Best of European Union » sir christopher wren http://www.best-of-european-union.eu Travel through the most beautiful places in Europe Sun, 08 Sep 2013 13:36:19 +0000 en-US hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.6 St. Paul´s Cathedral – one of the major landmarks of London | United Kingdom http://www.best-of-european-union.eu/2011/11/29/st-pauls-cathedral-in-london/ http://www.best-of-european-union.eu/2011/11/29/st-pauls-cathedral-in-london/#comments Tue, 29 Nov 2011 09:08:09 +0000 Julius http://www.best-of-european-union.eu/?p=5536 St. Paul’s Cathedral is one of the major landmarks of the British capital of London and has a completely sovereign status among the all church buildings. It is also the second largest religious building in the United Kingdom (after Liverpool Cathedral), whose unmistakable dome inherently belongs to the eastern part of the city skyline. Photo […]

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]]> St. Paul’s Cathedral is one of the major landmarks of the British capital of London and has a completely sovereign status among the all church buildings. It is also the second largest religious building in the United Kingdom (after Liverpool Cathedral), whose unmistakable dome inherently belongs to the eastern part of the city skyline.

St. Paul's Cathedral, London, United Kingdom
Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by Garry Knight

The cathedral rises on a Ludgate Hill, offering a beautiful view not only of the roofs of surrounding houses, but also on the nearby River Thames. The place where the cathedral stands, belonged to the church purposes from time immemorial, and so St. Paul’s Cathedral is the fifth church that was built here. The first wooden church has already been here in the 7th century. However it took many centuries until the present cathedral was built here. The former buildings were destroyed especially by numerous fires. Churches have always been newly refurbished and underwent many modifications, especially during the Middle Ages.

The worst time in the history of the cathedral was the September 2nd, 1666, during London’s Great Fire, when the four fifths of the former metropolis were completely destroyed, including the cathedral.

St. Paul's Cathedral, London, United Kingdom 2
Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by Steve Cadman

The creation of a new model of church is credited with one of the greatest masters of that time – Sir Christopher Wren. Construction started in 1675 and was completed many years later – in 1710. Once the cathedral was completed, it was the third longest church in Europe with a length of 181m, and boasted a 149 m high tower.

Today, St. Paul’s Cathedral is the most beautiful old building in London, still used for regular worship, but also