Here is a list of the top 10 tallest churches in the world.
Most of the tallest churches are built before 20th century and located in European countries. Many of these churches are even taller than some skyscrapers, which generally refer to the habitable structures above 150 meters or 500 ft.
1. Ulm Minster
Height: 161.5 m (530 ft)
Year Built: 1890
Location: Ulm, Germany
Ulm Minster is a Gothic church in Ulm, Germany, as of 2019, it's still the tallest church in the world, and will remain that for another 8 years, until the Sagrada Familia in Spain surpasses it in 2026.
Although it has never been a seat of bishop, the church is still widely referred to as Ulm Cathedral for its large scale.
The church was initially a Roman Catholic church and was transferred to a Lutheran Church in 1529 during the Protestant Reformation.
2. Our Lady of Peace Basilica
Height: 158 m (518 ft)
Year Built: 1989
Location: Yamoussoukro, Ivory Coast
This Baroque style building is a Roman Catholic minor basilica in Yamoussoukro, which is the capital city of Ivory Coast, a country in West Africa. The church cost 400 million dollars to build, the dome and the encircled plaza is inspired by the Saint Peter's Basilica in Vatican City, the roof of its dome is slightly lower than that of Saint Peter's Basilica, but the spire is higher, making it the tallest Baroque church in the world. Guinness World Records lists the basilica as the world's largest church.
Despite of its large scale and gorgeous appearance, it's not being used as a cathedral, the principal place of worship and the cathedral of the local diocese is the nearby Saint Augustine Cathedral.
3. Cologne Cathedral
Height: 157 m (516 ft)
Year Built: 1880
Location: Cologne, Germany
Cologne Cathedral is the tallest twin-spired church in the world, the towers of the church have been the tallest twin towers for religious use, and will keep the honor for another few years, until a pair of 420-meter Mosque minarets in Mecca arguably surpass it.
Cologne Cathedral is the third largest Gothic church in the world, after Seville Cathedral in Spain and Milan Cathedral in Italy. It is the seat of the Archbishop of Cologne, and houses the reliquary of the Three Kings.
The cathedral survived in the World War II, but still seriously damaged, the building is repaired in 1950s, and maintenance works is carried out every year.
The construction of Cologne Cathedral commenced in the mid 13th Century, and completed in 1880, took more than 600 years to be built, however, the construction work had been suspended since 1473, only be resumed in 19th century.
The cathedral has been the most popular tourist attraction in Germany, attracting nearly 7 million visitors a year.
4. Rouen Cathedral
Height: 151 m (495 ft)
Year Built: 1876
Location: Rouen, France
Rouen Cathedral is the tallest church in France, like Cologne Cathedral, the construction on this church also started in 13 Century and completed in 19 Century, because the interruptions caused by wars, natural disasters, lacking of funds, etc.
5. Church of St. Nicholas
Height: 147 m (483 ft)
Year Built: 1874
Location: Hamburg, Germany
St. Nicholas Church was once one of five main Evangelical churches in Hamburg, the church was largely destroyed by the bombing of Hamburg in World War II, only some incomplete walls and the impaired tower are remained. The building is no longer being used as a church, but served as a memorial landmark in the city.
The tower of St. Nicholas Church is the second tallest building in the city of Hamburg.
A 75-meter high viewing platform is opened to public for enjoying the aerial view of the city, visitors can access there by taking a elevator, which was added in 2005.
6. Strasbourg Cathedral
Height: 142 m (466 ft)
Year Built: 1439
Location: Strasbourg, France
Strasbourg Cathedral is a Catholic cathedral in Strasbourg, France. The 142m-tall church was built between 1176 and 1439, and became the world's second tallest building at its completion, only after the St. Mary's Church in Stralsund, Germany. In 1647, the spire of St. Mary's Church was burnt down, from then Strasbourg Cathedral became the world's tallest building, holding that title for 227 years, until in 1874 when the tower of St. Nikolai's Church in Hamburg was built.
Strasbourg Cathedral is well known for its weird asymmetrical form, there were actually two tower planned to be built for the west facade, kind of similar to the Cologne Cathedral, but only north tower was built, the south tower was never built for some reasons. There's an observation deck on the north tower at a height of 66 meters, from there visitors can enjoy the cityscape of Strasbourg and see the view of the Rhine banks from the Vosges all the way to the Black Forest.
7. Basilica of Our Lady of Licheń
Height: 141.5 m (464 ft)
Year Built: 2004
Location: Licheń Stary, Poland
Basilica of Our Lady of Licheń is a relatively new Roman Catholic church built between 1994 and 2004, in the village of Licheń Stary near Konin in central Poland. It's the largest church in Eastern Europe.
The central dome of the church is 98 meter tall, a tower on the left front rises 141.5 meters high, makes the church one of the tallest churches in the world.
8. St. Peter's Basilica
Height: 137 m (448 ft)
Year Built: 1626
Location: Vatican City
St. Peters's Basilica is the world's largest church by area, the church is not a cathedral but holds a unique position in the Christian world, as the site where the main altar of the church stands on is said to be the burial site of Saint Peter.
The top of the church's majestic dome can be accessed by tourists to enjoy the panoramic view of Rome.
9. St. Stephen's Cathedral
Height: 137 m (448 ft)
Year Built: 1433
Location: Vienna, Austria
Commonly known as Stephansdom, St. Stephen's Cathedral is the seat of the Archbishop of Vienna, it's dedicated to St. Stephen, who is traditionally venerated as the first martyr of Christianity.
The current building was built in 1511 and standing on the ruins of two earlier buildings of the church, the first of which was built in 1160 and destroyed by a great fire in 1258, the second was encapsulated during an expansion and eventually demolished in 1430.
The church has a unique roof that is ornamented with colorful patterns, and is steep enough to be cleaned by the rain alone.
10. New Cathedral, Linz
Height: 135 m (440 ft)
Year Built: 1924
Location: Linz, Austria
While St. Stephen's Cathedral is the tallest church in Austria, the New Cathedral in Linz is the largest church in the country by area, and only 2 meters shorter. The church was originally designed to have a higher spire, but was not approved as no building in Austria-Hungary was allowed to be built higher than St.Stephen's Cathedral at that time.
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