Essays on the 100 cathedrals of Europe, divided by region: France, Germany, Austria and Switzerland, Great Britain, Italy and Malta, Russia and Eastern Europe, Scandinavian countries and the Netherlands, Spain and Portugal. The famous British author Simon Jenkins talks about the significance of a particular cathedral, the history of construction and reconstruction, important details of the interior and facade, decorative elements, gives an idea of the historical context and biography of the architects. The preface provides a brief but comprehensive description of Romanesque, Gothic architecture and buildings of the New Age. 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. Eight centuries have passed since most of them were erected, but nowhere in Europe - from Cologne to Palermo, from Moscow to Barcelona - have they lost importance. Nothing can compare to their magnificence. There are hundreds of cathedrals in Europe, and I have chosen the ones that I think are the most beautiful. Most cathedrals are majestic. No other place of Christian worship can compare in size. And if they are impressive today, it is difficult to even imagine how these soaring structures must have influenced the people of the Middle Ages... These are wonders of the world, created from brick, stone, wood and glass, shrouded in an aura of mystery.” (Simon Jenkins)