Sublime and elegant, realistic yet dreamlike — 10 world-class cathedrals you can’t miss

Text and photos by Wang Yuhua and Cai Qinghui, excerpted from *Encountering the World’s Ten Great Cathedrals: An Architect’s Guide to Sacred Spaces*, published by Times Publishing

In the book *Encountering the World’s Ten Great Cathedrals*, authors Wang Yuhua and Cai Qinghui have specially selected ten of the world’s most iconic cathedrals, categorizing them into five classical and five modern. Arranged in historical sequence, here are the highlights of these ten cathedrals:

Five Unmissable Classical Cathedrals

Hagia Sophia

Built during the reign of Emperor Justinian I (also known as Justinian the Great), at the height of his power. Historically, Justinian I was one of the few emperors who combined divine and imperial authority. To solidify Constantinople as the capital of the Eastern Roman Empire and to establish a strong bastion against rising threats from the East, he vowed to build Hagia Sophia — a magnificent church that bridges antiquity and modernity, East and West. The cathedral revisits Roman architectural styles but takes a more forward-looking approach, with its height and dome span surpassing those of previous structures. To address the challenge of weight-bearing, the architects innovatively applied geometry and developed a new structural detail called the “pendentive,” which allowed the circular weight to be more effectively distributed onto the square-based columns.

Notre-Dame Cathedral

A masterpiece of Gothic architecture. Through the construction of grand cathedrals, the Gothic style of the Middle Ages was established as France’s national architectural identity. Theologically, since “light” is symbolic and fully aligned with the teachings of the New Testament’s Gospel of John, the majority of the walls were opened up as windows. This allowed the uniquely Gothic flying buttresses to perfectly complement the rose windows, making it the most fitting form of church architecture. This “artificial light,” interpreted through the techniques of stained glass artists, becomes dazzlingly brilliant — like a light of revelation — illuminating the hearts of observers.

 Westminster Abbey

Although also in the Gothic style, when this style reached England, it gained an added layer of “moral” legitimacy, and its expression became somewhat more modern. What makes Westminster Abbey unique is its floor plan, which differs greatly in both function and form compared to traditional churches. This is tied to its role as a “royal chapel,” and it marks a new chapter in the history of cathedrals during the era of monarchical rule.

St. Peter’s Basilica and the Sistine Chapel

A treasure of the Renaissance, constructed over four hundred years and still in frequent use today, it serves as the most important cathedral for papal liturgical events. Both inside and out, it houses masterpieces and design insights by Renaissance and Baroque artists such as Raffaello Sanzio (Raphael), Antonio da Sangallo the Younger, Michelangelo di Lodovico Buonarroti Simoni, and Carlo Maderno. Additionally, Michelangelo’s dome frescoes and murals in the Sistine Chapel are timeless masterpieces of overwhelming impact, moving even non-Christian visitors.

Sagrada Família

Although still under construction, it has already been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Designed by Spanish architect Antoni Gaudí i Cornet, who almost became a saint. This architect, who nearly missed his calling due to unsatisfactory exam results, never married and adhered strictly to Catholic self-discipline, channeling his passion for God into the designs and models of the Sagrada Família. Gaudí’s successors continued refining the details based on his original plans, expressing his lifelong vision of “God’s abundance” through various shapes, patterns, and sculptures. As a result, the Sagrada Família resembles a multi-faceted diamond, captivating countless viewers. This cathedral is also the last in the book designed according to classical spirit.

Five Essential Modern Cathedrals

 

Convent of La Tourette & Ronchamp Chapel

Two renowned churches designed by master architect Le Corbusier. The titan of modern architecture sought answers to the architectural and urban issues brought about by post-industrial revolution. His foundational theories and principles — such as modularity, regularity, repetition, functional efficiency (collectively known as the “Five Points of Architecture”) and exploration of new aesthetics — are fully reflected in the design of the Convent of La Tourette. However, in the later-designed Ronchamp Chapel, we see his self-reinvention, interpreting the church in a non-mechanical, organic, and poetic new manner. These two churches reveal his differing interpretations of the spiritual significance of sacred spaces.

U.S. Air Force Academy Cadet Chapel

A creation of the SOM architectural firm. This is not a conventional church; in line with the architectural belief of the previous century that “form follows function,” a church doesn’t need to adhere to a single function or form but should take shape based on needs. The first, second, and third floors of this chapel serve different religious functions: Judaism, Christianity, Catholicism, and Buddhism.

Crystal Cathedral

A work by American postmodern architectural master Philip Johnson. This church embodies the postmodern spirit of challenging authority, subverting the typical stereotypes and presumed prototypes of traditional church architecture with a radically different form. The focus isn’t on defining what a church is, but rather questioning — why can’t it be something else? Why can’t a church lack a façade? Why can’t it adopt a non-traditional spatial prototype (such as a star shape)? Why can’t a worship space be created using the column-free space of a concert hall?

The Trilogy: Churches of Wind, Light, and Water

Three churches designed by Japanese master architect Tadao Ando. When architecture steps back from being the main focus to become a stage that reflects and enhances natural elements — wind, water, and light — church buildings exhibit a universality that transcends religion. Though not a Christian, Ando meticulously studied the Bible to find alternative names for God: the “wind” of the Holy Spirit, the “living water” of life, and the “true light” of Christ. He then brought out the unique elements of each church, crafting them into poetic works appreciated by all. No wonder Ando’s churches move many people, especially couples seeking “a moment of eternal beauty.”

 

Jubilee Church

Designed by Richard Meier, the leading figure of the White architectural style (which champions the pure white smoothness of modernist sculpture). Located in Rome, Italy, this church interprets sacred space through Deconstructivism. Deconstructivism aims to break down complete images, reinterpreting the whole through individual components. Representative styles of deconstructivism include Cubism, Mondrian in color theory, and Kandinsky’s points, lines, and planes in composition. Through deconstructive methods, the architect successfully merged the functions of a church and a community center, while carefully crafting the imagery of a “ship,” hoping to spur urban development in the surrounding area.

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