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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 familiarize yourself with the highest and great 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. In second place is the Cathedral of Notre Dame de la Paix in Côte d'Ivoire. The grandest and most enormous building with an interesting and extremely sad history ... Its height, together with the cross, is 158 meters. In addition to 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 Gothic cathedral - the Cologne Cathedral in the city of Cologne of the same name. The cathedral was built for 632 years, which is not surprising, given its scope. 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 facade in the world

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

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

7. Located in Poland basilica Holy Mary Mother of God 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.

For many centuries, millions of people have worked to create huge structures. Builders worked in quarries, carvers sharpened stones, workers dragged them from place to place. As a result, pyramids, mosques, temples and churches appeared. After all, most often the largest buildings were intended to worship the gods. So how far have the builders succeeded? Here are the largest temples in the world.

The Greatest Temples in the World

One of the largest temples in the world is called the Cathedral of Seville (or the Cathedral of Maria de la Side). It is located in Andalusia, and is the pride and perhaps the main attraction of Spain. Five centuries have already passed since the founding of the temple, but it still amazes tourists with its huge size and architectural splendor. It is already generally accepted that the Seville Cathedral is the largest Gothic cathedral on the planet.

Some experts say that it is the largest Catholic church in the world in terms of cubage. And even ahead of St. Peter's in the Vatican and St. Paul's in England. Moreover, in the temple of Seville is the most expensive altar of all Gothic. To decorate it, 3 tons of gold were spent.

On the classical examples that are present in the royal cathedrals different countries(France for example), the architectural plan of the Seville Cathedral is not similar. It has its own, original and unique architecture. The temple is a spacious huge hall with a rectangular base, which, by the way, is based on the foundation of an Arab mosque. In total, the length of the structure, which consists of 5 naves, is 126 meters. The central nave, as well as side aisles and chapels, are located between the retaining walls. They provide a width that no other church has - 82 meters.

The choir and main chapel of one of the largest temples in the world are located in the central nave, this is to the west and east of the central dome. This arrangement gives the nave the appearance of a separate structure, which, in its form and luxury, resembles a treasury. It is worth noting that the expansions in the cathedral were carried out in various styles, but mostly in the Renaissance style. For example, we can note the Royal Chapel, the Hall of the Chapter, the Main Sacristy. Later, an administrative part built in the Spanish Baroque style appeared in the southwestern part of the temple.

The largest Orthodox church in the world

It is worthy to bear the status of the largest Orthodox church in Europe and the world, the Church of St. Sava of Serbia. It is located in Belgrade. He is not so old, by the standards of record holders. It was designed only at the end of the 19th century, and began to cost in 1935. However, due to the Second World War and the further deplorable economic situation, construction was postponed. As a result, the temple was officially opened only in 2004.

From west to east, the structure stretched for 91 meters, from south to north for 81 meters. And this is much larger than the famous Cathedral of Christ the Savior in Moscow. Most big temple in the world is visible from anywhere in Belgrade, as it stands at an altitude of about 135 meters above sea level. And the cross on the dome increases its height by 12 meters.

The magnificent cathedral is made in the Serbian-Byzantine style. And the temple was built exactly on the spot where, at the end of the 16th century, the Ottoman invaders burned the relics of St. Sava of Serbia. The huge cathedral, by the way, can simultaneously accommodate 10 thousand believers, as well as a choir of 800 singers.

The largest religious building in the world

Another sanctuary that is on the list of the largest temples in the world is the temple of Angkor Wat or, as it is also called, Angkorvoat. This is the largest Hindu temple complex which is located in Cambodia. It is dedicated to the god Vishnu and is one of the largest religious buildings that have ever been created by man. Moreover, Angkorvoat is perhaps the most important archaeological site in the world.

The largest temple in Cambodia - Angkor Wat

Angkor Wat was built in the first half of the 12th century, during the reign of King Suryavarman II. Now the complex is included in the UNESCO list.

One of the largest temples in the world is located 5.5 kilometers north of the city of Siem Reap in Cambodia. And it is a whole temple complex. Previously, this place was the ancient capital of the state of the Khmers, the city of Angkor. It occupies approximately 200 square meters of area. Recent studies have shown that the area of ​​the city could actually be approximately 3,000 square meters. The population of Angkor reached half a million inhabitants. Thanks to this figure, the city became one of the largest human settlements of the pre-industrial era.

