Ten of the Worlds Most Amazing and Unusual Church Steeples

If you have ever taken the time to look up at the top of some of the churches and temples of the world you will discover that there are some rather amazing things to be found. In fact, when it comes to a church spires or steeples there are some rather unusual ones to be seen…


 

Top 10 Amazing and Unusual Church Steeples
La Sagrada Familia, Barcelona, Spain

10 – Spain

Located in the capital city of the autonomous community of Catalonia in Spain is this simply stunning set of steeples that are as a complicated build as they look. It is no wonder this is still one of the most photographed churches in the world.

Top 10 Amazing and Unusual Church Steeples
The Church by the Sea at Tampa, Florida

9 – USA

When I told you I was going to bring you some of the most unusual church steeples I bet you didn’t think one would look like a chicken! But that is exactly what this one is. Those of you with a good memory will remember this from my post” Top 10 Buildings that Look Like Animals”

Top 10 Amazing and Unusual Church Steeples
Cathedral of Maringa, Brazil

8 – Brazil

Apparently, this file was inspired by Russians sputnik design it is officially the widest church steeple in the world and the tallest in the country. It also has the claim that it is the 16th tallest in the entire world! Built in the early seventies it does have a very fresh and modern feel to it.

Top 10 Amazing and Unusual Church Steeples
Church of our Savior, Copenhagen, Denmark

7 – Denmark

Being one of only 2 spiral steeples on a church anywhere in the world is quite a claim to fame, so it is no wonder there is always a flock of tourists waiting to walk up to it. And that is not just the light of the photo, it really is black as well.

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Top 10 Amazing and Unusual Church Steeples
Royal Presidio Chapel Monterey, California

6 – USA

Looking at this spire you might think there is something fishy about it, and you would be right because this steeple is made from oyster shells! Well not made from them, but decorated which is good enough.

Top 10 Amazing and Unusual Church Steeples
St Giles’ Cathedral Building in Edinburgh, Scotland

5 – UK

This is the only Crown style steeple in the world and at the time it was cutting edge in design and the building possibilities of the time. The church has been one of Edinburgh’s religious focal points for approximately 900 years and is still a major tourist attraction.

Top 10 Amazing and Unusual Church Steeples
The church steeple of St Michael

4 – UK

This art inspired church steeple belongs to St Michael’s church and is probably one of the strangest you are ever going to see. The original structure was taken down in 1820 as it had become unsafe due to hundreds of years of damage and our terrible British weather.

Top 10 Amazing and Unusual Church Steeples
Salisbury Cathedral, England, UK

3 – UK

This is the Cathedral I used to go to every Sunday because this is where I was born (not in the cathedral, just the city) so I already know how magnificent the UK’s tallest spire can look like. While I have never been to the top of it, I often wondered what it would be like to do so.

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Ulm Minster, Germany
Ulm Minster, Germany

2 – Germany

While Salisbury might be home to the tallest spire in the UK, it is nothing in comparison to the world’s tallest located in Germany. In the 14th century the church was actually built outside the walled city but after great debate, a new church was erected within the city’s perimeter.

Top 10 Amazing and Unusual Church Steeples
Twisted Church Steeple of Verchin

1 – France

In a tiny village called Verchin in the 7 Valleys area of Pas-de-Calais, there is a magnificent church – and it has a twisted spire, what the French call a clochet tordu. The church is around 400 years old, the West tower was completed in 1610 and the fortified tower in 1630. It’s a beautiful building in the Gothic style, with ornate patterns on its façade and lovely tall arched stain glass windows. The fortified tower has arrow slits for archers to fire from and repel attackers and the church served as a place of refuge in times of conflict for both the villagers and soldiers.

Author: Gus Barge

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