Beautiful Stained-Glass Windows Around The Globe Photos

a 350-foot spire lined with stained glass.Photo: Alamy/Wiliam Perry 4

Sainte-Chapelle, Paris

Commissioned in the 13th century by King Louis IX, this Gothic chapel is nestled on the Ile de la Cité and boasts 15 stained-glass panels in its nave and apse that depict more than a thousand biblical figures. The panels just recently went through a seven-year, $10 million restoration, during which the windows were eliminated and cleaned up with lasers.

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Thanks-Giving Square, Dallas, Texas

In 1977 Philip Johnson created a delicately spiraling white chapel to anchor a relaxing three-acre oasis in the heart of downtown Dallas. The ornate structure is crowned by the Glory Window, which makes up 73 stained-glass panels crafted by French artist Gabriel Loire.6 Metropolitan Cathedral of St. Sebastian,

Rio de Janeiro Adding warmth to an otherwise austere

spiritual site, 4 rectilinear stained-glass windows extend some 200 feet to the ceiling of this beehive-shaped cathedral, which was completed in 1976. As many as 20,000 people can fill the Edgar Fonseca– designed church, which holds the Museu de Arte Sacra in its below ground space.7 Chicago Cultural Center, Chicago The Louis Comfort Tiffany dome at the Chicago Cultural Center measures 38 feet in size, making it one of the largest stained-glass domes worldwide. Held together by an ornate cast-iron frame that features some 30,000 pieces of glass formed like fish scales, the dome was completed in 1897, the exact same year the building opened as the city’s first public library. The dome went through a precise repair in 2008 and is now lighted electrically.8 Nasir al-Mulk Mosque, Shiraz, Iran Finished at the end of the 19th century, this Technicolor mosque in southern Iran dazzles with detailed stained-glass windows, richly colored tiles, sculpted pillars, and woven carpets. Due to its tactical positioning, early-morning light produces a kaleidoscopic impact within the structure

, which has endured various earthquakes thanks to the flexible wood struts within its walls.9 King’s College Chapel, Cambridge, England In 1446 King Henry VI laid the foundation stone of this significant English Gothic chapel, which includes the largest fan vault on the planet. The 26 stained-glass panels were installed more than a century later under the authority of King Henry VIII, who used them to reinforce his position as

Supreme Head of the English Church after braking with Rome.10 La Sagrada Familia, Barcelona Perhaps the most renowned work of architect Antoni Gaudí, this Catalan Modernisme cathedral that controls the Barcelona skyline includes a stunning rainbow of abstract stained-glass windows. Although work began on the structure in 1882, Gaudí never ever saw the windows set up but left numerous directives regarding his long for them. Still insufficient, the structure is now helmed by architect Jordi Faulí

, who recently revealed that the last of construction is

on track to be complete in 2026, precisely a century after Gaudí’s death. 11 Galeries Lafayette, Paris One of the city’s most popular shopping destinations, this high-end exchange in the 9th arrondissement was completed in 1912. Possibly its most renowned feature is the 141-foot-tall neo-Byzantine dome, which was developed by French glassmaker Jacques Gruber to direct golden light onto the shoppers below, who now apparently spend over$1.5 billion yearly at the style emporium. 12 Gran Hotel Ciudad de México, Mexico City This 1899 upmarket department store with a soaring Tiffany-stained-glass ceiling in the

lobby was changed into a high-end hotel in anticipation of the 1968 Olympic Games. The ceiling, which stimulates the nation’s Mesoamerican heritage with a lively combination of turquoise and gold, was created by French artisan Jacques Gruber as well as includes a Louis XV– style chandelier.13 National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne, Australia Commissioned by the Australian government, this large art gallery planned by

designer Roy Premises opened its doors in August 1968. At the time, the Great

Hall’s soaring stained-glass ceiling, installed over a five-year period by Australian artist Leonard French, was the largest in the world and consists of panes imported from Belgium and France.14 York Minster Chapter Home, York, England The Chapter House at one of northern Europe’s largest Gothic cathedrals includes a striking collection of middle ages stained glass, including windows with

a few of the earliest tape-recorded depictions of architecture. Glazed in the late 13th century, the geometric glasswork features a scene of the martyrdom of Thomas Becket under an ecclesiastical canopy, plus several full-length figures within a canopied niche. 15 Notre Dame, Paris Aside from its popular French Gothic architecture, this age-old cathedral includes some of the most iconic stained glass in the world. Envisioned here is the South Rose Window– a gift from King Louis IX of France– which was created by Jean de Chelles and Pierre de Montreuil. Installed in 1260, the window is 42

feet in size and includes 84 panes divided into four circles. It acts as a counterpoint to the window on the north side, which was finished a years prior. 16 Palau de la Música Catalana, Barcelona Completed by Catalan Art Nouveau architect Lluís Domènech i Montaner in 1908, this steel-framed auditorium boasts a stained-glass skylight including a three-dimensional depiction of the sun.

Called a UNESCO World Heritage Website in 1997, the music hall contains countless other artworks, including the busts of Anselm Clavé and Beethoven that flank the stage.17 Basilica della Santissima Annunziata del Vastato, Genoa, Italy While commissioning artists to deal with the structure, the extravagant Basilica della Santissima Annunziata del Vastato in Genoa used some of the major baroque artists of the 17th century. The church was badly damaged by Allied battles during World War II, and had to be restored.18 Salzburg Cathedral, Austria Created by Italian designer, Santino Solari, the Salzburg Cathedral in

Austria stands apart in a city currently filled with spectacular architecture.

Built in the 17th century, the cathedral was the website of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s baptism.Photo: Getty Images/Flavio Vallenari 19 Melk Abbey, Austria The 17th century frescoes on the ceiling of Austria’s Melk Abbey were finished by the well-regarded baroque painter, Johann Michael Rottmayr. The abbey lies on a rocky outcrop neglecting the river Danube.