hidden europe 30

Painted churches

by hidden europe

Summary

The UNESCO World Heritage List features many ornately decorated churches across Europe. The List includes the painted monasteries of southern Bukovina (described elsewhere in this issue), as well as murals on churches in Switzerland, Bulgaria and Germany - not to mention the fabulous painted churches of the Troodos Mountains in Cyprus.

UNESCO officials evidently have a soft spot for painted churches. The painted monasteries of southern Bukovina (see above feature) are included on UNESCO’s List of World Heritage Sites. Cast your eye over the UNESCO list and you will find painted churches aplenty. What is distinctive about the Romanian monasteries is that, as Laurence Mitchell highlights in his article above, it is not just the interiors but also the exteriors of the buildings that are painted. But for devotees of indoor religious art, where are the best churches on offer?

Related articleFull text online

At the water's edge: Germany's Wadden Sea

Within just a few centuries, the geography of the Frisian region has been reshaped by storms and tides. Paul Scraton is a regular writer for hidden europe; here he explores Germany’s Wadden Sea coastline. It’s a tale that shows the power of the sea.

Related articleFull text online

Into the hills: a Bohemian diversion

Of course one can speed across Europe on sleek, fast trains. But slow trains, the kind that dawdle along branch lines, are so much more interesting. We ride a rural rail route in northern Bohemia, where fading railway stations reveal a Habsburg history. Join us on the slow train to Dolni Poustevna.

Related blog post

Rivers of memory: Wrocław

With its complex history, Wrocław can be a difficult place to get one's head around. Paul Scraton approaches the Polish city by following the rivers that lend character to the Wrocław townscape.