Great churches

The spectacular Roskilde Cathedral is the most important church in Denmark. It has been the royal burial church for 38 Danish kings and queens, not including Harald Bluetooth (Harald Blåtand) and Sweyn Forkbeard (Svend Tveskæg), who were also buried in Roskilde, but their sites are unknown. The cathedral wasn't built as one complete structure, instead it has extended and altered over 800 years, since it was first constructed during the 12th century. Roskilde Cathedral is, of course, a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Stevns' Cliff is a dramatic stretch of coastline where the land breaks off at vertical cliffs, some as high as 40 metres. It's a natural oddity and a paradise for geology and fossil buffs. Each year, the sea eats away the cliffs some more, making Denmark a bit smaller than it already is. The old church at Højerup is a fine proof of that. It was built inland at the end of the 13th century, but the sea slowly ate away the cliffs. In 1928, the graveyard was swallowed by the sea, leaving the church balancing right on the edge of the cliff. Today, the church has been secured and it's possible to visit the balcony at the back where the chancel once was.
Stevns' Cliff became an UNESCO World Heritage site in 2014, due to the exceptional evidence of the meteorite crash in Mexico about 65 million years ago which extinct over 50 per cent of all life on Earth.

A few kilometers from Skagen lies The Sand-Covered Church (in Danish Den Tilsandede Kirke). The church was constructed in the late 14th-century, but during the last half of the 18th-century the church was getting buried by drifting sand. The congregation had to dig out the entrance each time a service was to be held. The struggle to keep the church free of sand lasted until 1795, when it was abandoned. The actual church was demolished, but the tower was left to act as a sea mark and was therefore whitewashed.

The largest cathedral in Dominica is located in the village of Berekua. The beautiful stone structure faces the Atlantic Ocean - and that's pretty much what we know about it.

While wandering through the wonderful Historic Centre of Quito, it is understandable that a felling of church-apathy can take over. But the Basilica del Voto Nacional is not just another church. While it's imposing position and dramatic architecture dominate the historical centre's skyline, this is a place where it's what inside that counts (more specifically, what's upstairs). Climbing up and in and through the attic and spires of the basilica is most certainly one of the big highlights of Quito. That is if you can handle small spaces, death defying ladder climbs and dizzying heights. The unparalleled access to the upper reaches of the basilica allow for some of the best views of Quito. Breath taking in more ways than one.

Sometimes when travelling, it can seem a bit like a church is a church is a church. But every once and a while, there is a special one to visit. Such is the case of the Santuario de la Virgen del Rocío, in the village of Biblian. The church seems more like a fairy-tale castle than a place of worship. Not only is the architecture atypical, but the hillside setting give it a sense of almost military strategics. Possibly the best part of a visit are the charmingly horrible loud speakers which blast nearly inaudible hymns. It makes the odd building into an even stranger experience as the wonder of the place is almost transformed into a low-budget concert.

At the foot of Mokattam mountain lies a cluster of Christian churches, which have been chiseled out of the mountain face. They lie in the outskirts of Garbage City, a neighbourhood of garbage collectors or Zabbaleen as they are called, which is an odd sight itself. The first cave church was carved out in 1975 when the Christian community of the Zabbaleen felt they were not going to be evicted again, which they otherwise have suffered from throughout their history. Today there are several cave churches on the site, whereof St. Simon is the biggest with seating for more than 20,000 people, though it feels more like an amphitheater than a church. When visiting, remember to have a look at the equal fascinating Garbage City next door.

There are few sites on Earth like the rock-hewn churches of the UNESCO listed Lalibela. The magnificent religious buildings were actually carved into the stone, almost like a negative impression. Arguably the biggest attraction in the country, this is one of those sites that does NOT disappoint. But beyond the magnificent churches, including the iconic St. George's with its cross roof, the brilliance of Lalibela is the way the whole area is managed. Actually a collection of 7 villages (of which only 1 has the churches), revenues are shared among them all. Guides must be licensed by local authorities and anyone trying to scam tourists is quickly chased off. It is a surprisingly stress-free visit so one can actually enjoy the spiritual sensation the place was built for.

The places below will prove, every village in the Faroes has its church. Even the smallest collection of buildings will probably have a church amongst them. A very traditional and deeply religious society, religion still play a far larger role, both politically and socially, here than anywhere else in Northern Europe. The islands are therefore full of small, adorable and whitewashed churches. Faroese churches' interiors are decorated in extremely humble and minimalistic designs. Usually, with simple wooden benches, a simple altar with a painting rather than a crucifix, and sometimes a wooden ship or two hanging from the ceiling. Even the Catholic church in Tórshavn is without many of the adornments associated with Catholic churches. While many churches stay locked outside prayer times, the small and close-knit nature of life on the Faroes means that it's often possible to find the responsible priest or responsible caretaker.

Likely the most important historical place in the Faroe Islands. From 1111 and throughout the High and Late Middle Ages Kirkjubøur was the home of the Faroese bishopric. The village itself dates back to the Viking Age and today around 80 villagers call Kirkjubøur home. Despite its limited size, here's an impressive historical presence. The biggest sight is the never-finished Magnus Cathedral. Construction started around the year 1300, but as it was never roofed, it was never finished. Nevertheless, is it still the largest medieval building in the Faroe Islands. Kirkjubøur is also noteworthy for holding the oldest, still-serving church anywhere in the country. Olav Church dates back to the 13th century. Lastly, one of the world's oldest log houses – the old bishop's presbytery – is also open to visitors. It's the largest farm on the islands and the current inhabitants the Patursson Family, who have lived here for 17 generations, have kept both the wooden interior and the grass covered roofs mostly intact.