25 Surreal Holy Sites From Around the World

Carly Tennes Published 08/12/2024 in wow

For as long as we’ve had organized religion, we've had sites to worship what God or Gods reign above us. But amid the stunning temples, churches, and cathedrals that have become synonymous with global faith, classic structures patterned with breathtaking frescos, sparkling stained glass, and of course, a tasteful smattering of flying buttresses, some locales take beauty — and danger — to the extreme.

From temples balancing atop mountains to ones carved of salt, here are 25 stunning holy sites that are as adventurous as they are sacred, as originally posted by Classic Learning Test CEO, Jeremy Tate.

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1.
“The Sacra di San Michele, Italy This 1000-year-old medieval monastery inspired Umberto Eco's novel The Name of the Rose.”
2.
“Assumption of Maria Church, Lake Bled, Slovenia. The island's first brick church, consecrated in 1142 by Patriarch Pellegrino of Aquileia, was rebuilt in Gothic style in the 15th century.”
3.
“The Ancient Greek temple of Apollo in Naxos looks like a ‘star gate.’”
4.
“The Expiatory Church of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, Barcelona. Located on the summit of Mount Tibidabo in Barcelona, Catalonia, it was built to stop the construction of a Protestant church and a hotel-casino.”
5.
“Las Lajas Sanctuary, Colombia. This popular pilgrimage site for Christians from both Colombia and neighboring Ecuador was built in a neo-gothic architectural style between 1916 and 1949.”
6.
“Fanjingshan Temples, China. Clinging to a rocky spur in the Wuling Mountains, these ancient Buddhist temples, with iron tiles to resist strong winds, seem almost unreal. Reaching them involves a four-hour ascent of over 8,000 steps.”
7.
“Church of St. George, Ethiopia. This church is one of eleven in Ethiopia carved from solid rock, dating to the late 12th or early 13th century AD.” 
8.
“Abuna Yemata Guh, Ethiopia. Rising 8,460 feet above the ground, Abuna Yemata Guh (first picture) is arguably the most inaccessible place of worship on earth. It features stunning wall paintings dating back to the 5th century."
9.
“The Monastery of the Holy Trinity, Meteora, Greece. Situated atop a 1,300 feet-high rocky precipice, this medieval monastery is accessible only via 146 steep steps hewn into the cliffside. It is one of the oldest remaining of the 24 Meteora monasteries.”
10.
“Sanctuary of Madonna della Corona, Italy. Perched over 2,000 feet above sea level on Mount Baldo in Italy, this sanctuary overlooking the Valdadige Valley is one of the country's most famous sites dedicated to the Virgin Mary.”
11.
“Temple of Valadier, Italy. Located at the entrance of the Frasassi Caves, this ancient sanctuary, first mentioned in documents from 1029, is a simple stone structure built by Benedictine monks to house a revered image of the Madonna.”
12.
“Temple Theater of Monte San Nicola, Italy. Rediscovered by chance in 2000 by a paraglider, this 2,100-year-old site features a theater and a temple on the same hill, located 520 meters above sea level.”
13.
“Yamadera temple, Japan.”
14.
“The Dark Church of Göreme, Turkey. This famous 11th-century monastic cave church in Cappadocia, located in the Göreme Open Air Museum, is known for its vibrant wall paintings.”
15.
“Saint-Michel d'Aiguilhe, France. This chapel, dedicated to the Archangel Michael, was constructed in 969 atop a 279-foot volcanic plug and is accessed by 268 steps carved directly into the rock.”
16.
“Ad Deir, Petra, Jordan.”
17.
“Salt Cathedral of Zipaquirá, Colombia.”
18.
“Kipina Monastery, Greece.”
19.
"Marble Mountains grotto-temples, Vietnam.”
20.
“Tiger's Nest, Bhutan. First built in 1692 on an 8th-century site, it hangs on a precarious cliff at about 10,240 feet above sea level in Bhutan's Paro Valley.”
21.
“Sumela Monastery, Turkey. Perched on a steep cliff 3,900 ft above the Altındere Valley, this structure is thought to have been built around 386 AD during Emperor Theodosius I's reign.”
22.
“Chapel of St. Gildas, France.”
23.
“Madonna de Idris, Italy. This extraordinary church, carved into solid rock and nestled among the ancient “Sassi di Matera”, is over 800 years old.”
24.
“Gergeti Trinity Church, Georgia.”
25.
“Golden Temple of Laojun Mountain, China. Its pavilion with a painted golden roof sits atop one of the peaks of Laojun Mountain, the highest in the Funiu Mountains at 2217 meters.”

