The Nieuwe Kerk anchors one end of Delft’s main square, Markt. You can’t miss the church’s soaring 100-meter spire. Climb to the top for vast views over the flat Dutch region. I did not bother going to the top since it was grey and snowy, but it apparently offers an enticing view on clear days. […]
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La Madeleine, Paris
A great way to experience European churches and palaces is to attend classical concerts. Listening to masterful compositions in ornate, historical surroundings is both transporting and relaxing. For me, it’s a bit of time travel, even if the time periods don’t match up. Recently, we heard a concert at La Madeleine. L’Église de la Madeleine […]
Église Saint-Martin, Colmar
Église Saint-Martin is a striking 14th-century Gothic church that dominates the center of Colmar. The church is built of red and gold stones and is in the shape of a Latin cross. The Renaissance crown over the bell tower was added in the 16th century, following a fire. The current structure was built on the […]
Église Sainte-Croix, Kaysersberg
Kaysersberg’s red sandstone church, Église Sainte-Croix, is right in the middle of town. It was built between the 13th and 16th centuries. The 13th-century west portal was built in Romanesque style, with arches and semicircular rows of columns. The 15th and 16th century construction resulted in a gothic style and features sweeping archways with decorated […]
Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Lausanne
Towers, spires, turrets – Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Lausanne has it all. It is considered the most beautiful Gothic building in Switzerland. And, it is the largest. The foundation was laid in the 12th century and construction continued through the 13th century. A colorful 13th century 105-panel rose window adorns the south side and flying buttresses […]
Cathédrale Saint-Pierre de Genève
The Cathédrale Saint-Pierre de Genève is a mishmash of structures and styles. Part of what we see today was built in the 12th century on remains dating from 350 A.D. Walls, rooms and mosaic floors from the earlier time have been discovered beneath the cathedral. In the late-14th century, a small side-chapel, the Chapelle des […]
Auditoire de Calvin, Geneva
It’s fitting that Calvin’s namesake chapel is so austere. This single-nave chapel played an important role in the Protestant Reformation. From 1536, the auditorium was a lecture hall where Calvin espoused his theories (Geneva accepted the Reformation in 1535). When Protestant refugees flocked to Geneva from all over Europe, they were encouraged to conduct services […]
Chiesa dei Santi Pietro e Paolo, Ascona
Chiesa dei Santi Pietro e Paolo is not only the center of Ascona’s old town, but its high campanile adorned with a baroque version of the town’s coat of arms is the skyline. The building we see today has been around since the 16th century and is the result of the original 13th-century structure’s enlargement. […]
Chiesa di Sant’Antonio, Locarno
Chiesa di Sant’Antonio was originally built in the 14th century, but the current structure dates back only to the 19th century, when it was rebuilt after a fatal roof collapse that killed 47 congregants. Inside, there’s a single nave with several side chapels featuring works by local painters. Corinthian pillars support the ceiling. This church […]
Chiesa Nuova di Locarno
17th-century Chiesa Nuova fronts right onto the street, startling passersby with its enormous statue of Saint Christopher. Though he is represented with a larger-than-life physique, unfortunately he has disproportionally small feet. The baroque church has a stuccoed ceiling with meticulous details including gilded scallops, elaborate scrollwork and cherubs. The side door opens into a serene […]
