with the cross is 158 meters. Besides its height, it is also the largest Christian cathedral in the world. I strongly advise you to read more about it at the link above

3. In third place, in my subjective opinion, is the most beautiful cathedral of the Gothic style - Cologne Cathedral in the city of the same name in Cologne. The cathedral took 632 years to build, which is not surprising given its scale. Once upon a time it was the tallest cathedral, and occupied the first line of the rating, but even now it has something to boast about - it has the largest church façade in the world

4. The fourth largest, immortalized by Claude Monet, is the Rouen Cathedral in France. Its construction began in 1020, its height is 151 meters

5. In 5th place, not restored after the Second World War - St. Nicholas Cathedral in Hamburg. Its height is 147 meters

6. Strasbourg Cathedral in France was the tallest building in the world for 200 years. Now it ranks 6th among cathedrals with a height of 142 meters

7. Located in Poland Basilica of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Lichen, its height is only half a meter lower than Strasbourg Cathedral - 141.5 meters

8. The height of St. Stephen's Cathedral in Vienna is 136.4 meters. The Gothic Cathedral is the main attraction of Vienna, which is not surprising

9. The new cathedral in Linz rises to 134.8 meters. Was built in 1924

10. The famous St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican closes the top ten. Its height is 136.4 meters, which is not much lower than the other cathedrals from the second five, but in terms of area it is one of the largest in the world

Cathedral - when reading this word, a majestic structure, executed with a frantic design intent, inevitably comes to mind. As a rule, a cathedral is one of the main city churches, the creation of which is necessarily associated with something important for the country. historical event. That is why the construction of cathedrals has always taken place on an extraordinary scale. Despite the many beautiful churches around the world, the first places in the ranking of cathedrals in terms of size are occupied by European buildings. So, it will be interesting to study information about the largest cathedrals in Europe.

The first on the list of the tallest cathedrals not only in Europe, but also in the whole world, is Ulm Cathedral, which is located in the city of the same name in Ulm, Germany. The height of the structure including the bell spire is 161.5 meters. Visitors to this giant have the opportunity to climb the most high point cathedral along stone spiral staircases. Interesting fact is that the construction of Ulm Cathedral took place over 5 centuries, starting in 1377, ending with the construction of the spire in 1890. It is also noteworthy that, according to legend, during the construction of the temple, the unlucky builders were faced with the task of how to carry huge logs through the gate. While the builders were struggling with a solution to how to drag a log into the city, which in height did not fit into the city gates, one of them noticed a sparrow carrying straws into its home parallel to the ground. A solution was found, Ulm Cathedral was built, and the sparrow became a symbol of the city. It is his sculpture with a twig in its beak that rises on the main roof of the building.

Construction of Europe's second largest cathedral began in 1248 and took place in two stages due to financial problems. The year 1880 was marked by the opening of the tallest building in the world, which for a whole 4 years became the Cologne Cathedral, located in Germany, the city of Cologne. The height of the structure with its spire is 157 meters. Today, this architectural creation has the largest church facade in the whole world, as well as the largest working bell. When examining the building, do not forget that its construction spanned two eras, so the western façade, which more attracts the views of enthusiastic tourists, was built in the 19th century and embodied the neo-Gothic style, while the rest of the building contains elements and features classical gothic. The largest bell in the world is called “St. Peter” and weighs 24 tons, and the weight of its bell tongue is 800 kilograms.

The next record holder was rightfully the Cathedral of Our Lady of Rouen in France, the city of Rouen. The building is included in the list of national French heritage monuments and is the cathedral with the tallest cast-iron tower in the whole world (151 meters). The construction of the French miracle began in 1145, but after a severe fire only the walls were saved north tower Saint-Romain, the restoration of which led to the construction of the southern part of the building and the Butter Tower, the construction of which was completed in 1880. It is noteworthy that great artist In the 19th century, Monet created a series of paintings that depicted the history of the great cathedral, its ups and downs. The cycle contains 50 paintings in total.

Strasbourg Cathedral is located in France and for more than 200 years was considered the world's tallest church building. The height of the building is 142 meters and today it is the sixth highest cathedral in the world. The most interesting and most visited place in the cathedral is the astronomical clock, which was made back in 1574 and even then had astronomical functions. These include the ability of watches to calculate the starting point from the new year to holidays, the dates of which fall on different days each year. In Strasbourg, there is a tradition according to which, on summer evenings, various color performances accompanied by works of world classical music are broadcast on the walls of the cathedral.

The most capacious European cathedral is St. Peter's Basilica, which is located in the Vatican on a famous square that has the same name as the cathedral. The building is considered the central ceremonial place of the Catholic Church, the cathedral's capacity is 60,000 people. The construction began in 326, but was finally completed only in the 17th century, when, at the request of Paul V, the eastern part was lengthened. The 17th century was also marked by the appearance of a square near the cathedral, which was conceived for a gathering of people to receive the blessing of the Pope. Such famous architects and artists as Raphael, Michelangelo, Bernini and others worked on the decoration of the cathedral.

Despite the capacity of St. Peter's Basilica, the largest cathedral in the world by area is not it, but Milan Cathedral. The length of the building is 158 meters, the width is 93 meters, and this building also has the highest spire in Europe in terms of the height of the central nave (47 m). Milan Cathedral is the only gothic cathedral made of marble. The altar of this miracle is decorated with one of the most valuable relics of antiquity - a nail from the crucifixion of Christ.

St. Vitus Cathedral in Prague is rightfully considered not only one of the largest, but also the longest Catholic church in the world, the length of the main nave of the cathedral is 124 meters. The foundation date of the building is considered to be 925, but the peak of its development occurred between 1350 and 1930. Inside, the cathedral offers visitors a wonderful Gothic panorama, smoothly transitioning into the choir area with huge stained glass windows.

The longest cathedral in terms of the length of the central nave (169 meters) is Winchester Cathedral, Hampshire, UK.
The construction of the cathedral began on the initiative of Kenwal, King of Wessex. Construction was completed in 648. The cathedral hosted such important events for the history of Britain as the Coronation of Henry the Younger and his wife Margaret of France (1172), the Second Coronation of Richard the Lionheart (1194), the Marriage of Henry IV and Joan of Navarre (1403), marriage of Mary I and Philip II (1554). The building attracts the attention of tourists not only for its size and architectural delights, but also for the burial place of the famous British writer Jane Austen and the filming of the film “The Da Vinci Code” in 2005.

The cathedral became widely famous thanks to its large stained glass window. The height of the largest stained glass window is 24 meters, width 11.6 meters. This building is the Hogwarts school in the popular film masterpiece Harry Potter. The construction of the cathedral took place back in the 11th century; the coronation of one of the most famous figures of the British monarchy, Henry III, took place in this building.