12th century

Nestled in the hills of southwest France, the picturesque village of Conques is home to a magnificent Romanesque abbey church, rich with sculpture. There is also a medieval treasury.

One of the greatest achievements in the history of architecture, Chartres Cathedral (1140-1260) is almost perfectly preserved in its original medieval design, from innovative Gothic architecture to extensive portal sculptures and stained glass.

Originally an abbey church, Peterborough Cathedral is a Norman and Gothic building featuring an unusual triple facade, a rare medieval painted ceiling, magnificent fan vaulting, and the tomb of Catherine of Aragon.

Constructed in the 12th and 13th centuries over a 6th-century bishop's tomb, Saint-Paul-Trois-Châteaux Cathedral is a small Provençal Romanesque church containing interesting medieval murals, mosaics, and sculptures.

This Cistercian abbey south of Edinburgh was founded in 1136 and is now in picturesque ruins. It is said to enshrine the heart of Robert the Bruce.

The taller of the famous due Torri (two towers) of Bologna, the Asinelli Tower was completed in 1119. Its 498 steps can be climbed for great views of the city.

Santo Stefano is a monastic complex of four Romanesque churches (11-13C) built on the site of a pagan temple to Isis and incorporating earlier churches dating back to the 4th century. There is also a medieval cloister and small museum.

A World Heritage Site, Maulbronn Monastery (Kloster Maulbronn) is the best-preserved medieval monastery north of the Alps. Its architecture, mostly in the Transitional Gothic style, was highly influential in the area.

The King's Bath was first built in the 10-12th centuries, but most of what is visible today dates from the 17th century. Originally owned by the monks of Bath Abbey, it received its current name during the Dissolution of Monasteries.

Often overlooked by non-pilgrims, the Basilica di Santa Croce in Gerusalemme is located just down the road from St. John Lateran in Rome. It includes the private chapel of St.