The largest Christian church. The Greatest Temples in the World

These grandiose religious buildings are an invaluable cultural and historical heritage. The largest temples in the world impress with their size and height.

The temples presented in our top ten belong to different religions. Every year they are visited not only by hundreds of thousands of Christians, Muslims, Buddhists, but also by tourists who want to take a look at such outstanding architectural sights.

10. Cologne Cathedral, Germany

The highest temple in the world with two identical towers reaches a height of 157.4 meters. At a height of 100 meters there is an observation deck, to which 533 steps lead. About 10 million euros are annually spent from the German treasury on the maintenance of the cathedral.

9. Notre Dame de la Paix, Ivory Coast

This Catholic church was erected in 1989 in the capital of Côte d'Ivoire - Yamoussoukro. The temple is listed in the Guinness Book of Records. The area of ​​the cathedral is 30 thousand square meters. meters, the height of the dome is 158 meters. But in terms of internal capacity, Notre Dame de la Paix is ​​inferior to St. Peter's Cathedral, on the prototype of which it was built.

8. Temple of Heaven, China

The area of ​​the main buildings of this temple is 273 hectares. The two altars are interconnected by the Bridge of Scarlet Steps, 360 meters long. The length of the territory of the Temple of Heaven from north to south is 1200 meters.

7. Lotus Temple, India

This Bahai temple was built in 1986. The huge building of the temple is made of snow-white marble in the shape of a lotus flower. The main hall can accommodate up to 2,500 worshipers. By the beginning of 2002, the number of visitors to the lotus temple had exceeded 50 million.

6. Hassan II Mosque, Morocco

This mosque has the highest minaret in the world - 200 m. The length of the mosque is 183 meters. Among the adjacent buildings, it is worth noting stables, a museum and underground parking for a thousand cars. The construction of the mosque lasted 13 years.

5. Westminster Abbey, UK

This Gothic-style temple surprises with its size. The length of the cathedral is 156.5 meters. The abbey exhibits icons painted by the Russian icon painter Sergei Fedorov. The temple is part of the World Heritage Site.

4. Ulm Cathedral, Germany

The highest Christian church in the world has a height of 161.5 m. The construction of the cathedral was carried out from 1377 to 1890. At an altitude of 143 meters, there is an observation deck popular with locals and tourists.

3. Buddhist Temple Borobudur, Indonesia

The world's largest Buddhist temple began to be built in 800 AD. However, for almost 800 years the temple was abandoned after a major earthquake. Borobudur acquired its modern look in the 20th century. The total volume of the temple is approximately 55 thousand cubic meters. meters.

2. Masjid-ul-Haram Mosque, Saudi Arabia

The largest mosque in the world is located in Mecca. The area of ​​the entire structure, including the mosque and adjacent buildings, is 309 thousand square meters. meters. The temple has 48 entrances. Up to 700 thousand people can pray here at the same time.

1. St. Peter's Basilica, Vatican

The largest Christian church in the world covers an area of ​​22 thousand square meters. meters. The height of the cathedral is 136 meters. At the same time, 60 thousand people can be in the temple. Such masters as Donato Bramante, as well as Raphael and Michelangelo worked on the construction and painting of the cathedral.

At the dawn of the birth of religions, religious buildings began to be erected on the site of ancient temples to offer praise to God and conduct religious rites.

But the significance of temples has become much wider over time, because their design and architectural elements convey an understanding of the universe. Not without reason in the Proto-Slavic languages ​​\u200b\u200bthe word “chormъ” existed - a house, and the ancient Egyptians and Greeks believed that temples were the dwellings of the gods.

Almost all religions have a tradition of erecting religious buildings. So let's look at the buildings of all religions, and find out which is the largest temple in the world, of those that were built both in antiquity and in modern times.

Cologne Cathedral. Germany

The Catholic Cathedral in Cologne, Germany is a vivid example of classical medieval Gothic, and its construction began as early as 1248. It acquired its final form in the 80s of the XIX century.

The height of the towers of a magnificent monument of European architecture reaches 157 meters, which makes it the tallest temple in the world.

Cathedral of Christ the Savior. Russia

Restored in the 90s of the twentieth century in Moscow, the Church of the Savior is today the highest Orthodox church, the height of which is 106 meters.

