Churches, old and new
Catholicism and the Catholic church are central to history in Western Europe. During the Middle Ages, many pilgrims would journey on foot to holy sites for prayer and reflection. Some devout Catholics continue to do this today -- the photo at Chartres Cathedral here features pilgrims that walked 63 miles from Paris to pray at the cathedral in Chartres to mark the celebration of Pentecost, seven weeks after Easter, in 2019.
These religious sites are beautiful and awe-inspiring. And while most are fairly old, more modern churches like Sagrada Familia are worth the stop on your tour as well -- they take the spiritual experience to new heights.
