Quick answer: Europe’s most breathtaking cathedrals include the Sagrada Família (Barcelona), Cologne Cathedral, Milan’s Duomo, Notre-Dame (Paris) and St Peter’s (Vatican).
Europe’s great cathedrals are masterpieces of architecture and devotion. These ten are the most awe-inspiring.
The 10 most stunning European cathedrals
Sagrada Família, Barcelona
Gaudí’s still-unfinished basilica, unlike any other.
Cologne Cathedral, Germany
A soaring Gothic masterpiece and a UNESCO site.
Duomo di Milano, Italy
A vast marble Gothic cathedral you can walk on the roof of.
Notre-Dame de Paris
The Gothic icon on the Île de la Cité, reborn after the fire.
St Peter’s Basilica, Vatican
The grandest church in Christendom.
Florence Cathedral, Italy
Brunelleschi’s revolutionary dome over the Duomo.
Seville Cathedral, Spain
The largest Gothic cathedral in the world.
Chartres Cathedral, France
The finest medieval stained glass anywhere.
St Vitus, Prague
The Gothic heart of Prague Castle.
Westminster Abbey, London
Centuries of coronations and history.
How to choose
Many allow you to climb the towers or domes (Milan, Florence, Cologne) for spectacular views — book ahead. Dress modestly, as these are active places of worship.