It was erected according to the project of the architect Konstantin Ton in honor of the Russian soldiers who fell in the war with Napoleon. It was a kind of collective cenotaph (burial without a deceased), on the walls of which the names of the officers who died in the period from 1797 to 1814 were inscribed.

Temple of Saint Sava. Serbia

Built on the model of the Hagia Sophia in Constantinople, the Cathedral of St. Sava in Belgrade is the largest Orthodox church in terms of area.

The handsome man of Orthodox architecture was built in the classical Byzantine style, and the history of its construction is full of drama. The work that began in 1935 was interrupted by the war, then the prohibition of religion in the Soviet period, and it was only now possible to complete the construction.

Notre Dame de la Paix. Ivory Coast

The Basilica of the Blessed Virgin Mary, built in the capital of the state, the city of Yamoussoukro in 1989, was awarded the Guinness Book of Records, due to the fact that it occupies a huge area of ​​​​30 thousand square meters.

The dome of the temple soared into the sky to a height of 158 meters. Despite its impressive size, no more than 18 thousand believers can fit inside the building during worship.

Sky Temple. China

The monumental temple and monastery complex covers an area of ​​267 hectares and is located in the very center of Beijing, and is the largest sanctuary of Buddhism.

The round temple, erected in 1420, was originally called the Temple of Heaven and Earth, but after the construction of a separate religious building of the earth, it received its present name.

Saint Isaac's Cathedral. Russia

The temples of Russia are majestic and cannot but arouse admiration. Built in the first half of the 19th century in St. Petersburg on the site of a wooden church that used to stand here, the cathedral is a classic example of Latin architecture.

Today it is the State Museum, but since 1991 the Orthodox community of the city has received the right to hold services in the cathedral. The height of the building itself is 101 meters 50 centimeters.

Lotus Temple. India

One of the main religious buildings of the Baha'i religions was built in 1986 in New Delhi. The temple stands out not only for its original shape, but also for its enormous size.

The entrance to it is open to people of any religion, so thousands of pilgrims come to see this miracle of architecture.

Buddhist temple Borobudur. Indonesia

The most unique and architecturally unusual religious building began to be built in the early Middle Ages in 800. But for a long period of time it was abandoned, and restored only in the twentieth century.

The Buddhist shrine, consisting of multiple architectural elements and sculptural objects, has become a major attraction for pilgrimage and tourism.

Mosque Masjid-ul-Haram. Saudi Arabia

In the main shrine for all Muslims, 700 thousand people can pray at once. Every Muslim must make a pilgrimage to Mecca at least once in his life, because the mosque was built in such a large size.

In the center of the courtyard is the main shrine of Islam - the Kaaba, and the mosque itself is designed for collective prayers.

Saint Paul's Cathedral. Vatican

In the photo: St. Peter's Basilica - the largest temple in the world

For a long time, the building served as a church, and with the rise of the popes, it became their main residence. Up to 60 thousand believers can be inside the cathedral at the same time, more than 400 thousand more freely fit on the square in front of the cathedral.

Summarizing

As you can see, the highest and largest religious buildings are really real architectural monuments. Architects of the past and modern masters put not only all their skills, but also their souls into the construction of these majestic buildings.

Cathedral of Christ the Savior

height: 103 meters

Saint Isaac's Cathedral

height: 101.5 meters

Transfiguration Cathedral

height: 96 meters

The Transfiguration 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 church in Russia after the Cathedral of Christ the Savior in Moscow and St. Isaac's Cathedral in St. Petersburg, as well as the tallest building in 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 over 40 meters. The temple was designed by architects Yuri Zhivetiev, Nikolai Prokudin and Evgeny Semyonov. The frescoes inside the temple (on the dome of the Almighty Savior and the Apostles) were made by a group of Moscow artists, specially invited to Khabarovsk on this occasion by Bishop Mark of Khabarovsk and Amur. Spaso-Preobrazhensky Cathedral is able to simultaneously receive three thousand parishioners.

Smolny Cathedral

height: 93.7 meters

Smolny Cathedral of the Resurrection of Christ (Smolny Cathedral) is part of the architectural ensemble of the Smolny Monastery, which is located in St. Petersburg on the left bank of the Neva on Smolnaya Embankment. It is also a concert venue for classical music.
According to the layout of the ensemble of the Smolny Monastery (stored in the Museum of the Academy of Arts), a high 140-meter five-tiered bell tower was to be built. Thus, the height of this bell tower by 18 meters would exceed 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 as a triumphal arch - the main entrance to the monastery, the second - the gate church, and the belfries were to be located in the remaining three. The bell tower was to be completed by a small turret 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 at the behest of Rastrelli himself, and not because of a lack of funds (the construction of the bell tower was suspended in 1756, before Russia entered the Seven Years' War), although both of these facts could become decisive.

and here is the layout of "Smolny"

Alexander Nevsky New Fair Cathedral

height: 87 meters

The Cathedral of the Holy Prince Alexander Nevsky (Novoyarmarochny) is an Orthodox cathedral (since 2009) in Nizhny Novgorod. It was built in 1868-1881 according to the project of the architect L.V. Dahl.
In the protruding western vestibule, on the choirs of the large cathedral, there is the winter church of Macarius Zheltovodsky and Unzhensky.
In 1856, the fair merchants expressed a desire to build a second Orthodox fair temple in memory of Emperor Alexander II's visit to the fair and applied for the construction of a new cathedral to Bishop Anthony of Nizhny Novgorod, who, in turn, to Governor A. N. Muravyov. Donations were collected. The necessary funds (454 thousand 667 rubles 28 kopecks) were collected over 10 years.
On September 8, 1864, a symbolic laying of a stone in the foundation of 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 that, 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 project of the church was approved by the government. The authorship of the government-approved project has not yet been established precisely. In 1866, L. V. Dal returned to Nizhny Novgorod for permanent residence from abroad and finalized the design of the cathedral.

Blagoveshchensky cathedral

height: 85 meters

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

Savior on Spilled Blood

height: 81 meters

The Cathedral of the Resurrection of Christ on Blood or the Church of the Savior on Blood in St. Petersburg is an Orthodox memorial single-altar church in the name of the Resurrection of Christ; It was built in memory of the fact that on this place on March 1, 1881, as a result of an assassination attempt, Emperor Alexander II was mortally wounded (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 from all over Russia.
It is located in the historical center of St. Petersburg on the banks of the Griboedov Canal next to the Mikhailovsky Garden and Konyushennaya Square, not far from the Field of Mars. The height of the nine-domed temple is 81 m, the capacity is 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 a 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 build a temporary chapel.
The project was entrusted to the architect L. N. Benois. The work was carried out quickly, so that on April 17, 1881, the chapel was consecrated and commemorative requiems began to be held in it. It cost practically nothing to the Duma: it was installed 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 beginning of the construction of the temple - 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) - Orthodox Cathedral on Trinity Square in the Admiralteysky district of St. Petersburg. The full name is the Cathedral of the Holy Life-Giving Trinity of the Life Guards of the Izmailovsky Regiment.
The parish of the temple belongs to the St. Petersburg diocese of the Russian Orthodox Church, is part of the Admiralty deanery district. Rector - 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 church. At the same time, the old wooden church should have remained a model.
The laying of the new church was made on May 13 (25), 1828 by Metropolitan Seraphim (Glagolevsky). The celebration was attended by Empress Maria Feodorovna and Tsarevich Alexander Nikolaevich. The construction was carried out at the personal expense of Emperor Nicholas I and government money. The cost of building the cathedral was 3 million rubles. Four years later, the building was rough 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 rewrite some of the images.

Trinity Cathedral

height: 78 meters

The Holy Trinity Cathedral in Pskov is an Orthodox church, the cathedral of the Pskov and Velikoluksky diocese. It is part of the architectural ensemble of the Pskov Krom and is its main building.
Today's fourth building of the cathedral was built in 1699, in the same place where the previous temples 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, according to church legend, was founded in 1138 by the holy noble prince Vsevolod Mstislavich.
In 1363 the vault of the temple collapsed and in 1365 a new cathedral was laid on the old foundation. In 1609, during a strong fire, a gunpowder warehouse exploded in the Kremlin, and the third building of the cathedral was destroyed by the blast wave. In 1699, the construction of the fourth cathedral, which has survived to this day, was completed.

