Wander Lord

Interesting on art, nature, people, history

Most unusual churches

St. Basil’s Cathedral, Moscow, Russia

St. Basil’s Cathedral, Moscow, Russia


Most unusual churches all over the world.
This article is not about religion, it’s about architecture. Not just architecture, but unusual architecture, and to be more exact – unusual churches.
There are extraordinary, strange, odd, unusual churches around the world.

St. Basil’s Cathedral, Moscow, Russia
Cathedral of Saint Basil the Blessed is a multi-tented church which stands on the Red Square in Moscow. This church looks really cool, because it has very unusual onion domes which look playful and colorful. The cathedral was built in 1555 -1561 by Ivan the Terrible to celebrate the capture of the Khanate of Kazan. A legend says that Ivan had the architect, Postnik Yakovlev, blinded to prevent him from building a more magnificent building for anyone else. In fact, Postnik Yakovlev built a number of churches after Saint Basil’s.

Sagrada Familia, Barcelona, Spain

Sagrada Familia Barcelona is still under construction and will be completed no earlier than in 2026

Sagrada Familia Barcelona is still under construction and will be completed no earlier than in 2026

Sagrada Família is a very massive Roman Catholic basilica under construction in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain. Construction began in 1882. A very famous architect Antoni Gaudi worked on the project for over 40 years, devoting the last 15 years of his life entirely to this endeavour.

Cathedral of Brasilia in Brasilia, Brazil

Cathedral of Brasilia in Brasilia, Brazil

Cathedral of Brasilia in Brasilia, Brazil

This is a very famous Cathedral of Brasília designed by Oscar Niemeyer. These columns, having hyperbolic section and weighing 90 t, represent two hands moving upwards to heaven. The construction was finished in 1970.

Duomo (Milan Cathedral) in Italy

Most unusual churches. Milan Cathedral

Milan Cathedral

Duomo looks incredibly tall and majestic. Mark Twain said the following of the Duomo in Milan in his work, Innocents Abroad: “They say that the Cathedral of Milan is second only to St. Peter’s at Rome. I cannot understand how it can be second to anything made by human hands.”

Green church, Buenos Aires, Argentina

Green church, Buenos Aires, Argentina

Green church, Buenos Aires, Argentina

A parish church in Buenos Aires, Argentina known as the “Huerto de Olivos”, or “Garden of Olives,” most likely a reference Gethsemane, on the Mount of Olives.

Las Lajas Cathedral in Colombia

Las Lajas Cathedral in Colombia

Las Lajas Cathedral in Colombia

Las Lajas Cathedral looks unusual because one side of it seems to be a part of a bridge across the river and the other side rests on the hill. The overall look is really fascinating. Built in 1916 inside the canyon of the Guaitara river where, according to local legend, the Virgin Mary appeared. You can find this church in southern Colombian Department of Nariсo, municipality of Ipiales, near the border with Ecuador.

Bruder Klaus Chapel (Mechernich, southern Germany)

Most unusual churches. Bruder Klaus Chapel

Bruder Klaus Chapel

A concrete chapel on the edge of a field in Mechernich, southern Germany, built by local farmers in honor of their patron saint, the 15th-century hermit Bruder Klaus.

Jubilee Church in Rome, Italy

Most unusual churches. Jubilee Church in Rome, Italy

Jubilee Church in Rome, Italy

Jubilee Church has very distinctive curved walls which look like sails. Designed in 1996 by architect Richard Meier, the church has curved walls which serve the engineering purpose of minimizing thermal peak loads in the interior space. The walls are made from a special cement, which contain titanium dioxide, so it destroys air pollution.

Most unusual churches

The Church of Hallgrimur, Reykjavik, Iceland

The Church of Hallgrimur, Reykjavik, Iceland

The Church of Hallgrimur, Reykjavik, Iceland

This Lutheran parish church is also a very tall one, reaching 74.5 metres (244 ft) height. It is the fourth tallest architectural structure in Iceland. It took incredibly long to build it (38 years!) Construction work began in 1945 and ended in 1986.

Chapel in the Rock (Arizona, USA)

Chapel in the Rock (Arizona, USA)

Chapel in the Rock (Arizona, USA)

This fascinating Roman Catholic church is literally built into the rock. The views from outside are unbelievable but the serenity inside is awesome. Some say, that Chapel in the Rock can move even the non-religious.

