世上最美的教堂

Whether or not you’re religious, there’s no denying that churches are among man’s most spectacular creations. From a modern glass-and-pine place of worship deep in the Arkansas countryside to a wooden stave1) church dating back to the Middle Ages in Norway, we scoured2) the globe to identify the most breathtaking churches in the world.

无论是否信仰宗教，你都不可否认教堂是人类最壮观的创造之一。我们遍寻全球，从偏僻至阿肯色州乡间拥有现代玻璃—松木结构的朝圣之所，到年代久远至中世纪的挪威木板教堂，只为觅得世界上最令人叹为观止的教堂。

Borgund Stave Church

Laerdal, Norway

The country best known for fjords3) and otherworldly4) Arctic landscapes is also the only place in Northern Europe with Middle Ages–era wooden churches that are still intact. Norway has 28 in all—each attractive in its own right—but the loveliest of them is the Borgund Stave Church in western Norway, which dates to 1180. Named for the vertical wooden boards from which they are built, stave churches are famous for their nail-less construction of interlocking notches5) and grooves. The result often looks like an upside down Viking ship6).

The Borgund is a wonderful example of stave architecture, with four carved dragonheads sprouting7) from its rooftop gable8) and steeply pitched9) rooftops that mirror10) the dramatic plunges11) of the surrounding mountains. Apart from a row of benches, a simple altar, and a cupboard for storing religious vessels, there’s not much to see inside the church, but the fantastical exterior is well worth a look.

Duomo di Milano

Milan, Italy

Much has been written about the Duomo di Milano—one of the largest Gothic cathedrals in the world—but Mark Twain, perhaps, described the marble church’s beauty best, in his 1869 classic The Innocents Abroad: “A very world of solid weight, and yet it seems in the soft moonlight only a fairy delusion12) of frostwork that might vanish with a breath!” Most of that airy appeal is conveyed in the church’s exterior—135 elegant spires and 3,400 intricate statues grace the building. In true Gothic style, the ambience13) of the interior is rather dark thanks to the stained-glass windows and heavy stone columns. Not to be missed is a schlep14) up the stairs to access the rooftop terraces. Here, surrounded by the cathedral’s eerie marble towers, you can see across Milan, all the way out to the peaks of the Alps.

Church of the Assumption

Lake Bled, Slovenia

Unless you’re a fit swimmer (and don’t mind cold water), you’ll have to hire a local pletna boat15) to make the short crossing to the Church of the Assumption, perched on a fairy-tale island in the middle of Lake Bled in northwest Slovenia. The first masoy church on the island was constructed in 1142, though the structure you admire today was built in the 17th century following an earthquake that destroyed the prior incarnation16).

The popular mountain resort town is surrounded by scenic Alps and has long lured tourists, visiting dignitaries17), and world leaders (Marshal Tito18) had his private retreat here during Yugoslavian times). During the summer months, in particular, a steady stream of lovebirds flock to the island church to say their vows in the idyllic19) setting (from afar, the church appears to float in the lake). Local tradition dictates that grooms must carry their brides-to-be up the 99 steps from the boat dock to the church—if they fail, locals say, then they aren’t yet fit for marriage. To improve your own luck, whether you’re married or single, you can follow the locals’ lead and ring the church’s bell before boarding your boat back to town.

Las Lajas Sanctuary

Ipiales, Colombia

Deep in the mountains of southwestern Colombia, this church sits at the end of a bridge that stretches over a dramatic gorge20)—cloaked in lush trees and the occasional veil of a waterfall—over the rushing muddy waters of the Guaitara River. Its name, Las Lajas, refers to the flat rocks found in the surrounding Andes, with which the church was built, and the stones seem to glow against the backdrop of the steamy mountains. Its precarious21) placement is no accident—it was built here as a tribute to Mother Mary.

In 1754, a woman and her deaf-mute daughter were walking in the area when they got caught in a storm and took shelter in a nearby cave. Sometime that night, the Virgin Mary allegedly revealed herself to the daughter and she began to speak for the very first time. Soon after, a chapel was erected here to honor her. The Gothic Revival–style Lajas Sanctuary was later built, between 1916 and 1949, to replace the 19th-century chapel. The pilgrims who continue to arrive to this day from Colombia, Ecuador, and beyond often leave behind personal plaques22), which you’ll see lining the cliff walls, to thank the Virgin for miracles.

Ely Cathedral

Ely, England

You might recognize Ely Cathedral from the big screen. In the 2010 movie The King’s Speech, the inside of the cathedral was transformed into the interior of Westminster Abbey to such effect that we should award the film the Budget Travel Oscar for inspiring a desire to travel to England. The church has also had cameos23) in 2008’s The Other Boleyn Girl and the 1998 film Elizabeth. The history of the Ely Cathedral is fascinating enough for Hollywood in its own right.

The foundations for this spectacular stone church, set amid poppy fields in the countryside outside of Cambridge, were laid by Benedictine24) monks in the 11th century. But for hundreds of years prior, the site lured religious pilgrims to visit the shrine25) of Etheldreda, a Saxon princess who left her husband to pursue a religious life. Etheldreda established a monastery here in the 7th century and is said to have planted a staff in the ground that then blossomed into a tree overnight—a miracle that led people to believe she was a saint. For hundreds of years after, pilgrims made their way to a shrine to Etheldreda inside the cathedral; a plaque now marks where the shrine once stood. Today, the church is best known as a shining example of Norman architecture, marking the Romanesque style’s arrival in Britain.

Thorncrown Chapel

Eureka Springs, USA

Deep in the Ozark Mountains, near the community of Eureka Springs, lies Thorncrown Chapel. The church is so far off the beaten path26) that even the best new GPS devices don’t quite get the coordinates27) right—but it’s worth seeking out. The stunning pinewood structure seems to be built almost entirely of glass (425 windows stand in for walls), which brilliantly illuminates the interior with natural light and seems to pull the surrounding forest right inside the church. In fact, many call Thorncrown a “forest within a forest”. It was built by the Frank Lloyd Wright28)–trained architect E. Fay Jones in 1980. Jones himself liked to call his creation “Ozark Gothic” because he based the design and use of natural light on the classic Gothic Sainte-Chapelle, in Paris. Still, he seemed to have the Eureka Springs area in mind, as well: Jones used only local pine, and in pieces no larger than what could be carried through the woods by two men, all in an effort to preserve the church’s natural setting.

博尔贡木板教堂

挪威莱达尔

挪威是一个以峡湾和宛若仙境的北极风光著称的国家，同时也是北欧地区唯一一处完好保存了中世纪木质教堂的地方。这样的教堂在挪威共有28座，每一座都具有独树一帜的魅力，但其中最迷人的要数坐落在挪威西部的博尔贡木板教堂，它的建筑史可以追溯至1180年。这座木板教堂因使用竖长的木板条为建材而得名，其闻名之处在于建造过程中未使用一钉一铆，纯粹依靠木板的凹槽相互锁结修建而成。因此，这些教堂大多看起来像倒扣的维京船。

博尔贡大教堂是木板建筑的极佳典范：屋顶的山墙四角探出四只雕刻的龙头，而陡峭倾斜的屋顶与四周险峻的山势相得益彰。教堂内部除了一排长凳、一个简朴的圣坛和一个存放祭祀器具的柜子外，并没有多少东西可供参观，但它奇异的外观足以令人大饱眼福了。

米兰大教堂

意大利米兰

介绍米兰大教堂的文章很多，毕竟这是世界上最大的哥特式教堂之一，但对这座大理石教堂的美描述得最贴切的，也许要数马克·吐温了。在其1869年的经典之作《傻子出国记》中，他这样写道：“这原本是坚实厚重的一处所在，但在柔和的月光下，竟像是霜花凝成的仙境幻景一般，仿佛只要吹一口气，它就会立马消失得无影无踪！”如此轻盈飘渺的魅力主要是通过教堂的外部展现出来的——135个优雅的尖顶和3400个精巧的雕塑为这栋建筑增添了不少光彩。由于这是一座地道的哥特式教堂，建造时应用了彩色玻璃窗和粗大的石柱，因而，教堂内部十分幽暗。来到这里，千万别错过一件事，那就是花些力气，拾阶而上，登至教堂楼顶的露台。露台四周是奇异怪诞的大理石塔尖，从这里，你可以眺望整个米兰，而且可以一直望到阿尔卑斯山的山顶。

圣母升天教堂

斯洛文尼亚布莱德湖

除非你是个游泳健将(而且又不介意在冰冷的湖水里游泳)，不然的话，你就必须租乘当地特有的普莱特纳船穿过一小段水路，才能抵达圣母升天教堂，因为它坐落在斯洛文尼亚西北部布莱德湖中央的一座童话般的小岛上。作为岛上的第一座砖石教堂，圣母升天教堂建于1142年。但后来该教堂遭遇地震破坏，你如今所看到的建筑是17世纪在旧教堂的震后遗址上重建起来的。

这座教堂所在的小镇是广受欢迎的山区度假胜地。它被风光秀美的阿尔卑斯山环绕着，一直吸引着大批观光客、来访权贵和各国政要前来(铁托元帅于南斯拉夫时期曾在此地设有自己的私人度假地)。尤其是在夏季的几个月里，恋人们源源不绝地涌入岛上的教堂，在这田园诗般的环境中交换誓言(从远处看，教堂仿似浮在湖面上一样)。根据当地传统，新郎必须抱起准新娘走完从码头到教堂前的99级台阶。当地人说，如果两人没能成功走完这些台阶，那说明他们结婚的时机还未成熟。不论结婚与否，在乘船返回之前，你都可以跟随当地人敲响教堂的大钟，以求运势更旺。

拉斯拉哈斯圣殿

哥伦比亚伊皮亚莱斯

在哥伦比亚西南部山区深处，有一个幽深的峡谷，这里林木茂密，偶有瀑布一泻而下激起的水雾在峡谷中弥漫。瓜伊塔拉河浑浊的河水自峡谷中奔流而过，河面上横跨着一座桥，桥的尽头就是拉斯拉哈斯教堂。教堂的名字“拉斯拉哈斯”指的是附近安第斯山上的一种扁平岩石，教堂就是用这种岩石建成的，石头在云雾缭绕的群山映衬下仿佛熠熠发光。教堂建在如此险峻的位置并非出于偶然，而是为了颂扬圣母玛利亚。

1754年，一位妇人和她的聋哑女儿路过此地，突然遭遇暴风雨，只好在附近的山洞中暂避。传说夜间某时，圣母玛利亚在这个聋哑女孩面前现身，这个哑女从此便能开口讲话了。不久以后，人们就在这里建起了一座小礼拜堂来纪念圣母的神迹。这座建于19世纪的小礼拜堂最终被后来建造的拉哈斯圣殿所取代。拉哈斯圣殿属于哥特式复兴风格的，建于1916年到1949年之间。时至今日，从哥伦比亚、厄瓜多尔甚至更远地方来到这里朝圣的信徒仍络绎不绝。他们会留下匾额以感谢圣母玛利亚为世人创造的奇迹。你会看到这些匾额排列在峭壁之上。

伊利大教堂

英国伊利

你也许会在大银幕上辨认出伊利大教堂。2010年的电影《国王的演讲》在该教堂的内部取景，拍摄了本应在威斯敏斯特大教堂里发生的故事。由于拍摄效果非常突出，我们应该将“廉价旅游奥斯卡奖”颁给这部电影，理由是它使人们对去英国旅游充满神往。2008年的影片《另一个波琳家的女孩》以及1998年的影片《伊丽莎白》也有该教堂的特写。伊利教堂历史悠久，这本身对好莱坞而言就具有十足的吸引力。

这座雄伟的石质教堂的地基是由本笃会的修士在11世纪打下的，地点位于剑桥城外附近乡间的罂粟花田中。但是早在此前的数百年间，这个地方就吸引着宗教朝圣者来拜访埃塞德丽达的神龛。埃塞德丽达是一位撒克逊公主，她为了追求修道生活，选择了离开她的丈夫。7世纪的时候，埃塞德丽达在此地建起了一座修道院。据说她还曾在地上种下一根手杖，而手杖在一夜之间长成一棵树。这一奇迹使人们相信，她就是一位圣人。此后的几百年中，朝圣者慕名来朝拜教堂内埃塞德丽达的神龛。如今，教堂内有一块铭牌标示着当年神龛的所在位置。今天，这座教堂作为诺曼式建筑的光辉典范为人们所熟知，是罗马式建筑风格开始进入英国的标志。

索恩克朗礼拜教堂

美国尤里卡泉

在奥索卡山的深处，尤里卡泉小镇附近，坐落着索恩克朗礼拜教堂。这座教堂的位置人迹罕至，连最好最新的全球定位设备都很难准确地判定它的坐标位置，但是它绝对值得我们前去探寻。令人称奇的松木构造使教堂看起来好像完全是由玻璃建成的(教堂的425扇窗户组成了墙壁)。这一构造巧妙地利用了自然光为教堂内部照明，并且仿佛将周围的森林融进了教堂之中。事实上，很多人将索恩克朗礼拜教堂称为“森林中的森林”。这座教堂由师从弗兰克·劳埃德·赖特的建筑师E·菲·琼斯于1980年建造。琼斯本人喜欢将他的作品称为“奥索卡式哥特风格”，因为他设计和运用自然光的灵感源自哥特风格的巴黎圣礼拜教堂。此外，他似乎也在设计中充分考虑了尤里卡泉周边的实际情况：琼斯全部选用当地柏木作为建筑材料，而且柏木被切割成合适的大小，使得两个男人徒手搬运就能从林中穿过。所有这些都是为了保护教堂周围的天然环境。

1.stave [steɪv] n. 狭木板，桶板

2.scour [ˈskaʊə(r)] vt. 搜索，四处搜寻

3.fjord [fiːɔː(r)d] n. 海湾，峡湾

4.otherworldly [ˌʌðə(r)ˈwɜː(r)ldli] adj. 非现实世界的

5.notch [nɒtʃ] n. 槽口，凹口

6.Viking ship：维京船。“Viking”是对古挪威人的称呼，后来被译为“海盗”。维京船一般比较修长，具有船身狭窄、首尾尖细、两头翘起等特点。

7.sprout [spraʊt] vi. 长出

8.gable [ˈɡeɪb(ə)l] n. 三角墙，山墙

9.pitched [pɪtʃt] adj. (屋顶)倾斜的

10.mirror [ˈmɪrə(r)] vt. 映照

11.plunge [plʌndʒ] n. 倾入，骤降

12.delusion [dɪˈluːʒ(ə)n] n. 幻觉，错觉

13.ambience [ˈæmbiəns] n. 周围环境，气氛

14.schlep [ʃlep] n. 艰难的旅途

15.pletna boat：普莱特纳船，斯洛文尼亚布莱德湖上特有的船。船身一般长约七米，宽约两米，是一种两头尖的平底船。

16.incarnation [ˌɪnkɑː(r)ˈneɪʃ(ə)n] n. 具体化，化身

17.dignitary [ˈdɪɡnɪt(ə)ri] n. 权贵，高官，高僧

18.Marshal Tito：铁托元帅(1892~1980)，原名为约瑟普·布罗兹，南斯拉夫人民游击司令部总司令，南斯拉夫人民委员会主席和国防人民委员。在反对法西斯侵略者、争取自由解放的斗争中，他领导南斯拉夫人民进行了英勇不屈的斗争。

19.idyllic [ɪˈdɪlɪk] adj. 田园诗般的

20.gorge [ɡɔː(r)dʒ] n. 山峡，峡谷

21.precarious [prɪˈkeəriəs] adj. 不稳当的，不安全的

22.plaque [plæk] n. 匾额，铭碑

23.cameo [ˈkæmiəʊ] n. 特写

24.Benedictine [ˌbenəˈdɪktiːn] adj. (天主教)本笃会的。本笃会是天主教隐修会之一，于529年由贵族出身的意大利人本笃所创。

25.shrine [ʃraɪn] 神龛，神殿，圣坛

26.off the beaten path：去的人不多的，鲜有人涉足的，不出名的

27.coordinate [kəʊˈɔː(r)dɪnət] n. 坐标

28.Frank Lloyd Wright：弗兰克·劳埃德·赖特(1867~1959)，20世纪上半叶美国最有影响力的建筑师之一。他设计的代表建筑主要有东京帝国饭店、流水别墅和纽约古根海姆博物馆等。

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