The largest temples in the world. The largest Orthodox church in the world The tallest Catholic cathedral in the world

Many of the largest temples known to us were created thanks to the efforts of many people. Specially trained craftsmen processed the materials necessary for the manufacture of structures, and then installed them in designated places. The first temples were intended for adherents of pagan religions, and the later ones - for those professing Orthodoxy, Islam, Judaism, etc. This article will focus mainly on the largest architectural structures. And, as you know, invocations to ancient deities and other great sacraments were carried out in them.

The greatest temples in the world

The first in this ranking will be the Seville Cathedral. It was built by the Spaniards, inhabitants of Andalusia, in the sixteenth century. Everyone who has ever seen it will remember it for its splendor and sophistication of architecture.

Not only ordinary people, but also experienced researchers are of the opinion that the Seville Cathedral is an unsurpassed example of the Gothic style, famous for its enormous size. Even the churches of Saints Paul and Peter, located in Europe, cannot compare with it. In addition to the large area, this building has another feature - the presence of the most expensive altar, the material for which is pure gold.

Moreover, the Seville Cathedral is also the most original, built in a unique style and thus different from other shrines. Upon entering, you can see a rectangular hall, striking in its size, the decoration of which has something in common with Arab mosques. Its length is almost one hundred and fifty meters. The chapels and side chapels located in the temple are surrounded by retaining walls.

The central nave includes a chapel and choir. It is due to this internal structure that the temple resembles a separate structure, which visitors associate with a huge palace, replete with decorations and precious elements.

It would also be useful to mention that in addition to the Gothic style, the Seville Cathedral contains elements of the Renaissance style. For example, the Main Sacristy, Chapter Hall, and Royal Chapel are designed in this style. Even with the naked eye you can see traces of a style such as Spanish Baroque - it predominates in the southwestern part of the building.

The Church of St. Sava the Serbian can also safely be considered one of the largest religious buildings. Its location is the city of Belgrade. Unlike the Seville Cathedral, this building appeared not very long ago. Its architectural drawing was ready in the nineteenth century, and construction began only a hundred years later. This delay in construction was due to the war of 1941–1945, as well as the financial difficulties that the state was experiencing at that time. The doors of the temple were opened to parishioners only at the beginning of the 21st century.

The length of the structure from south to north is about 80 meters, and from west to east - approximately 90 meters. In terms of area, the temple even surpasses the Moscow Church of Christ the Savior - it can accommodate about a thousand singers and several thousand parishioners at the same time.

Since the height of the building is 130 meters above sea level, it will not be difficult to see it even for people living in remote corners of the city.

As for the style in which the temple was built, experts define it as Serbian-Byzantine. One curious fact is of no less interest to tourists: during the Middle Ages, the site of the church was raided by Ottoman invaders, who burned the relics of Sava the Serbian.

Angkor Wat, which is on the UNESCO list, is also one of the largest temples in the world. Thousands of people professing Hinduism travel to the place where this structure is located. They are coming to worship the god Vishnu, in whose name Angkor Wat was built. For many Hindus, the temple is of great value. This is partly due to the fact that the history of the building dates back to the twelfth century; its construction began by order of King Suryavarman II.

The location of the temple, which is a huge structure, is the Asian country of Cambodia. This name for the shrine was not chosen by chance - after all, once in the past, at its location there was the state of Angkor, in which people belonging to such a nationality as the Khmers lived. Surprisingly, every second resident of this ancient Asian city has visited it at least once in his life. And the population in this small town, I must say, was very large - about five hundred thousand people.

The Angkor Wat temple stretches over two hundred meters square. Moreover, according to recent estimates by experts, the area of ​​the structure is much smaller than what it should have been.

Despite the fact that the temple was built in honor of the deity Vishnu, on its walls you can also see images of other gods of the Hindu pantheon. For Hindus, this shrine is a symbol of Mount Mera, on which, according to local legends, various deities lived.

From the outside, Angkor Wat really looks like a mountain reaching up. The temple is surrounded on all sides by a moat filled with water, as well as a wall whose height is two hundred meters. The building itself rises sixty meters.

Unfortunately, there was a period in the history of this building when the temple was forgotten by everyone. In Europe it became known only at the end of the nineteenth century. Currently, the image of this unique structure adorns the Cambodian flag.

