Great churches

Geghard is probably the finest cave monastery in Armenia. It stands deep in a canyon and blends in with the surrounding cliffs. The complex is partly dug out of the mountainside with annexed buildings. It was supposedly founded in the 4th century but invading armies have left nothing from that time. The two cave churches and vestibules you see today are all from the 13th century. Above the main entrance to the churches is a 10 m passage which leads to a cave chapel that is fully carved out of the mountain and has amazing acoustics. A small peephole in the corner makes it possible to look into the cave chamber below (see picture). The monastery got its name Geghardavank - meaning "the Monastery of the Spear" - since the spear that wounded Christ on the cross was kept here (the spear is now displayed in the Echmiadzin treasury).

Haghpat and Sanahin monasteries lie in plain view of each other separated by a canyon. Haghpat is also on UNESCO's World Heritage list and dates from the 10th century as well, though Sanahin is 50 years younger. Haghpat is a compact monastery complex with several chapels, some fine cross stones (khachkars) and a groomed garden setting. The views are splendid and the village of Haghpat is charming and easygoing.

Khor Virap is that iconic church you see on postcards and paintings from Armenia. It is perched on a small hill with an almost too picturesque background of majestic Mt. Ararat which rises across the border in Turkey. The present church of Khor Virap was built in the 17th century on a foundation of previous chapels. Saint Gregory the Illuminator was initially imprisoned here for 13 years in a deep pit - khor virap means "deep well" in Armenian - which can be visited today by climbing down a steep creepy ladder. Khor Virap is an important pilgrimage site for Armenians and religious services are held at the church, including some strange rituals like sacrifice of roosters and release of white doves (which are trained to fly back to the seller). Try to visit in the weekends if you want to see some action.

It seems that the early Christians in Armenia were really fond of splendid views for churches in Armenia are often perched on hilltops or edge of gorges, and Tatev monastery is a prime example. Sitting high on an outcrop at the end of Vorotan Canyon, with impressive views down the length of the canyon, it is surely jaw-dropping. Tatev was constructed in the 9th century and functioned as a university in the 14th and 15th centuries. The complex includes several halls and towers which some were used as library, kitchen and dining hall. The 8 m tall, but damaged, pillar in the corner of the courtyard is said to be an sensor for earthquakes - or approaching armies (Tatev was as looted as any other monastery in Armenia by various armies through times). Today you can "fly" over the canyon to the monastery in the brand new cable-car, which, by the way, is the world's longest with its 5.7 km.

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.

From the outside Temppeliaukio Church doesn't look like much. Just a green copper dome ontop of a rocky outcrop in the middle of a residental area. But the church is hewn into solid rock. Inside it's a prime example of Nordic modesty. Natural light flows through narrow glass panels which hold the cobber string dome, making it surprisingly bright even during wintertime. The raw granite walls stand as bare as they were the day the church got hacked into the rock. Concrete balcony and minimalistic Finnish interiour in cool colours finish off this crazy architectural masterpiece from 1969. Temppeliaukio Church rank as Helsinki's number one attraction which it fully deserves, for it's truely an astonishing sight.

Like a white castle appearing in the sky, the Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Paris is a popular landmark. Located in the 18th arrondissement, its a monument planned as a guilt offering after the devastating Franco-Prussian War and the embarrassments of the government that came with it. It is located at the peak of Butte Montmartre, the highest point of Paris. Needless to say, stunning panorama views can be enjoyed in addition to the church steeped in religious and political history. Inside the Basilica, you'll find golden mosaics above the choir perch that remains one of the largest of its kind while the bronze doors to the portico reenact scenes from the last supper in intricate detail. Visit Sacre Coeur either in the early morning or late evening, when crowds are less and if you want to avoid the long walk up, there's a furnicular to help you out. For budding photographers, dusk provides beautiful shots of the church against a pinkish hue.

Irregardless of your religious leanings, one cannot discount the significance of the birthplace of Jesus. Tucked away in the back alleyways of Bethlehem, the Church of the Nativity was built on the place where Jesus of Nazareth was born in a manager over 2,000 years ago. Palestine's first, and so far only, UNESCO listed site, the church is said to be the oldest continually operating church in the world. Lacking in the grandeur if compared to the Vatican or similar structures, the Church still sees its fair share of visitors. Sneaking in between the seemingly endless stream of tour buses is half the challenge but worth it for a moment at one of the most important spots in Western culture.

Ohrid is beautiful old city right on the shore of Lake Ohrid. It is rich in history and the old part is deadly charming with old houses, winding streets and exquisite churches, where St. John at Kaneo is probably the most famous one. It was build in the 3rd century and have a magnificent location high on a cape overlooking the lake. In summer time the city transforms itself into holiday zone for mostly local tourists and partygoers. Macedonia isn't packed with mind-blowing sights, so Ohrid will for sure be the highlight of any trip to Macedonia.

The painted monasteries in northeastern Romania is a collection of churches that have their exterior painted in colorful cartoon-style frescoes. The walls feature biblical stories as well as portraits of saints, which were probably meant as education for the illiterate peasants and soldiers.

Humor monastery and its frescoes date back to the 16th century and is on now UNESCO's World Heritage List. The exterior frescoes depict the Last Judgement, Holy Virgin, St. George and the besiege of Constantinople. The interior is equally colorful. Even though it lies a long walk from Gura Humorului town, it is the most accessible of the painted monasteries.