While the secular trend is sweeping the land and gathering more and more adepts each day, for some people, church remains as the place where they can be alone with their thoughts and the best location for a thorough introspection. Sure, the societal role of the institution is considerably reduced these days and the various attempts of the religious leaders to break the rule of the separation of church and state don’t go by unnoticed. However, we shouldn’t forget that church also played an important role in education, art, history and helped us become what we are today. In the following article, we won’t be discussing these critical issues, but we will in visit ten of the most intricate churches and their eccentric locations.
1. Antarctica
True, the Trinity Church in Antarctica doesn’t impress via fine architecture like most European cathedrals. However, this 15 meter tall construction is an outstanding evidence of a great architectural mind and frankly, the warmest place for any follower of the Russian Orthodox Church to be in on this ice desert. Constructed in the early 1990s, the edifice is made out of a single Siberian Pine that was dismantled and put together again on the icy continent.
2. A tree
Even though it measures 15 meters in height and has a diameter of 16 meters, the Chêne Chapelle or the “chapel oak” hosts two unique chapels. Built in the Medieval Ages, the church in a tree from France is nothing like you have ever seen and due to its mysterious aura and unusual construction featuring an exterior staircase leading to the chapels, you could easily believe that you are on the set of Tim Burton’s Alice in Wonderland.
3. On top of a volcano
While a church standing solitary atop of a mountain is not unusual, the Our Lady of Le Puy in France is a magnificent structure built over a volcano plug. Considering that the church stands 85 meters high over an active volcano, I guess nobody can contest the fact that the architects have taken the phrase “put your faith in the Lord” very seriously.
4. In a hill
If you ever wondered how a small country like Luxemburg managed to remain independent in spite of having strong neighbors like Germany and France, then the “Church in a hill” might provide you with an answer. Essentially, the entire region is naturally fortified with gorges and steeps that made it impossible for a large army to get around very easily. Besides, the scarce bridges that were build high above and the cleverly hidden homes and edifices would have provided sufficient time for the local population to hide and defend itself from invaders.
5. On a bridge
Erected in the 13th century by Thomas de Rotterdam, the Chapel of Our Lady stands proud on the Rotterdam Bridge that reigns over the River Don in Yorkshire. Even though its location has conferred the edifice many applications throughout the centuries, nowadays the last survivor of the numerous Bridge Chantries is finally back to being used for its original purpose.