The 23 Most Famous Gothic Buildings Around the World

Milan’s most notable landmark is a shining example of classic Gothic architecture that took almost six centuries to build. Duomo di Milano is now the largest cathedral in Italy and the fourth largest in the world. Its famous roofline features a forest of spires and pinnacles, and over 3,400 statues.

Probably the most recognizable example of Gothic architecture, Notre-Dame de Paris has been attracting visitors since it was completed in the mid 14th century. It was the first building ever to use a flying buttress—a supportive half-arch that extends from the exterior wall to a pier.

Unfortunately, one of Notre-Dame de Paris’s most famous features—its spire—collapsed during the 2019 fire but, earlier this year, the French government announced that it will restore the cathedral to its original look by 2024.

Originally a Benedictine church, the rebuilding of Westminster Abbey in the 13th century was one of King Henry III’s most notable achievements. The architectural masterpiece would become the place where all but two of England’s kings would be crowned as well as buried after their deaths. The abbey has also hosted 16 royal weddings including that of Henry I and Princess Matilda of Scotland in 1100, Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip in 1947, and Prince William and the Duchess of Cambridge in 2011.

The Duomo cathedral, one of Italy’s largest churches, and a true architectural masterpiece dominates Florence’s skyline. While construction started in 1296, the building’s most famous feature—namely its dome that rises 372 feet above ground—didn’t exist until 1436 when Renaissance architect Filippo Brunelleschi figured out a way to engineer a dome that wouldn’t collapse during construction.

The second-largest cathedral in the world that also houses the world’s largest swinging bell took six centuries to build. After construction started in 1248, the cathedral was abandoned in 1473, leaving it unfinished for more than 350 years. The building’s spires were completed in classic German Gothic style. It is believed that the remains of the Biblical Three Wise Men are held in a gold sarcophagus in the cathedral.

One of the best and first examples of French Gothic architecture is the grand Chartres cathedral located about 50 miles south of Paris. It was built in the 13th century and, unlike many Gothic churches that have needed extensive renovations throughout the years, it has preserved its original design since then. Together with its imposing exterior, the cathedral is known for its stunning stained-glass windows that have been miraculously preserved since their creation between 1210 and 1250.

From its first Archbishop who established Christianity in England to the infamous Becket controversy that ended up with Thomas Becket’s murder in the cathedral, Canterbury’s history is closely linked to that of England. The building became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1988 and is one of the most visited and important landmarks in the country.

There are a lot of reasons why the Salisbury cathedral ranks among the most famous Gothic buildings in the world. Its impressive architecture that includes the tallest church spire in the UK and the largest close, too, is a magnificent example of English Gothic style that flourished from the 12th century until about the 17th century. The building also houses one of the original copies of the Magna Carta, the royal charter of rights that, among other things, limited the power of the government for the first time.

The stunning Leuven town hall was built in the 15th century and is the perfect example of the highly decorative aesthetic that this period is famous for. The building’s ornate facade underwent major renovations in the 1980s because it was struck by a bomb during WWII.

Prague has no shortage of beautiful buildings but the St. Vitus cathedral, the largest one in the city, is a true Gothic gem. Construction started in 1344 but in 1419, it was halted due to the Bohemian Wars so the cathedral stood unfinished for centuries. When construction finally resumed in the second half of the 19th century, the rest of the building was completed in Neo-Gothic style.

Built on a bridge towering above the Guáitara river in close proximity to the Colombian-Ecuadorian border, the Santuario de Las Lajas stuns not only with its dramatic location but also with its gorgeous facade designed in neo-Gothic style. Legend has it that in the mid-18th century a woman and her daughter were seeking shelter in the gorge during a storm when they saw the image of the Virgin Mary above them. Immediately after that, the woman’s daughter, who couldn’t speak or hear, was cured so the basilica was built to honor the miracle.

Romania has well over a hundred castles spread around all corners of the country but one of the most imposing and fairytale-like ones in Corvin Castle. Its history dates back to the mid-15th century when a Hungarian military leader decided to build a castle around a keep that previously stood here. Legend has it that Vlad the Impaler (aka Dracula) spent some time imprisoned here.

Vilnius’s St. Anne church is so beautiful that even Napoleon Bonaparte fell in love with it and reportedly wanted to take it with him to Paris “in the palm of his hand.”

The church originally donned a completely different facade but after a devastating fire in 1419, St. Anne was rebuilt entirely in red brick and it remains largely unchanged since then.

Located on the famous Grand Place that every two years is covered in a “flower carpet”, the Brussels Townhall is a gorgeous example of Brabantine Gothic Architecture, characterized by its extremely ornate and highly-detailed carvings.

The asymmetrical building’s most prominent feature is the tower that is crowned with the Archangel Saint-Michel, the patron saint of Brussels.

The earliest records of this church date back to 675 AD when a Saxon convent was built here. The abbey as we know it today—in all its Gothic beauty— though didn’t exist until 1499 when Bishop Oliver King ordered the construction of a new church.

Built in the 12th century, the Rouen cathedral has undergone many renovations over time so its stunning, highly ornate facade is a great example of multiple Gothic styles. The cathedral even held the title of the tallest building in the world between 1876 and 1880.

Its beauty inspired many artists including Camille Pissarro and Claude Monet who have painted it on several occasions.

Barcelona has an entire Gothic neighborhood—Barri Gòtic— consisting of narrow medieval streets but when it comes to grand buildings dating from that period, the city’s cathedral (or La Seu) is a must-see.

It is the pinnacle of Catalan Gothic architecture and was built between the 13th and 15th centuries in honor of Santa Eulàlia, the patron saint of Barcelona, whose remains are also buried there.

Manila’s San Sebastian Church impresses not only with its grand Gothic Revival architecture but also with its eye-catching color—a very light mint green. It is also considered the only steel church in the Philippines. Its unusual construction is due to the fact that the church was built in 1890 so some of the materials were imported from other countries such as Germany.

Leiria’s Batalha monastery is probably one of the most important buildings in Portugal, in terms of architecture. King Joao commissioned the stunning building at the end of the 15th century to commemorate Portugal’s independence from Spain and construction took almost a hundred years. But the result—a mix of Flamboyant Gothic and Manueline architecture—was so impressive that it soon influenced the design of other important structures in the country.

The beautiful Church of Savior was built at the beginning of the 18th century on land given to the Jesuits by the Kangxi Emperor of the Qing dynasty. The gift was a sign of gratitude as he had just recovered from an illness thanks to two Jesuit priests. The church was moved and rebuilt at a different location at the end of the 19th century so its magnificent gray marble Gothic facade didn’t come into existence until 1890.

Built at the beginning of the 20th century in Gothic style, the beautiful Our Lady of Ransom Church has 12 towers—one for each disciple of Jesus Christ. It is believed that the spot where the church now stands was a Jesuit center where St. Francis Xavier came to pray.

Built in the 15th century, the magnificent architecture of the Bruges Townhall would later become the model for numerous other town halls across Europe. Its facade features statues of Belgian nobility, fairytale-like towers, and pointed arches.

The townhall was given a major update in the 19th century by renowned architect Louis Delacenserie who also added to the exterior the richly decorated “Gothic Hall.”

The oldest high court in India was modeled after a medieval commercial building in Europe—the Ypres cloth hall in the Belgian city of Ypres. And while it is easy to see the similarities between the two vast buildings, the court’s striking red-brick facade definitely stands out as more modern (it was built in 1872).