It’s said that humans became sedentary the day they built their first place of worship. I can understand why when I look at the fierce quest for perfection we, humans, engage in when building sacred places.
Our urban explorations in the Western world are structured by churches. They are full of art, symbols and cultural clues. They are dense. They fascinate. I just love those beautiful churches dragging our eyes a little higher, making us feel so humble and small.
My goal is to make you discover 10 amazing churches that are totally worth a visit. These places will make you say, "Oh my GOD". And yes, I purposely omitted the Vatican, Paris, Cologne and EVEN the Sagrada Familia. Mortal sin you might say, but the whole idea here is to leave the beaten path, to introduce you to extraordinary places! Have a nice trip ;)
The 21 m tall church structure is made of cardboard tubes and the walls of 8 containers. Stained glass was not forgotten! Explore it by yourself:
With its earthy smell, cold air and bright light, the church calls for introspection. Its acoustic is renown. Actually, on both my visits to this Helsinki jewel, I have always got the opportunity to listen to great music; once a choir was practicing, another time it happened to be an organ concert. It is perhaps just a chance, but I like to imagine this place constantly moved by a music as majestic as its architecture.
The largest of these chapels, under the central dome, is actually very small. It couldn’t accommodate more than 30 people seated. It makes you doubt that you stand in the heart of the most important landmark of the largest country in the world. When I was there, as if the sight was not enough, a men choir (yet again) called Doros interpreted songs from the Orthodox liturgy. It’s such an exotic harmony, I’m telling you. For the curious: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nG5gEzymh5c (not in the church in question though).
But what particularly distinguishes this building is how well it is integrated into a whole neighborhood which inspires calm just like the church itself. It is as if a segment of the bustling Danish capital had stopped to pray. A beautiful place, in short, that I highly recommend.
How about you? What is your all-time favorite church? Did I commit the mortal sin of forgetting it? I still have time to repent by including your suggestions in the yet to be published second part of this list! :)
Our urban explorations in the Western world are structured by churches. They are full of art, symbols and cultural clues. They are dense. They fascinate. I just love those beautiful churches dragging our eyes a little higher, making us feel so humble and small.
My goal is to make you discover 10 amazing churches that are totally worth a visit. These places will make you say, "Oh my GOD". And yes, I purposely omitted the Vatican, Paris, Cologne and EVEN the Sagrada Familia. Mortal sin you might say, but the whole idea here is to leave the beaten path, to introduce you to extraordinary places! Have a nice trip ;)
10. Christchurch Transitional Cathedral, New-Zealand
The earth trembled strongly back in 2011 in the city of Christchurch, New Zealand. Many buildings downtown were heavily damaged including the city's cathedral that lost its bell tower. The city administration is still working on rebuilding the city center (by the way here’s an awesome documentary on the matter for urbanism enthusiasts: https://vimeo.com/142569334) but the administration didn’t wait long to find a temporary solution to relocate the cathedral: building a temporary one in cardboard. And the result is surprising, to say the least!The 21 m tall church structure is made of cardboard tubes and the walls of 8 containers. Stained glass was not forgotten! Explore it by yourself:
9. Temppeliaukio Church, Finland
The site was chosen in the 30s to build a majestic cathedral. And then stroked a Great War that wasn’t easy for the Finns... The construction site was abandoned for almost 30 years. Only the foundations had been dug leaving a hole in the city centre. In 1961, it was simply covered, due to budget restriction, with a circular dome that let natural light through. This place of worship was finally laid out inside the rock.With its earthy smell, cold air and bright light, the church calls for introspection. Its acoustic is renown. Actually, on both my visits to this Helsinki jewel, I have always got the opportunity to listen to great music; once a choir was practicing, another time it happened to be an organ concert. It is perhaps just a chance, but I like to imagine this place constantly moved by a music as majestic as its architecture.
8. St. Basil's Cathedral, Russia
I said I wanted to avoid the already famous churches, but I could not hold back for that one. Is it actually so well known? We've all seen it, yes, but how many of you know what's inside of this icon of the Red Square? You might be surprised to learn. Orthodox churches are not designed the same way as their Catholic or Protestant counterparts with a long stretch of benches or seats. They are rather organized in small confined spaces linked together by a route, much like the Stations of the Cross. In this Moscow landmark, each colorful bulb crowns a closed chapel connected to the next by small winding corridors and narrow staircases.The largest of these chapels, under the central dome, is actually very small. It couldn’t accommodate more than 30 people seated. It makes you doubt that you stand in the heart of the most important landmark of the largest country in the world. When I was there, as if the sight was not enough, a men choir (yet again) called Doros interpreted songs from the Orthodox liturgy. It’s such an exotic harmony, I’m telling you. For the curious: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nG5gEzymh5c (not in the church in question though).
7. San Giovanni Battista Church, Switzerland
Commissioned in the 90s to replace a church swept away by an avalanche, Swiss architect Mario Botta broke with tradition in this one. Atop of the Alps, the chapel detonates by its nobility, minimalism and modernity. The audacity of its forms is reminiscent of Le Corbusier while its contrast of black and white has something of the Florence cathedral. Thumbs up.6.5 Wooden Model of Borromini’s Church of San Carlo alle Quattro Fontane, Switzerland
I love this one so much. I made it into half a point on this list however, firstly because it is a temporary installation dismantled in 2003 (so you can forget your instagram selfie with it). Half-point also because Mario Botta’s architecture already made it on this list, but half a point mainly because it is fundamentally an unfinished work, much like a very long descriptive sentence whose end can be guessed but which…6. Grundsviks Church, Denmark
With its mysterious temper and subtle modernity, this church is definitely underrated. Straddling several styles, this Copenhagen masterpiece has a baroque laying out, Gothic lines and an expressionist signature. Designed in 1913, it is in fact inspired by the traditional style of Danish rural churches: Pale, made of bricks and with little ornamentation. The interior is simple and stripped; it is also the cover of this article.But what particularly distinguishes this building is how well it is integrated into a whole neighborhood which inspires calm just like the church itself. It is as if a segment of the bustling Danish capital had stopped to pray. A beautiful place, in short, that I highly recommend.
How about you? What is your all-time favorite church? Did I commit the mortal sin of forgetting it? I still have time to repent by including your suggestions in the yet to be published second part of this list! :)
Simon-Pierre Poulin
Véritable cascadeur culturel, photographe amateur, juriste à temps partiel et blogueur à ses heures, je ne me contente jamais des sentiers battus. Ma passion pour l’architecture et l’histoire m’amène toujours un peu plus loin. Suivez-moi!