1.
“The Sacra di San Michele, Italy This 1000-year-old medieval monastery inspired Umberto Eco's novel The Name of the Rose.”
2.
“Assumption of Maria Church, Lake Bled, Slovenia. The island's first brick church, consecrated in 1142 by Patriarch Pellegrino of Aquileia, was rebuilt in Gothic style in the 15th century.”
3.
“The Ancient Greek temple of Apollo in Naxos looks like a ‘star gate.’”
4.
“The Expiatory Church of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, Barcelona. Located on the summit of Mount Tibidabo in Barcelona, Catalonia, it was built to stop the construction of a Protestant church and a hotel-casino.”
5.
“Las Lajas Sanctuary, Colombia. This popular pilgrimage site for Christians from both Colombia and neighboring Ecuador was built in a neo-gothic architectural style between 1916 and 1949.”
6.
“Fanjingshan Temples, China. Clinging to a rocky spur in the Wuling Mountains, these ancient Buddhist temples, with iron tiles to resist strong winds, seem almost unreal. Reaching them involves a four-hour ascent of over 8,000 steps.”
7.
“Church of St. George, Ethiopia. This church is one of eleven in Ethiopia carved from solid rock, dating to the late 12th or early 13th century AD.” 
8.
“Abuna Yemata Guh, Ethiopia. Rising 8,460 feet above the ground, Abuna Yemata Guh (first picture) is arguably the most inaccessible place of worship on earth. It features stunning wall paintings dating back to the 5th century."
9.
“The Monastery of the Holy Trinity, Meteora, Greece. Situated atop a 1,300 feet-high rocky precipice, this medieval monastery is accessible only via 146 steep steps hewn into the cliffside. It is one of the oldest remaining of the 24 Meteora monasteries.”
10.
“Sanctuary of Madonna della Corona, Italy. Perched over 2,000 feet above sea level on Mount Baldo in Italy, this sanctuary overlooking the Valdadige Valley is one of the country's most famous sites dedicated to the Virgin Mary.”
11.
“Temple of Valadier, Italy. Located at the entrance of the Frasassi Caves, this ancient sanctuary, first mentioned in documents from 1029, is a simple stone structure built by Benedictine monks to house a revered image of the Madonna.”
12.
“Temple Theater of Monte San Nicola, Italy. Rediscovered by chance in 2000 by a paraglider, this 2,100-year-old site features a theater and a temple on the same hill, located 520 meters above sea level.”
13.
“Yamadera temple, Japan.”
14.
“The Dark Church of Göreme, Turkey. This famous 11th-century monastic cave church in Cappadocia, located in the Göreme Open Air Museum, is known for its vibrant wall paintings.”
15.
“Saint-Michel d'Aiguilhe, France. This chapel, dedicated to the Archangel Michael, was constructed in 969 atop a 279-foot volcanic plug and is accessed by 268 steps carved directly into the rock.”
16.
“Ad Deir, Petra, Jordan.”
17.
“Salt Cathedral of Zipaquirá, Colombia.”
18.
“Kipina Monastery, Greece.”
19.
"Marble Mountains grotto-temples, Vietnam.”
20.
“Tiger's Nest, Bhutan. First built in 1692 on an 8th-century site, it hangs on a precarious cliff at about 10,240 feet above sea level in Bhutan's Paro Valley.”
21.
“Sumela Monastery, Turkey. Perched on a steep cliff 3,900 ft above the Altındere Valley, this structure is thought to have been built around 386 AD during Emperor Theodosius I's reign.”
22.
“Chapel of St. Gildas, France.”
23.
“Madonna de Idris, Italy. This extraordinary church, carved into solid rock and nestled among the ancient “Sassi di Matera”, is over 800 years old.”
24.
“Gergeti Trinity Church, Georgia.”
25.
“Golden Temple of Laojun Mountain, China. Its pavilion with a painted golden roof sits atop one of the peaks of Laojun Mountain, the highest in the Funiu Mountains at 2217 meters.”