Angkor Wat is dedicated to the god Vishnu, but if you look at the architecture of the temple, it combines the typology of the Hindu temple-mountain. It represents the mythical Mount Meru (this is the abode of the gods) and the typology of galleries that were characteristic of later architecture.

The second in the ranking of the largest temples in the world consists of three concentric structures in the form of rectangles. Their height increases towards the center. Along the perimeter, the buildings are surrounded by an almost two-meter wall, as well as a moat with water. It is over 3.5 kilometers long and almost 200 meters wide. Inside the building there are five towers created in the shape of a lotus. The central tower rises to 42 meters. Well, the total height of the temple is 65 meters.

In the 15th century, this perhaps the largest temple in the world was abandoned. For European civilization it was opened in 1860. And now Angkor Wat is painted on the coat of arms and the national flag of Cambodia.

The largest temple in the world

The largest temple in the world is located near the city of Luxor, on the east bank of the Nile, this is Upper Egypt. The colossal Temple of Amun began to be built four thousand years ago. Since it is located in the village of Karnak, the complex was named Karnak.

The largest temple - Karnak Temple

By the way, several millennia ago, on the site of a modest Karnak was the capital of Egypt, the largest city of Thebes. And here the first stone of the temple was laid. It was completed and supplemented for many centuries by various rulers who have ever been on the throne. Dozens of generations have contributed to the appearance of the temple. Thousands of slaves who were captured during the battles worked at the construction site. By the way, the largest temple explains its name simply - the sun god Amon is the most revered god among the ancient Egyptians.

The Temple of Amun consists of three parts. The first part is dedicated to the God Amon, the second part is dedicated to his wife, the patroness of the queens Mut, and the third part is dedicated to the son of Amon, the god of the Moon.

In each of the three zones of the Temple there are huge columns. And there are hundreds of them here. The columns, as well as the walls of the temple, are generously covered with images of scenes from the life of the pharaohs. By the way, every king who ruled in Egypt supplemented the largest temple in the world with his buildings. For example, Thutmose the First decorated the complex with obelisks and statues that depict him in the form of the god Osiris. And Thutmose the Third built the Annals Hall and the Jubilee Temple. Stories about military campaigns and victories are glorified on the walls.
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An absentee dispute between many Christian communities over large and beautiful temples 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 majestic structures. Some buildings 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. The construction of the cathedral began in the distant 1935, and ended only in 1986. But in 2004, the church was finally opened, and the interior decoration had not yet been completed. The design got its name in honor of the founder of the Serbian Orthodox Church Saint Sava.

Basilica de Nuestra Señora del Pilar

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

Church of the Holy Trinity

This church could not miss our rating. She is in eighth place. The building is located in Portugal, in the city of Fatima. Its structure covers an area of ​​8700 square meters. The church, on the other hand, has a rather unusual architecture, which distinguishes it from the rest of the temples in our top. The building is quite low and has laconic simple forms. Here you will not find turrets and a Gothic facade, which usually attract tourists.

Liverpool Cathedral

The cathedral is located in the UK, in the city of Liverpool. Its area is 9687 meters. This English church should be called not only the largest, but also the highest 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. In 1904, the foundation was laid, 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 Likhen Stary. Its area has 10090 square meters. And to the very interesting facts it must be attributed that the building is located in a village where only 1100 inhabitants live. But against the backdrop of 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 is ranked 4th. Milan Cathedral boasts an area of ​​10186 square meters. It was built from white marble. In the city, the church is considered the main attraction. In our rating, this church is considered the oldest, because it began to be built in 1386. But construction was completed 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 11200 square meters. In 1892, they only began to build it. 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 can be traced in the interior decoration and in appearance the cathedral is not only the Byzantine-Roman style, but also the new Gothic.

Seville Cathedral

The honorable third place is occupied by this building in Italy. As the name suggests, the cathedral is located in the city of Seville. Some locals also call such a cathedral Maria de la Sede. The area occupies 11520 square meters. At the beginning of the 16th century, they began to build this building, 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 has 12,000 square meters. In fact, the structure 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

The Vatican is home to the largest cathedral in the world. Almost everyone has heard of him. 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

Religious communities of the world staged a tacit competition, which of them will be able to build the most beautiful and largest temple. These churches later became architectural masterpieces attracting crowds of tourists. Most majestic temples were created by great architects of different eras, and their construction sometimes stretched 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 same 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 most high 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 St. Nicholas Church has become 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 Poland's new renaissance and the most large temple 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. 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 foundations of the cathedral in 1948, but to this day restoration work do not stop here. 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)

Cathedral 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.