Nikolo-Ugreshsky Monastery

height: 77 meters

Nikolo-Ugresh Monastery is an Orthodox male stauropegial monastery. Located at the address: Moscow region, mountains. Dzerzhinsky, St. Nicholas Square, 1 (m. 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 Kulikov field. The appearance of the icon strengthened Dmitry Donskoy with faith and hope, which is why the Holy Blessed Prince said “This is all sinning my heart” (“It 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 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. The remains of the Don atamans M. I. Platov, V. V. Orlov-Denisov, I. E. Efremov, Ya. P. Baklanov are buried here.
After the Ruski brothers left Russia in 1818, the construction of the cathedral was continued by the architect Amvrosimov. In 1846, during the reduction of the main dome, part of the temple suddenly collapsed. The same thing happened in 1863 with the second version of the cathedral, built according to the project of I. O. Valprede.
Initially, all the domes of the cathedral were covered with pure 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 times, the gilded copper coating was removed from the domes, instead the temple was to be covered with sheets of iron, but this was not done for a long time and the building was constantly exposed to the elements of nature - it was flooded, covered with snow, and the heating system was also disabled. In 1903-1923 the priest-martyr Zacharias (Lobov) was the dean of the cathedral. 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. In 2001, large-scale restoration work began. 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 facade of the building was successfully completed. A system of lighting and projections of biblical scenes on the facade is 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, designed by architect Oleg Kopylov. Designed for 3,000 people. Height (up to the cross) reaches 73 meters. The temple is located on the central square of Kaliningrad - Victory Square. The temple was built in the style of Vladimir-Suzdal temple architecture.
It has been under construction since 1995 (the foundation stone has been installed). In 1996, the President of Russia B. Yeltsin and Metropolitan Kirill laid a capsule with earth taken from the Moscow Cathedral of Christ the Savior at the base of the building. The construction was actively promoted by the governor of the region 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 of military glory and is a memorial temple in memory of Russian soldiers who died in the Seven Years' War, Napoleonic Wars, World War I and World War II in East Prussia, the current Kaliningrad region.

Religious communities of the world staged a tacit competition, which of them will be able to 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 dragged on for centuries. This review helps to find out which is the largest church in the world?

1. Ulm Cathedral, Germany (161.5 m)

The laying of this grandiose temple took place in 1377. The construction, which was led by Ulrich von Enzingen, began in 1392, and already in 1405 it was basically completed, after which the church was consecrated and regular services began to be held there. Although at that moment the construction had to be interrupted due to the miscalculations of the architect - the side aisles 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 the Lutherans.
Already under the Lutherans in 1530-1543, construction was finally continued, and then its spire rose 100 meters. After that, 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, 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 customary since medieval times. And they call this church a "cathedral" solely because of 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 at once. It is located on the Black Continent, and in fact there only a fifth of the population is Christian. We are used to seeing such buildings in old Europe, which has a lot of majestic Gothic. But in 1983, President Felix Bouani decided to move the country's capital to the city of Yamoussoukro and build this majestic 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, the face of Buani is also visible.
The construction of the basilica lasted from 1985 to 1989, and it cost the treasury 300 million dollars. But although North Dame de la Paix surpasses the famous St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican in area and height, its interior space turned out to be much more modest - it can accommodate no more than 18 thousand believers, while in the main Catholic church this number 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. He was promised 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 the hospital did not exist, and still does not exist.

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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 for most it is known simply as Cologne Cathedral. It serves as a global reference 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 dominants 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 fell on the years 1248-1437, and the second - 1842-1880.
The exterior and interiors of the temple have a typical Gothic style. Particular attention is drawn to the largest choirs in Germany, where 104 singers can sing. There are also two armchairs in the temple, always free during worship: one of them is intended for the Pope, and the other for the Emperor. Here is also the famous relic - the cancer of the three kings (Magi) - a golden sarcophagus, which contains the ashes of the very three Magi who, judging by the Bible, brought gifts to the newborn Christ in Bethlehem. For Christians, this is an incredibly attractive object for pilgrimage; every year millions of believers come to pray to them in the Cologne Cathedral.