In sunny Egypt, in the village of Karnak, there is another architectural monument, the size of which cannot but impress. Many builders worked hard to build the Karnak Temple back in ancient Egypt. In accordance with the name of the area, the shrine was given the name Karnak Temple.

Speaking about ancient Egypt, one cannot fail to mention the city of Thebes, which was its capital many centuries ago. It was he who was once located on the site of Karnak. And there, and not anywhere else, they began construction of the Karnak Temple. A variety of rulers of ancient Egypt took part in it, introducing innovations into the architecture of the structure and improving it. But the main work was still done by ordinary people, who for one reason or another found themselves in the service of the rulers.

The Karnak Temple is dedicated to several deities held in special esteem by the Egyptians. This is Amon - the god of the sun, Mut - the goddess of queens and Yah - the patron of the moon. Accordingly, a specific place in the temple was allocated for each of the deities. These three zones into which the structure was divided differed in their decoration and religious symbolism. However, they had something in common. All three parts of the temple were decorated with many massive columns. All of them depicted colorful drawings representing scenes from the life of the rulers of Egypt. As mentioned earlier, the responsibility of the new ruler, just beginning his reign, was to add various architectural elements to the Karnak Temple. As an example, we can consider the well-known Pharaoh Thutmose, thanks to whose work elegant statues were created.

2016.11.10 by

Religious communities around the world have staged an unspoken competition to see which of them can build the most beautiful and largest temple. Later, these churches turned into architectural masterpieces, attracting crowds of tourists. The most majestic temples were created by great architects of different eras, and their construction sometimes stretched over centuries. This review helps to find out which church is the largest in the world?

1. Ulm Cathedral, Germany (161.5 m)

The foundation of this grandiose temple took place in 1377. Construction, led by Ulrich von Enzingen, began in 1392, and was largely completed in 1405, after which the church was consecrated and regular services began to be held there. Although at this moment the construction had to be interrupted due to the architect’s miscalculations - the side naves could not withstand the weight of the vaults. Initially, it served as a Catholic church, but when the wave of the Reformation swept across Europe, the church came under the control of Lutherans.
Already under the Lutherans in 1530-1543, construction was finally continued, and then its spire rose 100 meters. After this, due to lack of funds, construction was interrupted for centuries. Finally, the third stage of construction took place in 1817-1890, when the church was finally completed. In 1944, as a result of the bombing, most of the historical center of Ulm was destroyed, but the church miraculously survived.
By the way, this is a church, and not a cathedral, because the status of a cathedral is awarded to a temple in which there is an episcopal residence. But the High Priest of Ulm lives in Stuttgart, which has been the custom since medieval times. And this church is called a “cathedral” solely due to its colossal size, which makes a strong impression.

2. Notre-Dame de la Paix, Yamoussoukro, Ivory Coast (158 m)

This basilica is remarkable from several sides. It is located on the Dark Continent, and yet only a fifth of the population there are Christians. We are used to seeing similar buildings in old Europe, which has a lot of majestic Gothic architecture. But in 1983, the country's president, Felix Boigny, decided to move the country's capital to the city of Yamoussoukro and build this magnificent basilica there. His goal was to build the largest church in the world and thereby perpetuate his name. Therefore, on its stained glass windows, next to Christ and the apostles, Boigny’s face can be seen.
Construction of the basilica lasted from 1985 to 1989, and it cost the treasury $300 million. But although North Dame de la Paix surpasses the famous St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican in area and height, its internal space turned out to be much more modest - it can accommodate no more than 18 thousand believers, while in the main Catholic church this figure is much higher. The then pontiff John Paul II put forward one condition for his participation in the consecration ceremony of the temple - that a hospital be built next to it. They promised him this, after which he laid the symbolic first stone not far from the place where the church now stands. The stone still lies there, but there was no hospital, and there is no one.

