Top 10 Churches and Temples
Follow along as Bethany explores her top 10 cathedrals, churches, and temples from her seven river and ocean cruises.
To date, I have had the pleasure of taking five river cruises and two ocean cruises in Europe, Asia, and South America. Along the way, I have done several excursions with visits to cathedrals, churches, temples, and other religious sights. Here is the top 10 list of my favorite religious sights.
At the end of each section is a button(s) with a link to the blog post(s) that cover the full experience. The buttons are color-coded to represent the cruise where the experience occurred:
1. Angkor Wat Temples, Siem Reap
What I Did
On the first full day in Siem Reap, we set off in tuk-tuks to explore the first of four temples on the itinerary. Angkor Wat is the best preserved and most famous of all the temples, and it features five trademark towers. Angkor Wat is the largest religious monument in the world and was built in the early 12th century. It was constructed as a Hindu temple but gradually transformed into a Buddhist temple.
After exploring Angkor Wat, we walked across the floating bridge to the Bayon Temple at Angkor Thom. Built in the late 12th or early 13th century, it has 200 striking faces carved into 54 towers. There are also many impressive bas relief sculptures throughout the complex.
The second full day in Siem Reap kicked off at another temple, Ta Prohm, built in late 12th and early 13th century in the Bayon style. At this temple large trees have grown in, through, and over the structures, giving it an atmospheric and mystical feeling. Parts of the movie “Tomb Raider” were filmed here. While Angkor Wat is the most famous of the temples here in Siem Reap, Ta Prohm is unquestionably my favorite of the four temples.
The last of the four temples we visited in Siem Reap was Banteay Srei. This is the smallest of the four, in both overall area as well as the size of the buildings. Built in the 10th century, this temple is dedicated to the Hindu god Shiva. Most of this temple is gorgeous red sandstone with elaborate carvings.
Why I Loved It
Visiting these four different temples over two days was an amazing start to my Mekong River cruise. It was very interesting to see how very different each of these four temples is. Simply soaking in all of the history in each temple was wonderful. The intricate details were also fascinating to see up close. Pictures definitely do not do these temples justice! These are perfect examples of places that you must in person to fully appreciate.
2. Kölner Dom (Cologne Cathedral), Cologne
What I Did
I enjoyed a tour of the striking Kölner Dom (Cologne Cathedral). This Gothic Catholic cathedral stands an impressive 515 feet (157 m) tall, which makes it the tallest twin-spired church in the world, the second tallest church in Europe, and the third tallest church of any kind in the world. Construction began in 1248. It has gone through several renovations and restorations since then.
Why I Loved It
This vast cathedral is absolutely stunning inside and out. The sheer size of this cathedral is amazing. I loved first walking around the entire perimeter of the vast building, to better see and experience both the size and the beauty of it. Exploring the interior of the building is also amazing.
3. The Little Chapel, St. Peter Port
What I Did
This quaint chapel was originally built in 1914 by Brother Déodat and measured 9 feet long by 4.5 feet wide. Upon receiving criticism from his fellow brothers, he demolished it shortly after it was constructed. He built a second chapel later that year, this one measuring 9 feet long by 6 feet wide. The second chapel was demolished in 1923, when the Bishop of Portsmouth visited but could not fit through the door! The third and current version was constructed soon after the second demolition, and it measures in at 16 feet by 9 feet. There is room for about eight people at one time inside! It is decorated with seashells, pebbles, glass, buttons, figurines, and broken china.
Why I Loved It
This is by far the most unique church I have ever visited! The very small size of the building itself makes it an interesting place to visit. But exploring the quirky interiors and seeing the intricate details of the decorations on every single surface is amazing. It is absolutely gorgeous inside and out!
4. Grossmünster & Fraumünster, Zurich
What I Did
There are many churches in Zurich, but the two most iconic ones are Grossmünster and Fraumünster, which are directly across the Limmat River from each other. I first visited Grossmünster (German for “Great Minster” or “Great Church”), which is a beautiful Protestant church. Its prominent twin spires are widely recognized and make it one of the most recognized landmarks in Zurich. Construction of this church began around 1100. It was eventually inaugurated around 1220.
A short walk on a bridge crossing the river took me to my next stop, Fraumünster (German for “Women’s Minster” or “Women’s Church”). This church is built on the remains of a former abbey for aristocratic women. A church has stood on this site since 853. One of the most striking features of this church is the series of five large stained-glass windows designed by artist Marc Chagall. These windows are in the choir of the abbey and were installed in 1970. Each of the five depicts a biblical story and has a dominant color. Unfortunately, photography of the windows from inside is not allowed! There is also a large pipe organ here with 6,959 pipes, which makes it the largest pipe organ in the canton of Zurich.
Why I Loved It
These are two very traditional churches, and it was interesting to visit them both in one afternoon. The Chagall stained-glass windows are, of course, a definite highlight here. But the churches themselves are both very beautiful and worth spending time exploring.