4. Rouen Cathedral, France (151 m)

Notre Dame Cathedral is located in the ancient French city, it has become a monument of the country's national heritage. Until the completion of the Cologne Cathedral in 1880, it was Rouen Cathedral that was the tallest building in the world. It is clear that he still holds the title of the highest 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 in 1145. In 1944, it was almost completely burned out as a result of the bombing, only stone walls remained.
The South Oil Tower is much younger (1485). The current nave of the church appeared in 1200, because the previous Romanesque nave collapsed as a result of a fire. Among the original architecture, only the northern portal of John the Theologian has survived, which depicts scenes from the life of John the Baptist and John the Theologian. After 1769, the portal was repeatedly restored. And two more portals in the 16th century were badly damaged. The archbishop's palace, which is 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 the five Lutheran churches in Hamburg and the second tallest building in this city after the memorial to the victims of the arbitrariness 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. Centuries-old construction was completed only in 1874 under the leadership of the Englishman George Scott. 2 more years after the completion of construction, the church was the tallest building in the world.
In 1943, massive bombardments hit the port of Hamburg, as a result of which only the tower remained from the temple. The church continued to crumble after the war (1951). Only in 1990, its restoration began, managed by the "Salvation of 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 up 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 the French city of Strasbourg, has been 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 the ancient Roman temple used to be. During the construction, red Vosges sandstone was used. The construction of the cathedral began in 1015, and over the following centuries it was repeatedly transformed and completed. The east wing of the building, the choir stalls and the south portal are built in the Romanesque style, while the nave and the famous west facade, which is decorated with thousands of sculptures, are recognized as Gothic masterpieces. Due to the unfinished south tower, the cathedral looks asymmetrical.

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7. Basilica of the Blessed Virgin of Lichen, Lichen Stary, Poland (141.5 m)

This basilica has become a spiritual symbol of the new revival of Poland and the largest church in this country. Contrary to tradition, this church was built in just 10 years (1994-2004) in the Polish village of Likhen-Stary, and an extensive architectural and park complex spread around it. The place 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 from afar you can see the impressive dome of the basilica covered with gold (height 45 m, diameter 25 m). It is supported by a two-level reinforced concrete colonnade supported by 4 reinforced concrete pillars. 7,000 sitting or 10,000 standing parishioners can pray in the temple, and there is enough space for 250,000 people in the square in front of the basilica.

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 increased to its current size during the 13th-15th centuries, until it acquired its modern look in 1511.
The bombings of World War II, fortunately, did not affect him, as did the offensive of the Red Army. It was later plundered and set on fire by marauders. A group of volunteers restored the base of the cathedral in 1948, but the restoration work here has not stopped to this day. Catacombs were dug under the building, in which the dead were buried in the era of Charles VI, who forbade the burial of the dead in the old cemeteries located within the city. To this day, the highest representatives of the clergy are 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 capacity - 20,000 people. Its Gothic-style construction began in 1855 under the patronage of Bishop Franz Josef Rudiger. True, the first stone was laid only in 1862. After construction was completed in 1924, the church was consecrated by Bishop Johannes Maria Gfollner. It is noteworthy that this cathedral has 5 chapels, each of which is decorated with marble altars and beautiful marble statues. Some of the stained glass windows were damaged during the last war, especially the southern portal of the cathedral. They were never restored in their original form, and stained-glass windows on modern themes appeared instead.

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

This main Catholic temple of the world is the pearl of all Rome. The basilica was named so because, according to legend, under it is the tomb of the Apostle Peter. Inside this grandiose temple, many large European temples could fit entirely. The height of the dome of the basilica, crowned with a cross, is 136 meters. No building should be built above it in Rome. The 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.

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

4. The fourth largest, immortalized by Claude Monet, Rouen Cathedral in France. Its construction was started in 1020, height - 151 meters

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

7. Located in Poland The Basilica of the Blessed Mary of the Virgin of Lichen, its height is only half a meter lower than the 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 rest of the second five cathedrals, but in terms of area it is one of the largest in the world.

As an addition, I want to add another cathedral to this list, which impressed me a lot. This 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. In addition, it is one of the longest cathedrals in the world, with a main nave 124 meters long.