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3. Cologne Cathedral, Germany (157.4 m)

The official name is the Cathedral of St. Peter and the Holy Virgin Mary, although to most it is simply known as Cologne Cathedral. It serves as a world standard for High Gothic architecture. At the time of construction, it became the tallest building in the world and remained so for another 4 years. Its dominant features are two majestic towers. The area of ​​the cathedral occupies approximately 7914 square meters. m. The cathedral is the main temple of the Cologne Archdiocese, and its construction was divided into two historical periods: the first stage occurred in 1248-1437, and the second in 1842-1880.
The exterior and interiors of the temple are in a typical Gothic style. Of particular interest are the largest choirs in Germany, with 104 singers able to sing. There are also two chairs in the temple, always free during services: one of them is intended for the Pope, and the other for the Emperor. There is also a famous relic here - the shrine of the three kings (magi) - a golden sarcophagus, which contains the ashes of the very three wise men who, judging by the Bible, brought gifts to the newborn Christ to Bethlehem. For Christians, this is an incredibly attractive place of pilgrimage; every year millions of believers come to the Cologne Cathedral to pray.

4. Rouen Cathedral, France (151 m)

The Cathedral of Notre-Dame of Rouen is located in the ancient French city, it has become a monument to the country's national heritage. Until the completion of Cologne Cathedral in 1880, it was Rouen Cathedral that was the tallest building in the world. It is clear that it still holds the title of the tallest temple in France and is at the same time a masterpiece of the Gothic style of architecture. Its oldest part is the northern tower of Saint-Romain, which was built back in 1145. In 1944, it was almost completely burned out as a result of bombing, only stone walls remained.
The South Butter Tower is much younger (1485). The current nave of the church appeared in 1200, as the previous one, in Romanesque style, collapsed as a result of a fire. Among the original architecture, only the northern portal of St. John the Evangelist has been preserved, which depicts scenes from the lives of St. John the Baptist and St. John the Evangelist. After 1769, the portal was restored several times. And two more portals were badly damaged in the 16th century. The archbishop's palace, part of the complex with the cathedral, is as old as the Gothic temple itself.

5. St. Nicholas Cathedral, Hamburg, Germany (147.3 m)

The neo-Gothic Church of St. Nicholas became one of five Lutheran churches in Hamburg and the second tallest building in this city after the memorial to the victims of the tyranny of the Nazi regime and the last world war. A wooden church was built here in the 11th century, and in 1335 the construction of a stone building began. The centuries-long construction was completed only in 1874 under the leadership of the Englishman George Scott. Another 2 years after completion of construction, the church was the tallest building in the world.
In 1943, the port of Hamburg was hit by massive bombings, as a result of which only the tower remained of the temple. The church continued to collapse after the war (1951). Only in 1990 did its restoration begin, managed by the “Saving the Church of St. Nicholas” foundation. Now, instead of the church, there are ruins called a memorial to the victims of World War II. In 2005, an elevator was built there, in which visitors can go to the top of the church, where a platform is installed under the spire, from which there is an excellent view of Hamburg.

6. Strasbourg Cathedral, France (142 m)

The Cathedral of the Virgin Mary, now in the French city of Strasbourg, was the tallest building in the world for over two centuries. It is still considered unfinished, but this does not prevent it from being one of the most beautiful Gothic buildings in Europe. It stands on a low hill where there used to be an ancient Roman temple. Red Vosges sandstone was used during construction. Construction of the cathedral began in 1015, and over the following centuries it was repeatedly transformed and completed. The eastern wing of the building, the choir and the southern portal are built in the Romanesque style, while the nave and the famous western facade, which is decorated with thousands of sculptures, are recognized as Gothic masterpieces. Due to the unfinished southern tower, the cathedral looks asymmetrical.

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7. Basilica of Our Lady of Lichen, Lichen Stary, Poland (141.5 m)

This basilica has become a spiritual symbol of the new renaissance of Poland and the largest temple in this country. Contrary to tradition, this church was built in just 10 years (1994-2004) in the Polish village of Lichen-Stary, and a vast architectural and park complex stretched around it. The location for construction is not accidental - according to legend in the 19th century, it was here that the Mother of God appeared to two Poles, after which in 1852 a miraculous icon appeared in the local parish church. Now the gold-covered dome of the basilica of impressive size is visible from afar (height 45 m, diameter 25 m). It is supported by a two-level reinforced concrete colonnade, supported by 4 reinforced concrete pillars. 7,000 seated or 10,000 standing parishioners can pray in the temple, and the square in front of the basilica has enough space for 250,000 people.

