Romania’s remote region of Maramureș has a unique architectural style, where tall, tower-like wooden churches dot the landscape.

Source: The magical Romanian villages known for their unique Gothic churches

Look further than Transylvania.

Source: The most underrated rural regions in Romania for cultural immersion

The region of Maramures, in northern Transylvania, Romania, is home to some of the most unique churches in the world, each made of thick logs and with a giant roof that seems to dwarf the main body…

Source: A journey through the wooden churches of Maramures, Romania

Romania – Wooden Churches of Maramureş

From Egypt to Romania, the monastic tradition is responsible for several of the world’s most extraordinary feats of architecture.

The monastic impulse usually begins in simplicity, but it has given rise to buildings that are works of sacred art.

1. Saint Catherine’s Monastery, Egypt

The Greek Orthodox St. Catherine’s Monastery lies at the foot of Mount Sinai, in the city of St. Catherine, Egypt. One of the oldest monasteries in the world, it was founded in the 6th century and has operated without interruption ever since. It is said that the altar that crowns the Byzantine chapel of its interior was constructed from the roots of the Burning Bush. A highlight: The library, which also dates from the 6th century, and is second only to the Vatican’s library for number and value of its manuscripts.

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