Cathedrals of Europe Trivia Quiz

Answer: St. Paul's Cathedral

St. Paul's Cathedral is the second largest church by area in the British Isles (Liverpool cathedral is first). The cathedral sits atop Ludgate Hill, one of the highest points in the city of London. A church has been on the site since 604 AD. The domed spire is 365 feet high and St. Paul's was the tallest building in London from 1710 until 1962.

It was designed in the Baroque style by famed architect Christopher Wren who was commissioned in the building of many buildings in London following the Great Fire of 1666. During the World War II bombings in 1940, the cathedral miraculously survived despite the fact that all buildings surrounding the cathedral experienced severe damage and destruction.

Answer: Notre Dame Cathedral

Notre Dame took almost 200 years to complete after the building was officially finished in 1345. The Catholic cathedral is considered one of the finest examples of Gothic architecture in all of the world. It is located in the fourth arrondissement of the city of Paris.

The name "Notre-Dame de Paris" literally translates to be "Our Lady of Paris". Notre Dame is also the famous setting for Victor Hugo's 1831 novel "The Hunchback of Notre Dame".

Answer: Ulm Minster

Ulm Minster is a former Catholic church that is now a part of the Lutheran denomination. Whilst regarded as a Cathedral by many due to its vast size, by definition it is only a church on account of a bishop's seat having not been allocated to the building. Ulm Minster has a majestic spire that rises to a height of 161.5 meters (530 feet).

A tight winding stairwell ascends to a viewing gallery at 143 feet where on a clear day one can see the Alps.

Answer: Nidaros Cathedral

Nidaros Cathedral was founded in 1070 and completed in 1300. Building of the church began to commemorate the gravesite of King Olaf II, who was later canonized and became the patron saint of the country. In 1537, the cathedral was taken from the Roman Catholics and made a Lutheran place of worship following the Protestant Reformation. Kings of Norway are consecrated within the walls of Nidaros.

The cathedral mixes the Romanesque and Gothic styles of architecture and remains one of Norway's most beloved tourist heritage sites.

Answer: Saint Basil's Cathedral

The Cathedral of the Protection of Most Holy Theotokos on the Moat is really quite the mouthful. Saint Basil's Cathedral is so much easier to remember. On a trip to Moscow's Red Square, my daughter was fascinated by the colorful fantastical looking spires that resemble Candyland.

It was built from 1555 until 1561 on the orders of Ivan the Terrible. Saint Basil's Cathedral also goes by the name of Pokrovsky Cathedral. The architectural style is considered Byzantine but has no resemblance to any other Russian church structure.

Answer: Hagia Sophia

Hagia Sophia translates in Greek to mean "Holy Wisdom". It began life in 537 A.D. as a Greek Orthodox church designed by Isidore of Miletus and Anthemius of Tralles. The building was converted to a mosque from 1453 until 1931, and then became a museum starting February 1st 1935.

The building is renowned for its extraordinary domed structure, polychrome marbles, and gold mosaics. Today it attracts over 3 million visitors a year from all over the world.

Answer: Florence

The first stone for the Florence Cathedral was lain on September 9th 1296. The building was designed by Arnolfo di Cambio and completed in 1436. The signature dome is the largest brick dome structure ever created. The outside facade of the basilica is polychrome marbled panels in green, white, and pink colors.

The church is Roman Catholic in its affiliation and the architecture is Gothic-Renaissance in style. The cathedral has a rich and sometimes infamous history. On April 26th 1478, Giuliano di Pero de' Medici was murdered in the building and Lorenzo Il Magnifico barely escaped with his life during the Pazzi conspiracy.

Answer: Barcelona

The Sagrada Familia is a Roman Catholic church begun in 1882. The building was consecrated on November 7th 2010 by Pope Benedict XVI. The anticipated final date for construction is estimated to be 2026-2028. The initial architect was Antoni Gaudi and with some minor alterations, the church continues to grow within the scope of his design plans. Gaudi's original plan was for eighteen constructed spires with the tallest being symbolic of Jesus Christ and rising to a height of 170 meters (560 feet). Completion of this structure will make Sagrada Familia the tallest church in the world surpassing Ulm Minster for the honor.

Answer: St. Peter's Basilica

St. Peter's Basilica is a late Renaissance church found within the Vatican City. Vatican City is the world's smallest independent recognized state with a population of just over 800 and a land mass of 110 acres. The basilica was begun in 1506 and completed in 1626. One of the primary architects for the building was the great Michelangelo.

The basilica is technically not a cathedral because it is not the seat of a bishop.

Answer: Westminster Abbey

Westminster Abbey is a 10th century Gothic church located adjacent to the Houses of Parliament in central London. Since 1066, all coronations of kings and queens of England have been held within the walls of the abbey. Many members of the royal family are also buried there including Edward the Confessor, Richard II, Henry VII, Elizabeth I, Charles II, and George II. Since 1560, the church has been considered a "Royal Peculiar" as it does not have the status of an abbey or a cathedral.