100 Great Cathedrals of Europe

Essays on 100 cathedrals of Europe, divided by regions: France, Germany, Austria and Switzerland, Great Britain, Italy and Malta, Russia and Eastern Europe, Scandinavian countries and the Netherlands, Spain and Portugal. The renowned British author Simon Jenkins discusses the significance of each cathedral, the history of their construction and renovations, important details of their interiors and facades, elements of decoration, provides an insight into the historical context and biographies of the architects. The preface includes a brief but comprehensive description of Romanesque, Gothic architecture, and buildings of the Modern era. The book is superbly illustrated and includes a map of Europe with the cathedrals in question.

"The cathedrals of Europe are the greatest works of art. They testify to the Christian faith, but also to the achievements of architecture, construction, and crafts. It has been eight centuries since most of them were built, yet nowhere in Europe - from Cologne to Palermo, from Moscow to Barcelona - have they lost their significance. Nothing can compare to their magnificence. There are hundreds of cathedrals in Europe, and I have chosen those I consider the most beautiful. Most cathedrals are majestic. No other places of Christian worship can compare with them in size. And if they impress today, it is hard to even imagine how these towering structures must have impacted the people of the Middle Ages... They are wonders of the world, made of brick, stone, wood, and glass, shrouded in a halo of mysteries." (Simon Jenkins)