8. St. Stephen's Cathedral, Vienna, Austria (136.4 m)

The luxurious Viennese temple - St. Stephen's Cathedral is the residence of the cardinal archbishop, and its 137-meter tower has become one of the symbols of the capital of Austria. The very first temple on this site arose in 1137-1147, and it grew to its current size over the course of the 13th-15th centuries, until it acquired its modern appearance in 1511.
The bombings of World War II, fortunately, did not affect it, nor did the offensive of the Red Army. Later it was looted and set on fire by looters. A group of volunteers restored the foundations of the cathedral in 1948, but restoration work here continues to this day. Catacombs were dug under the building, in which the dead were buried during the era of Charles VI, who forbade burying the dead in old cemeteries located within the city. The highest members of the clergy are still buried in the bishop's crypt inside the cathedral, the last time this happened in 2014.

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9. New Cathedral, Linz, Austria (134.8 m)

The Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary, or simply the New Cathedral, is a Catholic church located in Linz, Austria. In Austria it has no equal in terms of capacity - 20,000 people. Its construction in the Gothic style began in 1855 under the patronage of Bishop Franz Joseph Rudiger. True, the first stone was laid only in 1862. After construction was completed in 1924, the temple was consecrated by Bishop Johannes Maria Gföllner. It is noteworthy that this cathedral has 5 chapels, each of which is decorated with marble altars and beautiful marble sculptures. Some of the stained glass windows were damaged during the last war, this especially affected the southern portal of the cathedral. They were never restored to their previous form, and instead they were replaced by stained glass windows on a modern theme.

10. St. Peter's Basilica, Vatican (132.5 m)

This main Catholic church in the world is the pearl of all Rome. The basilica was named so because, according to legend, the tomb of the Apostle Peter is located under it. Many large European temples could fit entirely inside this grandiose temple. The height of the basilica's dome, topped with a cross, is 136 meters. No building should be built higher than it in Rome. Construction of the cathedral took half a century, and it was completed in 1607. It was created by different generations of the greatest masters of the Renaissance: Raphael, Bramante, Michelangelo, Bernini. The cathedral can accommodate up to 60,000 people and another 400,000 will fit in St. Peter's Square.

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Ulm is a German city where the tallest cathedral in the world is located. Also in Germany, in the cities of Cologne and Hamburg, two more of the five tallest churches on the planet are located.

This includes the French cathedral in Rouen and the grand basilica in Yamoussoukro, the capital of the West African country of Côte d'Ivoire. The article provides a brief description, history and photographs of the tallest cathedral in the world, as well as four churches that are slightly behind it in this championship.

Ulm Cathedral

With a stunning Gothic (total height of 162 m) it is located in the center of the German city of Ulm, on the spacious Marktplatz square. This cathedral is the tallest in the world, it towers above all other city buildings, it can be seen from the Danube and even areas located on the opposite bank. The foundation of the Catholic church took place in 1377. The predominant part of the building was erected between 1392 and 1405, after which the consecration ceremony was performed and the church received its first parishioners. Although Ulm Cathedral remained unfinished according to plan, construction work ceased as the vaults reached the maximum weight that the walls of the side naves could support.

After renewed construction in 1530 - 1543, the building, together with the bell tower, reached a height of 100 m. Due to the strengthening of Protestantism in Germany, the cathedral became Lutheran by the middle of the 16th century, which it remains so to this day. The final phase of construction work took place from 1817 to 1890, after which the completed temple with its openwork bell tower tent became the tallest cathedral in the world. During the bombing by American aircraft in 1944, the city was reduced to ruins, but the building remained untouchable and was completely undamaged. Its magnificent architecture and interior design invariably attract many tourists to Ulm, which is not rich in attractions.

Notre-Dame de la Paix

This 158-meter basilica lacks just over four meters to be considered the tallest cathedral in the world. But the 30,000 sq. meters is considered the largest church on the planet, as recorded by the World Book of Records. It is located in Yamoussoukro, the new capital of the Republic of Côte d'Ivoire, once called the Ivory Coast. Erected in honor of Our Lady of Peace, the church became a copy of the Roman Cathedral of St. Peter's, surpassing it in height and area, and also trying to compete with the main Vatican temple in beauty and luxury.

