Dec 10, 2025

Unique churches around the world

Aanya Mehta

Borgund Stave Church, Norway

Delhi amends excise rules to raise sacramental wine limit for churches and special spirit storage for industries. (Photo for representation)

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Church of the Good Shepherd, New Zealand

Set against the serene blue waters of Lake Tekapo, the Church of the Good Shepherd is small, simple and deeply atmospheric. Built from local stone, it blends seamlessly with its natural surroundings.

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Hallgrímskirkja, Iceland

Hallgrímskirkja rises like a sculpture of basalt columns overlooking Reykjavík, inspired by Iceland’s volcanic landscapes and lava formations. Its minimalist beauty, soaring tower and striking geometric design make it unlike any other church in the world.

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Las Lajas Sanctuary, Colombia

Las Lajas Sanctuary looks like it came straight out of a fairy tale, perched dramatically over a deep gorge in southern Colombia. Built into the cliffs above the Guáitara River, the church blends Gothic Revival architecture with raw natural scenery.

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Meteora Monasteries, Greece

The churches and monasteries of Meteora appear to float above the clouds, built on towering rock pillars that seem unreachable at first glance. For centuries, monks sought solitude here, creating sanctuaries high above the valleys.

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Sedlec Ossuary Chapel, Czech Republic

The Sedlec Ossuary is one of the most unusual chapels in Europe, decorated with the bones of tens of thousands of people arranged into chandeliers, arches and intricate patterns.

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St. Basil’s Cathedral, Russia

Despite being instantly recognisable for its colourful onion domes, St. Basil’s Cathedral remains a mystery to many, especially because it is not a typical church but a cluster of nine chapels connected by intricate corridors.

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The Church of St. George, Ethiopia

Carved entirely from a single piece of volcanic rock, the Church of St. George in Lalibela seems almost impossible to have been built by human hands. Shaped like a perfect stone cross, it lies sunken into the earth, accessible only through narrow passageways.

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