Germany's Churches
St. Paul's Church in Munich
Visitors to Munich's annual Oktoberfest, the world's largest beer festival, have a fantastic view of the city as they swing past St. Paul's steeple. New neighboring old, sacred bordering secular -- in Germany, contrast is often more the rule than the exception.
Erfurt Cathedral
In preparation for European Youth Day, scheduled to take place in Zagreb in December 2007, young people celebrated the "Night of Lights" on Nov. 8, 2006 in the Erfurt Cathedral.
Stephen's Cathedral in Aachen
The Aachen Cathedral, a UNESCO cultural heritage site, is a conglomerate of many different styles of sacred architecture. Aachen is located in western Germany on the border with Holland and Belgium.
Catholic Day in Ulm
These participants at the annual Catholic Day sing in the shadow of the Ulm Cathedral, located in southern on the border between Bavaria and Baden-Wurrtemberg.
Emperor's Cathedral in Worms
The church in Worms may be the smallest of the three Rheinish Emperor Cathedrals, the other two of which are found nearby in Speyer and Mainz, but it is still large and majestic enough to earn its name. It was built in the 12th century and is exemplary of Romanesque architecture.
St. Peter's Cathedral in Regensburg
The cathedral in Regensburg is idyllically located on the Danube River. An example of sacred Gothic architecture, the church is home to the renowned boys' choir, the Regensburger Domspatzen.
St. Christopherus Church on a Baden-Baden Freeway
This so-called "freeway church," located near a rest stop by Baden-Baden, sees over 300,000 visitors a year. The pyramid-shaped building was designer by Emil Wachter and constructed in 1978.
Wilparting Chapel in Bavaria
The Baroque Wilparting Chapel in Rosenheim, southern Germany, completes the picture-perfect autumn scene.
Cologne Cathedral
A UNESCO cultural heritage landmark, the Cologne Cathedral is one of the most-visited located in the country. Next to the Ulm Cathedral it is the second tallest church in Germany and the third tallest in the world.
Chapel Square in Altötting
During his visit through Bavaria, Pope Benedict XVI celebrated mass here on Sept. 11, 2006.
Freiburg Cathedral
Built mainly in the Romanesque and Gothic styles, the Freiburg Cathedral is a focal point of the southwestern city. Its impressive tower contains sixteen bells, one of which is the oldest remaining church bell of its size. Weighing 3,290 kilograms (7,253 pounds), the bell has presided over masses since 1258.
St. Michael's Church in Berlin
Surrounded by greenery, St. Michael's was built in in 1851 and is the second oldest Catholic church in the German capital.
Speyer Cathedral
The cathedral in Speyer, in the heart of wine country in Rheinland-Pfalz, was added to UNESCO's cultural heritage list in 1981.
Berlin Cathedral
Located at the heart of Berlin, the Berlin Cathedral is not as old as it might look. The Protestant church celebrated its centennial in 2005.
Maria Magdalena Church in Freiburg
It's not just the architecture but also the idea behind Freiburg's Maria Magdalena Church that make it unique. The building houses both a Catholic and a Protestant congregation, whose designated areas are separated by sliding panels. Completed in 2004, the extravagent cement structure cost 6 million euros ($7.85 million).