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

These include the French cathedral at Rouen and the grandiose basilica at Yamoussoukro, the capital of the West African country of Côte d'Ivoire. The article provides short description, history and photographs of the tallest cathedral in the world, as well as four churches that are slightly inferior to him in this championship.

Ulm Cathedral

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

After the renewed construction of 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 still remains. The last stage of construction work took place from 1817 to 1890, after which the completed temple with its openwork tent of the bell tower became the tallest cathedral in the world. During the bombing by American aircraft in 1944, the city turned into ruins, but the building remained untouchable and was not damaged at all. Its magnificent architecture and interior design invariably attract many tourists to Ulm, which is not rich in sights.

Notre Dame de la Paix

This 158-meter basilica lacks a little more than four meters to be revered as the tallest cathedral in the world. But the 30,000 sq. meters is considered the largest church on the planet, which is 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 Mother of God Mira, the church became a copy of the Roman Cathedral of St. Peter, surpassing it in height and area, as well as striving to compete with the main temple of the Vatican 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-Boignype. From the beginning of construction in 1985 to its completion in 1989, about 300 million US dollars were spent, which doubled the republic's external debt per capita, exceeding the similar indicators of all African countries.

It is curious that the consecration of the cathedral took place after the completion of its construction in 1989. At the request of the president to consecrate the temple, the Pope put forward a condition: a state hospital should be built near Notre Dame de la Paix. After the president's promise to build a hospital, the pontiff himself laid a stone next to the completed church, which served as the foundation for 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 give the cathedral the honorary position of a minor basilica.

Cologne Cathedral

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

In 1248, the first stone was laid by the Archbishop of Cologne, which marked the founding of the cathedral. This was followed by 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 Riehl, the first and main architect of the Cologne Cathedral. Separate work on the installation of the roof continued until the beginning of the 16th century. However, the cathedral was without towers, and a number of works remained unfinished.

Financing and construction resumed from 1842, and in 1863 the construction of two identical towers began. By mid-October 1880, they were completed and reached a height of 157 meters. On this, the construction of the Cologne Cathedral, which as a whole lasted 632 years, was completely completed. The building is included in the UNESCO cultural heritage list, it impresses 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. History of Rouen cathedral marked by a series of destruction and restoration. Among the most tall churches planet, this structure, perhaps, can be called the most ancient.

The construction of the Romanesque building began in the 1020s; the crypt has been preserved from the architecture of those times. The Romanesque nave collapsed after a fire, and after 1200 a new, Gothic one 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. In the XVIII century, significant damage was caused by a strong hurricane. But the largest destruction was caused by air strikes on the city during military operations in the spring of 1944. The most ancient element of the Rouen Cathedral was the tower of Saint-Romain built in 1145, from which, after the bombardment on April 1, only the charred walls of the base remained. An explosion on 19 April severely damaged the chapels and nave, and the north tower burned out on 31 May. The last damage to the building was the damage to the bell tower after the December 1999 storm. Due to the frequent destruction of the temple is subject to constant reconstruction. Today, the current Rouen Cathedral is a monument of French national heritage.

Cathedral of Saint Nicholas

Majority architecture Christian churches includes bell towers, spiers and towers. The vertical dimensions of the temples are mainly indicated by their height. The tallest cathedrals in the world include a 147-meter tower in the German city of Hamburg. She belonged Lutheran church St. Nicholas, the ruins of which have been preserved since war times as a reminder of the victims of the arbitrariness of 1933-1945. Inside the tower there is an elevator that takes you up to the observation deck, located under the very spire. And nearby in the pavilion 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 among the tallest cathedrals 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. Once Russian tsars were buried in it, now it is an inactive temple and an architectural monument. Until the middle of the last century, the cathedral was the highest building in Russia, and until 2012 - in St. Petersburg. Among the active Orthodox (103 m) in Moscow is considered to be the highest today. After it follows Saint Isaac's Cathedral(101.5 m) in St. Petersburg.