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1. “The Sacra di San Michele, Italy This 1000-year-old medieval monastery inspired Umberto Eco's novel The Name of the Rose.”

2. “Assumption of Maria Church, Lake Bled, Slovenia. The island's first brick church, consecrated in 1142 by Patriarch Pellegrino of Aquileia, was rebuilt in Gothic style in the 15th century.”

3. “The Ancient Greek temple of Apollo in Naxos looks like a ‘star gate.’”

4. “The Expiatory Church of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, Barcelona. Located on the summit of Mount Tibidabo in Barcelona, Catalonia, it was built to stop the construction of a Protestant church and a hotel-casino.”

5. “Las Lajas Sanctuary, Colombia. This popular pilgrimage site for Christians from both Colombia and neighboring Ecuador was built in a neo-gothic architectural style between 1916 and 1949.”

6. “Fanjingshan Temples, China. Clinging to a rocky spur in the Wuling Mountains, these ancient Buddhist temples, with iron tiles to resist strong winds, seem almost unreal. Reaching them involves a four-hour ascent of over 8,000 steps.”

7. “Church of St. George, Ethiopia. This church is one of eleven in Ethiopia carved from solid rock, dating to the late 12th or early 13th century AD.”

8. “Abuna Yemata Guh, Ethiopia. Rising 8,460 feet above the ground, Abuna Yemata Guh (first picture) is arguably the most inaccessible place of worship on earth. It features stunning wall paintings dating back to the 5th century."

9. “The Monastery of the Holy Trinity, Meteora, Greece. Situated atop a 1,300 feet-high rocky precipice, this medieval monastery is accessible only via 146 steep steps hewn into the cliffside. It is one of the oldest remaining of the 24 Meteora monasteries.”

10. “Sanctuary of Madonna della Corona, Italy. Perched over 2,000 feet above sea level on Mount Baldo in Italy, this sanctuary overlooking the Valdadige Valley is one of the country's most famous sites dedicated to the Virgin Mary.”

11. “Temple of Valadier, Italy. Located at the entrance of the Frasassi Caves, this ancient sanctuary, first mentioned in documents from 1029, is a simple stone structure built by Benedictine monks to house a revered image of the Madonna.”

12. “Temple Theater of Monte San Nicola, Italy. Rediscovered by chance in 2000 by a paraglider, this 2,100-year-old site features a theater and a temple on the same hill, located 520 meters above sea level.”

13. “Yamadera temple, Japan.”

14. “The Dark Church of Göreme, Turkey. This famous 11th-century monastic cave church in Cappadocia, located in the Göreme Open Air Museum, is known for its vibrant wall paintings.”

15. “Saint-Michel d'Aiguilhe, France. This chapel, dedicated to the Archangel Michael, was constructed in 969 atop a 279-foot volcanic plug and is accessed by 268 steps carved directly into the rock.”

16. “Ad Deir, Petra, Jordan.”

17. “Salt Cathedral of Zipaquirá, Colombia.”

18. “Kipina Monastery, Greece.”

19. "Marble Mountains grotto-temples, Vietnam.”

20. “Tiger's Nest, Bhutan. First built in 1692 on an 8th-century site, it hangs on a precarious cliff at about 10,240 feet above sea level in Bhutan's Paro Valley.”

21. “Sumela Monastery, Turkey. Perched on a steep cliff 3,900 ft above the Altındere Valley, this structure is thought to have been built around 386 AD during Emperor Theodosius I's reign.”

22. “Chapel of St. Gildas, France.”

23. “Madonna de Idris, Italy. This extraordinary church, carved into solid rock and nestled among the ancient “Sassi di Matera”, is over 800 years old.”

24. “Gergeti Trinity Church, Georgia.”

