10 tallest churches in the world

Sagrada Família: 566 feet (173 meters)

Construction on the Sagrada Família began in 1882 and continues today. With the completion of the massive Jesus tower in 2026, the Roman Catholic basilica became the tallest church on Earth. Designed by the visionary Catalan architect Antoni Gaudí, the church blends Neo-Gothic and Gaudí’s own distinctive style into one of the most recognizable buildings in the world. He intentionally designed the Jesus tower to remain slightly lower than nearby Montjuïc hill, believing no human creation should surpass God’s work.

Ulm Minster: 530 feet (162 meters)

Begun in 1377 and finally completed in 1890, Ulm Minster long possessed the tallest church spire in the world and was briefly the tallest building in the world. Although originally built as a Roman Catholic church, it became Lutheran during the Reformation. The immense Gothic structure is famous not only for its dizzying height but also for the 768 steps that visitors can climb to reach sweeping views of Ulm and the broader Danube valley. Although often referred to as a cathedral, the term is inaccurate because it is not the seat of a bishop.

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(Read Britannica’s essay “What’s the Difference Between a Basilica and a Cathedral?”)

Basilica of Our Lady of Peace: 518 feet (158 meters)

Completed in 1989 in Yamoussoukro, the capital (de jure) of Côte d’Ivoire, the Basilica of Our Lady of Peace is the world’s largest church by some measures. Inspired by St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City, the enormous Roman Catholic structure can hold 18,000 worshippers and features vast stained-glass windows and imported marble. Its dome is just slightly shorter than that of St. Peter’s, but the massive cross on top makes it the third tallest church overall. Its construction sparked international attention because of its immense scale, rapid construction, and cost, which was ostensibly paid for by Côte d’Ivoire’s president, Félix Houphouët-Boigny.

Cologne Cathedral: 515 feet (157 meters)

Cologne Cathedral’s twin Gothic spires dominate the skyline of Cologne in western Germany. Construction began in 1248 but stalled for centuries before finally being completed in 1880 using medieval plans. It was briefly the tallest structure in the world but was surpassed by the Washington Monument in 1884. Its stunning Shrine of the Three Kings, believed by tradition to contain relics of the biblical Magi, continues to be a major site of pilgrimage. The Roman Catholic church was designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1996.

Rouen Cathedral: 495 feet (151 meters)

Built and rebuilt across several centuries, Rouen Cathedral reached its present height in 1876 with the addition of an iron spire on its central lantern tower. Its Tour de Beurre (on the right in the image above) boasts an impressive carillon of 55 bells. The asymmetrical cathedral showcases a mix of architectural styles and is especially famous for its richly detailed, almost lacelike Gothic facade. French Impressionist painter Claude Monet immortalized the Roman Catholic church in a celebrated series of paintings that captured its changing appearance in different light and weather.

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Strasbourg Cathedral: 466 feet (142 meters)

Constructed mainly between the 11th and 15th centuries, Strasbourg Cathedral was the tallest building in the world from 1647 to 1874. Its single pink sandstone spire rises above the historic center of Strasbourg, and its elaborate astronomical clock—complete with moving figures—remains one of the church’s most popular attractions. An outstanding work of Gothic architecture, the Roman Catholic cathedral (and the historic city center) was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1988.

St. Peter’s Basilica: 448 feet (137 meters)

Built between 1506 and 1615 over the traditional burial site of St. Peter, the first pope, St. Peter’s Basilica is the spiritual heart of the Roman Catholic Church. One of the most renowned works of Renaissance architecture, the masterpiece involved architects and artists such as Donato Bramante, Michelangelo, and Gian Lorenzo Bernini. It is often regarded as the greatest building of its age and, as the church of the popes, is a major site of pilgrimage.

St. Stephen’s Cathedral: 448 feet (136 meters)

Colloquially known as the Steffl, St. Stephen’s Cathedral has stood at the center of Vienna since the Middle Ages, in several iterations. Its soaring south tower and spire were completed in 1433 and made the Roman Catholic church the tallest structure in the region for centuries. The emblematic cathedral is especially recognizable for its colorful tiled roof, which displays imperial and civic symbols and intricate zigzag patterns.

New Linz Cathedral: 443 feet (135 meters)

New Linz Cathedral was built between 1862 and 1924 in an elaborate Neo-Gothic style. It is the largest church in Austria, but its spire was intentionally kept slightly shorter than that of St. Stephen’s Cathedral in Vienna so as to not surpass the capital’s great cathedral in height. The Roman Catholic church’s original stained-glass windows depict Bible stories, patrons of the church, and the history of Linz; those damaged in World War II were replaced by more abstract stained-glass designs.

St. Michael’s Church: 433 feet (132 meters)

Often called simply Michel, St. Michael’s Church is one of Hamburg’s best-known landmarks and a major example of North German Baroque architecture. Built after the Reformation, the church was conceived as a Lutheran church and thus stands in contrast to many other German churches, which were originally Roman Catholic. The current building dates largely to the 20th century, after earlier versions were destroyed several times by lightning and fire. Its copper-domed tower has long served as a navigation point for ships entering the harbor and boasts Germany’s largest church tower clock. Visitors can enjoy panoramic views across the city from the observation deck.