The construction of such a large-scale Catholic sanctuary in a very poor African country, where Christians make up 33% of the population and Muslims 39%, was the decision of President Felix Houphouet-Boignipe. From the start of construction in 1985 until its completion in 1989, about 300 million US dollars were spent, which doubled the republic's external debt per capita, exceeding those of all African countries.

It is curious that the consecration of the cathedral took place after its construction was completed in 1989. In response to the president’s request to consecrate the temple, the Pope put forward a condition: a public hospital should be built near Notre-Dame de la Paix. After the president made a promise regarding the construction of a hospital, the pontiff himself laid a stone near the completed church, which served as the foundation of the building and is usually considered the first in temple construction. The consecration ceremony took place in September 1990, conducted personally by John Paul II, and a month and a half later the Vatican decided to assign the cathedral the honorary position of a minor basilica.

Cologne Cathedral

The 157-meter temple, which took third position in the list of the highest, again directs attention to the medieval The Cathedral in the rich and powerful Cologne was originally conceived as a large-scale and majestic structure that would outshine other temples. It was supposed to be not only the main cathedral and the residence of the archbishop, but also as a repository for the remains of the Three Kings (Holy Magi). The relic was received from Emperor Barbarossa in gratitude for his service by military leader Rainald von Dassel in 1164, after which he transported it to Cologne. The shrine, which is considered a masterpiece of Romanesque art, took ten years to build from precious metals and stones for the relics. This shrine, together with no less valuable relics, the staff and monstrance of St. Peter is still kept in the cathedral.

In 1248, the archbishop of Cologne laid the first stone, which marked the foundation of the cathedral. Then followed the first, almost two-century stage of construction, which lasted from 1248 to 1437. The structure was erected in accordance with the design of Gerhard von Riehle, the first and main architect of Cologne Cathedral. Some work on installing the roof continued until the beginning of the 16th century. However, the cathedral was without towers, and a number of works remained unfinished.

Funding and construction resumed in 1842, and in 1863 construction began on two identical towers. By mid-October 1880 they were completed and reached a height of 157 meters. At this point, the construction of Cologne Cathedral, which lasted a total of 632 years, was completely completed. The building is included in the UNESCO cultural heritage list; it amazes with its ancient grandeur and Gothic beauty, although it is not the tallest cathedral in the world. Photos only remotely convey its legendary splendor and monumentality.

Rouen Cathedral

Reaching 151 meters, this temple is famous for being crowned by the world's tallest cast iron tower. The history of Rouen Cathedral is marked by a series of destructions and restorations. Among the tallest churches on the planet, this building can perhaps be called the most ancient.

Construction of the Romanesque building began in the 1020s; the crypt remains from the architecture of those times. The Romanesque nave collapsed after a fire, and after 1200 a new, Gothic nave took its place. All parts of the church were gradually replaced, and the current image of the cathedral is fully consistent with the architectural canons of the Gothic style. In the 18th century, significant damage was caused by a severe hurricane. But the largest destruction was caused by air strikes on the city during hostilities in the spring of 1944. The most ancient element of the Rouen Cathedral remained the Saint-Romain Tower, built in 1145, from which, after the bombing on April 1, only the charred walls of the base remained. The explosion on April 19 severely damaged the chapels and nave, and the north tower burned down on May 31. The last damage to the building was the damage to the bell tower after the December storm of 1999. Due to frequent destruction, the temple undergoes constant reconstruction. Today, the active Rouen Cathedral is a monument of French national heritage.

Cathedral of St. Nicholas

The architecture of most Christian churches includes bell towers, spiers and towers. The vertical dimensions of temples are primarily indicated by their height. The 147-meter tower in the German city of Hamburg is one of the tallest cathedrals in the world. It belonged to the Lutheran Church of St. Nicholas, the ruins of which were preserved from war times as a reminder of the victims of the tyranny of 1933 - 1945. There is an elevator inside the tower that takes you to the observation deck located under the spire. And nearby in the pavilion there is a museum of the history of the temple. In terms of height, the tower structure is considered the second building in Hamburg and the fifth tallest cathedral on the planet.