25. “Golden Temple of Laojun Mountain, China. Its pavilion with a painted golden roof sits atop one of the peaks of Laojun Mountain, the highest in the Funiu Mountains at 2217 meters.”

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eBaum's Picks

1.
“The Sacra di San Michele, Italy This 1000-year-old medieval monastery inspired Umberto Eco's novel The Name of the Rose.”

2.
“Assumption of Maria Church, Lake Bled, Slovenia. The island's first brick church, consecrated in 1142 by Patriarch Pellegrino of Aquileia, was rebuilt in Gothic style in the 15th century.”

3.
“The Ancient Greek temple of Apollo in Naxos looks like a ‘star gate.’”

4.
“The Expiatory Church of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, Barcelona. Located on the summit of Mount Tibidabo in Barcelona, Catalonia, it was built to stop the construction of a Protestant church and a hotel-casino.”

5.
“Las Lajas Sanctuary, Colombia. This popular pilgrimage site for Christians from both Colombia and neighboring Ecuador was built in a neo-gothic architectural style between 1916 and 1949.”

6.
“Fanjingshan Temples, China. Clinging to a rocky spur in the Wuling Mountains, these ancient Buddhist temples, with iron tiles to resist strong winds, seem almost unreal. Reaching them involves a four-hour ascent of over 8,000 steps.”

7.
“Church of St. George, Ethiopia. This church is one of eleven in Ethiopia carved from solid rock, dating to the late 12th or early 13th century AD.” 

8.
“Abuna Yemata Guh, Ethiopia. Rising 8,460 feet above the ground, Abuna Yemata Guh (first picture) is arguably the most inaccessible place of worship on earth. It features stunning wall paintings dating back to the 5th century."

9.
“The Monastery of the Holy Trinity, Meteora, Greece. Situated atop a 1,300 feet-high rocky precipice, this medieval monastery is accessible only via 146 steep steps hewn into the cliffside. It is one of the oldest remaining of the 24 Meteora monasteries.”

10.
“Sanctuary of Madonna della Corona, Italy. Perched over 2,000 feet above sea level on Mount Baldo in Italy, this sanctuary overlooking the Valdadige Valley is one of the country's most famous sites dedicated to the Virgin Mary.”

11.
“Temple of Valadier, Italy. Located at the entrance of the Frasassi Caves, this ancient sanctuary, first mentioned in documents from 1029, is a simple stone structure built by Benedictine monks to house a revered image of the Madonna.”

12.
“Temple Theater of Monte San Nicola, Italy. Rediscovered by chance in 2000 by a paraglider, this 2,100-year-old site features a theater and a temple on the same hill, located 520 meters above sea level.”

13.
“Yamadera temple, Japan.”

14.
“The Dark Church of Göreme, Turkey. This famous 11th-century monastic cave church in Cappadocia, located in the Göreme Open Air Museum, is known for its vibrant wall paintings.”

15.
“Saint-Michel d'Aiguilhe, France. This chapel, dedicated to the Archangel Michael, was constructed in 969 atop a 279-foot volcanic plug and is accessed by 268 steps carved directly into the rock.”

16.
“Ad Deir, Petra, Jordan.”

17.
“Salt Cathedral of Zipaquirá, Colombia.”

18.
“Kipina Monastery, Greece.”

19.
"Marble Mountains grotto-temples, Vietnam.”

20.
“Tiger's Nest, Bhutan. First built in 1692 on an 8th-century site, it hangs on a precarious cliff at about 10,240 feet above sea level in Bhutan's Paro Valley.”

21.
“Sumela Monastery, Turkey. Perched on a steep cliff 3,900 ft above the Altındere Valley, this structure is thought to have been built around 386 AD during Emperor Theodosius I's reign.”

22.
“Chapel of St. Gildas, France.”

23.
“Madonna de Idris, Italy. This extraordinary church, carved into solid rock and nestled among the ancient “Sassi di Matera”, is over 800 years old.”

24.
“Gergeti Trinity Church, Georgia.”

25.
“Golden Temple of Laojun Mountain, China. Its pavilion with a painted golden roof sits atop one of the peaks of Laojun Mountain, the highest in the Funiu Mountains at 2217 meters.”