Since their inception, holy buildings have aspired to pay tribute to the god or gods their worshippers pay homage to. Modern churches rise into the sky, and in the middle age they were often the tallest buildings their people would ever see. Ancient temples could be built to such magnitudes that even today, thousands of years later, they are still considered wonders of the world. But not all are magnificent due to their architecture; others are just flat-out amazing for their location. A small chapel impossibly built on the side of a cliff may be just as awe-inspiring as a towering cathedral. If there’s one thing holy sites can teach us all, it’s that when the goal is to impress, location can sometimes mean everything.

Borgund Stave Church

Located in Norway and built probably towards the end of the 12th century, the Borgund Stave Church looks like the sort of chapel Vikings would build if they took up Christianity. In fact, that is exactly what this chapel is. Even more amazing, it has remained virtually intact for the past nine hundred years. It has also spawned numerous replicas, including one in Rapid City, South Dakota, USA. photo credit: tnarik

photo credits: tnarik, tnarik, hirodusk, hirodusk

Mont Saint-Michel

This abbey is located on a tidal island off the coast of Normandy, France. When the tide is low enough, one can walk out to the abbey across the sand, but when the tide rises the abbey’s land becomes a full-fledged island. Actually, this is how it used to be. More recently, a causeway has been constructed allowing tourists to reach the site by land whenever they please. Because of its already natural defenses, the site was often used for military purposes throughout its history. Today it is considered one of France’s most valuable national treasures. photo credit: FlashingKalou

photo credit: Allie_Caulfield, LucaLu, afloresm

Paro Taktsang

Finished in 1692, this monastery was built around the Taktsang Senge Samdup cave, the most well known of the thirteen “tiger lair caves in which Guru Padmasambhava is believed to have meditated in the 8th century. Legend says the Guru flew to each cave on the back of a tiger, hence the name. The monastery hangs on a cliff roughly 700 meters above the valley floor. photo credit: Wonderlane

photo credits: thomaswanhoff, Dana + LeRoy, thomaswanhoff

Varlaam Monastery, Meteora Located in Greece

Meteora is a location filled with countless natural monuments of stone, and a top many of these monuments one will find a holy site. The most well known of these monasteries is Varlaam, named after the monk who first built a small chapel on this site in the 14th century. Two hundred years later, two monks would arrive and add a full monastery. photo credit: cod_gabriel

Sumela Monastery

Founded in the year 386AD, legend says that two Athenian priests found an icon of the Virgin Mary in a cave at this site and decided to build a monastery. Its current incarnation dates back to the 13th century. It was abandoned in 1923 and today serves as a tourist attraction. It stands at the foot of a steep cliff with an ancient aqueduct still leading to its entrance. photo credit: Commander Holmes

photo credit: sly06, Jean & Nathalie

Church of St. George

Located in Lalibela, Ethiopia, this rock-hewn church is fascinating in that, upon approach, it appears to be an enormous cross carved down into an enormous rock. At the base, however, one can see its true purpose. It is a church. Created in the early 13th century, it is considered by some to be the Eighth Wonder of the World. photo credit: sameffron

photo credit: sameffron, sameffron, sameffron

Wieliczka Salt Mine Chapel

photo credit: nedrichards

When one thinks salt mines, one probably thinks of a new development. These mines, however, were in full use for 700 years up until only a few decades ago. Throughout the centuries, countless miners sculpted statues, rooms, furniture, and anything else they wished for out of the very salt that surrounded them. Most impressive of all was the chapel. The altar, holy images, everything was carved from salt, even the chandeliers. And remember, this was not done by professional artists, but by the miners themselves who desired a place to worship while they were underground.

photo credit: nedrichards, nedrichards, nedrichards

Heng Shan Hanging Monastery

Located on Heng Shan, one of the five sacred mountains of the Taoism and Daoism religions, the Hanging Monastery of Heng Shan is actually a Buddhist temple (although it does also pay homage to Confucianism and Taoism). It is also one of the most awes-inspiring monasteries in the world. Heng Shan is the most northern of the five sacred mountains, which placed it in territory that was often not under control of the Chinese. This explains why a Buddhist temple rests on a Taoist holy site. The monastery was built around the end of the 5th century.
photo credit: stevecadman

Sigiriya

The meaning of this natural rock fortress’s name is “Lion’s Rock”. From roughly the 5th century BC it was used as a Buddhist monastery. Caves honeycomb the vertical walls, which were utilized by the monks for various purposes. The rocks entire western face has been painted with frescoes that still survive to this day. photo credit: Thomas Roche

photo credit: 2neus, James & Vilija, genome4hire

Phuktal Gompa

Dating back to the 15th century, this monastery was built within the mouth of an enormous cave perched high on a mountain-side. The site is still in use today and home to approximately seventy monks. photo credit: sajith TS

Uchisar Hill, Cappadocia

At the highest point within the Cappadocia region of Turkey, one will find the Uchisar Hill, a towering rock completely honeycombed with caves. Many of these were used as natural dwellings, but others have obviously been used in the past as monasteries and religious temples. Today the site is mostly a tourist attraction, but even a glimpse will show this sites deep history. photo credit: Jean & Nathalie

Whether is be on mountain peaks, cliff sides, or salt-mines, holy sites can be found almost anywhere. As the future brings new frontiers, one can only speculate that many of the first buildings to take root, will be holy sites paying tribute to their faith.

1. Borgund Stavkyrkje, 2. Padmasambhava’s Taktsang (Tiger’s Nest) Monastery, on the cliffside, Bhutan, 3. The Hanging Monastery, Heng Shan, 4. Lun de Miel 443, 5. Chapel Sacristry, 6. Meteora - Varlaam Abbey, 7. Turkey 120, 8. Sumella Monastery, 9. St. George’s, 10. Sigiriya by Ella112, from Wikipedia, 11. Borgund stave church, 12. U?hisar, 13. Tigernest (Taktsang)-Kloster in Bhutan

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