5. Metropolitan Cathedral, Buenos Aires
What I Did
One of the buildings in Plaza de Mayo is the Metropolitan Cathedral. From the exterior, it appears more like a government building or perhaps a courthouse. But inside is a gorgeous cathedral. The floors are intricate and colorful tile mosaics. The main alter is gorgeous gold. There are several other small altars and other displays tucked into several small rooms along the sides of the cathedral. The cathedral is also home to the flag-draped mausoleum of José de San Martín, an Argentine general known as the Liberator of Argentina, Chile, and Peru.
Why I Loved It
This is another absolutely stunning cathedral. While the exterior is different than most cathedrals (I honestly didn’t believe my guide when she pointed to it and said that was the cathedral we were going to visit!), the interior is very beautiful. There are so many gorgeous details inside this cathedral, and it is worthwhile to take some time and really explore all of the nooks and crannies here.
6. Church of Nossa Senhora D’Ajuda, Ilhabela
What I Did
The quaint church of Nossa Senhora D’Ajuda was built in 1549. They used crushed shells to make the material used to build the walls of the church. There are several beautiful paintings on the walls and ceilings of the church. The ornate altar is also gorgeous, with its striking cobalt blue color. There are also several smaller vignettes along the walls of the church, honoring various saints and other religious figures. I also saw a lot of the Portuguese influence here, with the same decorative azulejos (colorful ceramic tiles) that are everywhere in Lisbon.
Why I Loved It
This church is one of the more pared-down churches I have visited. It is generally smaller in stature than many other churches. The interior is also more simplistic than other churches I have visited. But make no mistake, the beauty of this church definitely shines through! I really enjoyed spending some quiet time in this church, simply taking in the beautiful architecture.
7. Engelszell Abbey, Engelhartszell
What I Did
The morning excursion in Engelhartszell began at the Engelszell Abbey. This gorgeous Rococo church has a 249-foot tower, an opulent high altar, and enchanting frescoes. We got to tour the inside of the beautiful abbey, which was built between 1754 and 1764. The interior is decorated with valuable works of art by many renowned artists, including Johann Georg Üblher, Joseph Deutschmann and Bartolomeo Altomonte.
Why I Loved It
I was amazed by the Rococo styling of this church. It is unlike any other church I have visited. The pastel colors inside the abbey are a stark contrast to the typically dark and somber colors in other churches. The artwork throughout the abbey is also fantastic and worth spending some time exploring.
8. Buddhist Temple, Oknha Tei
What I Did
The first stop in Oknha Tei was a short walk through the village to a Buddhist temple. Whereas the Engelszell Abbey is decorated with calm, pastel colors, this Buddhist temple is a wonderful riot of bright, primary colors. Every possible inch of the interior is covered in bright paintings, murals, and other decorations. After exploring the vibrant and colorful temple we received a traditional water blessing, given by local monks.
Why I Loved It
This is the first Buddhist temple I have visited, and I really enjoyed it. I loved learning a bit more about the Buddhist faith and practices here. Getting a traditional water blessing was also a first for me.
9. St. Vitus Cathedral, Prague
What I Did
One of the most beautiful buildings in the Prague Castle complex is the St. Vitus Cathedral. This beautiful Gothic cathedral is actually the third of a series of religious buildings at the site. Each of the buildings has been dedicated to St. Vitus. The first church was built in 930. Construction on the current cathedral started in 1344. We had an opportunity to explore the vast and beautiful interior of the cathedral. The stained-glass windows, in particular, are spectacular.
Why I Loved It
This cathedral is vast and grand and gorgeous in all the right ways. If you’re looking for a traditional European cathedral, this one definitely fits the bill. As with other large cathedrals I have visited, here I was in awe of the sheer size and scope of the building. The attention to detail throughout the interior and exterior is also fascinating to see.
10. Metropolitan Cathedral, Rio de Janeiro
What I Did
The Metropolitan Cathedral is a modern Roman Catholic church designed in the shape of a pyramid. The architect was using both the Mayan pyramids and the Apollo space capsule as inspirations for this building. While the exterior is fairly nondescript, the interior is rather stunning. There are four huge stained-glass panels, in bold primary colors, that soar from the floor all the way to the open top of the building.
Why I Loved It
The beauty of this cathedral is amazing! The unique shape and structure here is very interesting. The soaring stained-glass panels are gorgeous. This is another place where I was glad to have a few moments of free time to simply sit and soak everything in.
Conclusion
Honestly, I do not actively practice religion of any kind or form. I was not raised with religion and have not chosen to take it up in my adult life. Having said that, though, I will be the first to admit that I absolutely love to visit religious sites while I am traveling. To me, it is so interesting to see both the differences and the similarities from building to building, from religion to religion, and from country to country.
Links
Curious about what some of my other favorite experiences are? Click the button below to check out my other ‘Top 10’ lists:
Want to learn more about my experiences on each of the cruises covered in this post? Click the buttons below for the full pages for each of the cruises:
Interested in booking your own fabulous cruise? Click the buttons below for further information about Avalon and Azamara cruises:
