The church was literally built out of several gutted floors in the upstairs of an old canal house in the 1660s. This church was constructed in secret at a time when Catholics could not openly worship in the Dutch Reformed Netherlands. It is certainly seen by many visitors by virtue of its location at the heart of Amsterdam’s red light district.īut just a few blocks away to the north, and wasily overlooked, is the intriguing Church of Our Lord in the Attic. The city’s most visited church is the Oude Kerk (Old Church), a 13th century building that is the oldest surviving structure in the city. Church of Our Lord in the Attic Amsterdam, NetherlandsĬhurch of Our Lord in the Attic ()Īmsterdam, although very popular with foreign tourists, is not exactly a heavy hitter when it comes to historic churches. Two very prominent early Americans are associated with the church: William Penn, founder of Pennsylvania, who was baptized here and John Quincy Adams, president of the United States, who was married here. However, elements of the original church survive, including an arch constructed by Saxons over 1300 years ago. Unfortunately, much of the church was badly damaged by German aerial bombing during World War II. This church, the oldest in the city, was founded in the 7th century. Paul’s Cathedral, one of the largest churches in the world, and Temple Church, very popular since its prominent inclusion in the novel The DaVinci Code.īut just a stone’s throw away from the famous Tower of London is one of the city’s most overlooked religious treasures: All Hallows-by-the-Tower. Few tourists to the city leave without visiting Westminster Abbey, where many English monarchs and cultural superstars are buried. London, often the first place in Europe to be visited by Americans and other foreigners from around the world, is awash in fantastic churches. Church of All Hallows-by-the-Tower London, England (originally built 675)Ĭhurch of All Hallows by the Tower () There are several saints buried here as well, including St. Buried here is virtually every king of France, including the 5th century Clovis I (who Christianized France) and Louis XIV (the Sun King), as well as Catherine de Medici, Marie Antoinette and many many others. This nearly forgotten 12th century church, utterly ignored by the tourist masses and Parisians alike, is tucked away on the north side of the city. And then there is the Sainte-Chapelle, the Eglise Saint-Sulpice, and the magnificent white Sacre-Coeur on its hill top with spectacular views of the city.īut from an historic standpoint, the city’s greatest religious treasure is the Basilica of St. It swarms with tens of thousands of visitors every day, many who wait for hours to climb up to its famous bell tower. This is not a surprising claim considering it is located in the dead center of Europe’s most visited city. Paris is home to what is claimed to be the world’s most visited church: Notre Dame Cathedral. Denis Paris, France (originally built 1144) However, it has yet to be opened and examined. An excavation in 2006 discovered a Roman-era sarcophagus with Paul’s name on it. Located on the south side of Rome, and generally off the beaten path of most tourists, this church was built on the site of Paul’s tomb, with parts dating back to the 4th century. Of greatest interest to the hard core Christian traveler is almost certainly the Basilica of St. But these are just two of Rome’s seven official pilgrimage churches, most of the rest of which are routinely ignored by visitors to the city. Some pilgrims might make it across town to the Basilica of St. Peter’s Basilica, and the Renaissance masterpieces that decorate the adjacent Sistine Chapel. Countless visitors come every year to gawk at the world’s largest church, St. As home to the Roman Catholic Church since Roman times, the city has amassed a collection of religious relics unrivaled in Christendom. When it comes to historic churches, no city on Earth tops Rome.
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