ac464

Hello,
I have a unusual obsession with cathedrals and where ever I go I make sure to see any cathedrals in the area. Out of curiosity, I am wondering what has been your favorite cathedral(s) that you have seen in Europe? And not just the biggest or most famous one, but perhaps lesser known ones.

my list:
Catania Cathedral, Sicily
Segrada Famile, Barcelona
York Cathedral, England
San Magoire, Rome

Powell

Chartres Cathedral in France, a magnificent work.

Not a cathedral but the most magnificent formerly religious site IMO is St. Chapelle in Paris. Listening to a classical music concert here is truly other-worldly.

born2wonder

Stasbourg cathedral. Beautiful lacy, stone work, intricate carvings, made of red brick and stone from the Voges mountains in France.

The cathedral dominates the alstadt of Strasboug like no other cathedral I have seen dominate a town center. The cathedral changes colors as the sun sets. One of those architectural masterpieces you just want to sit and stare at.

Of course it doesn't hurt that the Mason-Kammerzell restaurant is next door serving Alsaces best choucroute. Yum.

grsing

York Minster is probably my favorite, rather closely followed by the Cologne Cathedral and the National Cathedral (in DC, I know it's not in Europe, but you could drop it there and no one would think it out of place).

bardo1

St. Vitus

mr_go

Tough call. The short list includes:
Chartres
Toledo
St. Peter's in Rome
St. Paul's in London
Notre Dame in Paris
San Marco in Venice

But if someone put a gun to my head, I'd probably have to choose the Duomo in Florence. At least, today I would.

PalQ

Sagrada Familia in Barcelona - though it's perhaps a bit too Gaudi!

scottvan

ac464, I share your "obsession" (I prefer "passion"; it sounds less dangerous). It's hard for me to narrow it down since I am impressed by them all in some way or another. But I'll try anyway:

England: Salisbury (complete, cohesive, and surrounded by its own little town-within-a-town)

France: St. Denis (nothing like seeing a true "original" -- the earliest Gothic church)

Not that I've seen every cathedral, of course, but I'm still trying!

missypie

I'm disappointed that no one has "enlightened" you so far on the use of the word "cathedral" (its technical meaning in the Roman Catholic church). Only kidding...it's just that a year or so back when I asked a question about "cathedrals" I was scolded about my broad use of the term.

alanRow

www.durhamcathedral.co.uk

kayd

I don't mean to scold, but there are differences and I'm guessing some Fodorites would appreciate knowing them:

A cathedral is the church from which a bishop presides over a city or region (diocese to Catholics); a basilica a church that is important for some reason (e.g. St Peter's) but is not a cathedral. Of the OP's list I know two are not cathedrals --Sagrada Familia and S. Maria Maggiore (if that's what was meant by San Magoire)

bardo1

missypie,
You're not alone. I was originally to to say my favorite was St. Peter's in Rome but wasn't sure if it was technically a cathedral.

Guy18

San Trophime in Arles is a lesser-known cathedral that will always be a favorite. Dark and austere and wonderful.

San Marco in Venice is, of course, one of a kind. More like Istanbul than Italy.

And I recently fell in love with the Jesuit Church in Luzern (not a cathedral). Like having fallen into a pink and white wedding cake. Lovely.

AnselmAdorne

missypie, I remember that thread.

ac464, another vote for Basilique St-Denis. Suger's choir is beautiful: a double ambulatory, very shallow radiating chapels, and two tall windows in each chapel. Stunning.

If your taste runs to Romanesque, there is a rich seam to be explored in Auvergne. However, in terms of favourites, I love the early Cistercian churches--unadorned, tranquil, and wonderfully proportioned.

Anselm

AnselmAdorne

Guy18, did you have a chance to look at the cloisters while you were at St-Trophime? It's like stepping back into the 13th century.

Anselm

Guy18

I don't remember, Anselm. But that's what I like about that church. It really is medieval in feel. And the reliquaries full of the bones of unknown saints must be part of the reason why.

willit

possibly this thread may be helpful
http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...&tid=57555

I don't think I have seen enough cathedrals to really comment, but of those I have seen Salisbury ranks very highly, as does Monreale near Palermo.

DejaVu

No, St Peter's isn't a cathedral. The Pope as Bishop of Rome has his seat at San Giovanni in Laterano, which IS a cathedral.

I'm glad others beat me to the church/cathedral technicality. ;-)

Call me cliche, but Notre Dame de Paris will always be number one for me. Other churches I enjoy: the Frari in Venice, Santa Maria sopra Minerva in Rome, Santa Croce in Florence.

KE1TH

This post got me thinking about ALL churches/religious sites I've visited on my journeys... some Cathedrals, some Abbeys, some simple village churches.

All are different. One may have beautiful exterior architecture but be spartan on the inside (Duomo of Florence, save the Last Judgement fresco on the dome interior) or plain outside but have a beautiful or important work of art or relic inside (Santo Tome - Toledo). Or a place some would not consider a religious site at all: The Colosseum of Rome....

It would be impossible to choose my favorite.

Although I'm not religious in the least, I still find churches/religious sites fascinating. More for the history I guess.....

Off the top of my head, I've visited the following religious sites whilst in Europe:

St Pauls - London
Westminster Abbey - London
Canterbury Cathedral
Winchester Cathedral
Salisbury Cathedral
Christ Church Cathedral - Oxford
Wells Cathedral
Bath Abbey
Ruins of Glastonbury Abbey
Village church - Lower Slaughter
Village church - Turville (where Vicar of Dibley exteriors were filmed)
Holy Trinity Church - Stratford-Upon-Avon
Liverpool Cathedral
St Giles Cathedral - Edinburgh
Iona Abbey
St Peters - Rome
Pantheon - Rome
Santa Maria Maggiore - Rome
Castel Sant'Angelo - Rome
The Colosseum of Rome
Cathedral of Pisa
Duomo of Florence
Santa Croce - Florence
St Marks - Venice
St Anthony - Padua
Cathedral of Verona
San Vitale - Ravenna
Holy Grotto of the Relevation - Patmos
Monastery of St John the Divine - Patmos
Parthenon - Athens
Temple of Zeus - Athens
Temple of Zeus - Olympia
House of St Mary - Ephesus
Notre Dame - Paris
Sacre Coeur - Paris
Cathedral of Madrid
Cathedral of Toledo
Santo Tome - Toledo
Cathedral of Avila
Convent of St Teresa - Avila
New and Old Cathedral of Salamanca
New and Old Cathedral of Coimbra
Battle Abbey - Batalha Portugal
Basilica of Fatima
Cathedral of Lisbon
Monastery of St Jerome - Lisbon
Cathedral of Sevilla
Basilica de la Macarena - Sevilla
Cathedral of Granada

Plus the following in Morocco:
Kairouine Mosque in Fez
Koutoubia Mosque in Marrakesh
Hassan II Mosque in Casablanca
Ismail Moulay Mosque in Meknes

I'm sure there are a few more that I just cannot remember at the moment.

Keith

Underhill

I have two favorites: Wells Cathedral, in England, and Autun, in France. But my favorite church is that of Ste-Mary Magdelene in Vézelay because of the beautiful light that streams in and the magnificent carvings by the same artist who did the ones at Autun.