Cologne Cathedral

Cologne Cathedral

Cologne Cathedral

Roman Catholic Gothic cathedral in Cologne (Germany) takes the third place in the list of the highest churches in the world and is one of the World Heritage Site.

Sheikh Zayed Mosque

Most unusual churches. Sheikh Zayed Mosque

Sheikh Zayed Mosque

The snow-white marble Sheikh Zayed Mosque is one of the six largest mosques in the world, located in Abu Dhabi. It was opened in 2007. Since March 2008 tours to the mosque are available to everyone, not just Muslims. There is the world’s largest carpet and the biggest chandelier in the mosque.

Inflatable church

Most unusual churches. Inflatable church

Inflatable church

Dutch philosopher Frank Los invented an inflatable church – Transparent Church, which can be erected in any corner of the world.

Church of the Transfiguration on Kizhi Island

Church of the Transfiguration on Kizhi Island

Church of the Transfiguration on Kizhi Island

Church of the Transfiguration on Kizhi Island in Karelia is a nanotechnology of wooden architecture, the apogee of the carpentry art. The church was founded in 1714 and is a part of the architectural ensemble of the Kizhi churchyard. It is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. The basis of the composition is the octagonal frame construction. The church was built without nails in the traditions of Russian carpentry. Nails are only in the domes.

Painted Church in Arbor

Most unusual churches. Painted Church

Painted Church

Painted churches are the most famous architectural landmarks of Moldova. Churches are decorated with frescoes. Each of these temples has been on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Kailash Temple

Most unusual churches. Kailash Temple

Kailash Temple

Kailash is a Hindu Temple, which is entirely carved out of rock and covered with intricate carvings. It is located in the Indian state of Maharashtra. The work began in the VIII century and lasted for more than 100 years. As a result, the building covers an area twice the size of the Parthenon of Athens in Greece. This is one of the largest churches in the world that rivals even the Taj Mahal in Agra.

Lotus Temple

Lotus Temple

Lotus Temple

Lotus Temple is located near the city of New Delhi in India. The construction took place from 1978 to 1986.

The Church of St. Joseph

The Church of St. Joseph

The Church of St. Joseph

The Church of St. Joseph is Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church in Chicago. It was built in 1956. It is known in the world thanks to the 13 golden domes, symbolizing the 12 apostles and Jesus Christ.

Most unusual churches

Thorncrown Chapel

Most unusual churches. Thorncrown Chapel

Thorncrown Chapel

The wooden chapel is located in Eureka Springs, Arkansas, USA. The chapel was built in 1980 by architect E. Fay Jones. There are 425 windows in bright and spacious chapel.

Cesme church

Most unusual churches. Cesme church

Cesme church

Cesme church or Church of the Nativity of St. John the Baptist is the Orthodox Church in St. Petersburg. It is the monument of architecture in the pseudo-Gothic style.

Most unusual churches

Basilica of Our Lady of Tears in Siracusa (Sicily), Italy

Basilica of Our Lady of Tears in Siracusa (Sicily), Italy

Most unusual churches. Arctic Cathedral

Arctic Cathedral

The United States Air Force Academy Cadet Chapel

The United States Air Force Academy Cadet Chapel

Borgund Stave Church, Norway was built without any metal parts

Borgund Stave Church, Norway was built without any metal parts

Most unusual churches. Church of consolation

Church of consolation

Church of St. George in Lalibela was built in the 13th century and dug into the ground at 25 meters

Church of St. George in Lalibela was built in the 13th century and dug into the ground at 25 meters

Grundtvig’s Church in Copenhagen, Denmark

Grundtvig’s Church in Copenhagen, Denmark

Most unusual churches. Mosque in Tirana

Mosque in Tirana

Most unusual churches. Notre Dame du Haut

Notre Dame du Haut

The Church of Panagia Paraportiani was built in 15-17 centuries

The Church of Panagia Paraportiani was built in 15-17 centuries

Zipaquira Salt Cathedral in Colombia. Previously, it was a salt mine, where Indians mined salt.

Zipaquira Salt Cathedral in Colombia. Previously, it was a salt mine, where Indians mined salt.