Cathedrals
A cathedral is the home church of a bishop. "Cathedral" is a functional rather than an architectural term and derives from the bishop's cathedra, or seat, that is located there. Our list of cathedrals includes Catholic, Orthodox and Episcopalian cathedrals that are true cathedrals (the seats of bishops) as well as some former cathedrals still commonly called by that name. See our Church Glossary for definitions of terms used to describe cathedral architecture. Below is an illustrated index of the 144 cathedrals profiled on Sacred Destinations so far. For photo credits, please see corresponding articles.
Featured Cathedrals
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Commissioned by Charlemagne in 786 AD, Aachen's cathedral is the oldest in Northern Europe and contains several holy relics.
Dating from the early 12th century with later Gothic additions, the Cathédrale St-Lazare is a pilgrimage church (for relics of Lazarus) famed for its splendid sculptures by the Romanesque sculptor Gislebertus.
These striking hilltop ruins include a 12th-century royal chapel, cathedral and round tower, plus some fine high crosses in the churchyard.
Vienna's cathedral has survived many wars and is now a symbol of the city's freedom. The Gothic cathedral was first built in 1147 and its most recognizable characteristic, the diamond-patterned tile roof, was added in 1952.
Founded in 1010, the cathedral of Hildesheim contains many treasures of early medieval art, including bronze doors carved with biblical scenes and a bronze column showing the life of Christ.
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