Orthodox churches

The highest Orthodox Cathedral is the Peter and Paul Cathedral in St. Petersburg. It reaches 122.5 m and ranks 22nd in the world ranking of the tallest churches. Russian tsars were once buried there, but now it is an inactive temple and architectural monument. Until the middle of the last century, the cathedral was the tallest building in Russia, and until 2012 - in St. Petersburg. Among the active Orthodox Christians (103 m) in Moscow is considered to be the highest today. After it comes St. Isaac's Cathedral (101.5 m) in St. Petersburg.

The dispute between many Christian communities over large and beautiful churches continues to this day. Many of these churches become architectural masterpieces that attract many tourists. The greatest architects of their era also contributed to the creation of magnificent structures. Some constructions lasted for centuries. So let's now look at the largest churches in our world.

Temple of Saint Sava

The church is located in Serbia, in Belgrade. Its area is 8162 square meters. In the world, the building is considered the largest Orthodox church. Construction of the cathedral began back in 1935, and ended only in 1986. But in 2004, the church was finally opened, and the interior decoration had not yet been completed. The structure got its name in honor of the founder of the Serbian Orthodox Church of St. Sava.

Basilica de Nuestra Señora del Pilar

In Spain, this temple is considered the most famous. Its area is 8318 square meters. The church was built in the Gothic style in the second half of the 17th century. Tourists and locals can find it on the banks of the Ebro River. In the middle of the basilica there is a column, which is crowned by a statue from the 15th century. Its name is Mary with the Child in her arms.

Church of the Holy Trinity

This church could not fail to be included in our rating. She ranks eighth. The building is located in Portugal, in the city of Fatima. Its structure covers an area of ​​8,700 square meters. The church has a rather unusual architecture, which sets it apart from other churches in our top. The building is quite low and has laconic simple forms. Here you will not find turrets and a facade in the Gothic style, which usually attracts tourists.

Liverpool Cathedral

The cathedral is located in Great Britain, in the city of Liverpool. Its area is 9687 meters. This English church should be called not only the largest, but also the tallest in the world. And she doesn't even have a spire. For about 70 years, only a building with a large central tower was built. The foundation was laid in 1904, but as for the interior decoration, it was completed only in the 70s.

Basilica of Our Lady of Lichen

You will find this building upon arrival in Poland. Namely, to the city of Lichen Stary. Its area is 10090 square meters. And one of the most interesting facts is that the building is located in a village where only 1,100 residents live. But against the background of the toy houses of local residents, the building looks simply gigantic. The basilica is considered the main place of pilgrimage for believers in Poland.

Milan Cathedral

You can already guess from the name that the cathedral is located in Milan, Italy. He also occupies the 4th level of the rating. The Milan Cathedral boasts an area of ​​10,186 square meters. It was built from white marble. In the city, the church is considered the most important attraction. In our rating, this church is considered the oldest, because it began to be built in 1386. But construction ended only in 1965. The building was created in the Gothic classical style.

Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist

The building is located in New York. Its area is 11,200 square meters. They just started building it in 1892. Tourists will find the building on Amsterdam Avenue between 110th and 113th streets. Only in our time its construction has not been completed. During all this time, several architects have changed. That is why it is possible to trace in the interior decoration and appearance of the cathedral not only the Byzantine-Roman style, but also the new Gothic style.

Seville Cathedral

This building occupies an honorable third place in Italy. From the name it is clear that the cathedral is located in the city of Seville. Some locals also call this cathedral Maria de la Sede. The area occupies 11,520 square meters. At the beginning of the 16th century, they began to build this structure, namely, on the site of a former mosque, which for a long time was considered one of the largest churches in the world.

Basilica of the National Sanctuary of Our Lady of Aparecida

The basilica is located in Brazil. Its area is 12,000 square meters. In fact, the building takes up more space than the town in which it is located. The design was created in the shape of a cross. It is also considered the main center of pilgrimage for Brazilian believers.

Saint Paul's Cathedral

But the Vatican is home to the largest cathedral in the world. Almost all people have heard about it. The area of ​​such a temple is 20,193 square meters. Here lies the ashes of St. Peter, who was one of the 12 apostles of Jesus Christ. It took about a hundred years to build the cathedral. The most outstanding architects of Italy worked on it. Peter's Cathedral, at least for the next hundred years, will remain the largest and most beautiful church on our planet.

Video: Top 10 largest churches in the world

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 a 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