medieval

Said to be Rome's only Gothic church, this 13th-century basilica was built over a temple to Minerva. It contains many art treasures and the venerated tomb of St. Catherine of Siena.

Completed in 1100, the cloister of Moissac Abbey in southwest France is one of the finest galleries of Romanesque art in the world. It is the oldest and largest cloister with narrative capitals.

Martin Luther preached the Reformation, got married, and baptized his six children in this twin-towered Gothic church. Inside, Lucas Cranach's huge Reformation Altar includes images of Luther as well as Christ.

Founded in 639 and rebuilt in 1008, Torcello Cathedral is the oldest church in the Venetian lagoon and the main reason for a visit to Torcello Island. Inside is an important collection of Byzantine mosaics.

Dating from the early 12th century with later Gothic additions, the Cathédrale St-Lazare is a pilgrimage church famed for its splendid Romanesque sculptures by Gislebertus.

Originally a Saxon minster, this large parish church dates mainly from the late 13th century but retains some earlier elements. It has an attractive 13th-century spire and some notable interior decorations.

Originally built by Emperor Constantine in 326, Trier Cathedral is the oldest church in Germany.

Münster's attractive cathedral was built in the Transitional style of the early 13th century. It boasts a porch filled with medieval sculptures, a nave with only two bays, and a magnificent astrological clock.

Visible from nearby Arles on its hilltop, the Abbaye de Montmajour was mostly constructed in the 12th century and is now a World Heritage Site.

This pretty 13th-century parish church, located right next door to Trier Cathedral, was one of the first Gothic churches built in Germany.

This Carolingian oratory near Orléans was built in 806 by Bishop Theodulf, Charlemagne's adviser. Containing rare Byzantine mosaics, it is one of the oldest and most unique churches in France.