Beautiful Examples of Stained Glass to Visit In Europe
With the holidays upon us–some people are planning to jet set for the holidays and a trip to Europe to soak in some culture is a popular trip. If you are one of those people–congrats to you! There are of course a lot of things to do in Europe and one thing we suggest, being the company of a European immigrant, is to check out the stained glass. We absolutely adore the stained glass culture abroad and it is something that greatly influences our work. Of course, we are a tab partial to Scottish works of stained glass art–because that is where our owner Martin Short learned the craft. But we also know there is amazing stained glass across the world and all over Europe. So, on your European travels this holiday season, should you be near any of the locations below, be sure to check out some of what we consider the most notable stained glass these areas have to offer.
Germany
The Augsburg Cathedral: A Romanesque church built in the late 11th Century these windows are one of the most ancient examples in situ are. Containing portraits of Moses, Daniel and other biblical figures prophets are elegantly depicted surrounded by marvelous marble borders.
France
Christ of Wissembourg: Another example of ancient stained glass this work of art was also constructed in the late 11th Century. While not as magestic as much cathedral stained glass–the rich history makes it something worth seeing. An excellent example of why stained glass is often called the “poor man’s bible”, this gorgeous portrait of Christ likely came from a Benedictine abbey in the north of Alsace and was likely used to tell the story of Christ’s love. It now sits in a museum to help preserve it for future generations.
Spain
La Sagrada Familia, Barcelona: This breathtaking work by architect Antoni Gaudí is a noticeable part of the Barcelona skyline. As far as church stained glass goes–it is a breath of fresh air! Its light contemporary style and contains a glorious rainbow of abstract stained-glass windows. Still incomplete, the windows are in their final stage of construction and due to be completed by 2026, exactly a century after Gaudí’s death.
We love and appreciate stained glass windows so much because we are stained glass artists ourselves. If these designs intrigued you and you are looking for your church or even your home, contact us at Fort Collins Stained Glass today.
Martin Faith
Martin's work has been spotlighted on HGTV, the DIY Network, CBS, NBC, and numerous media outlets. He is one of the most accomplished stained glass artisans of his time and the proud owner of Fort Collins Stained Glass. He has dedicated his entire life's career to sharing his love of stained glass with others and is an expert on its origin, manufacturing process, and history. In addition to creating custom stained glass for homes and commercial businesses, Martin also acts as a consultant for church restoration projects. Drawing on his own research and ongoing education as well as the skills that he attained while working as a glass artisan in Scotland, Martin helps property owners identify the best styles and options of stained glass for achieving their aesthetic and architectural goals. His company has been in business for over thirty years and has successfully executed over 50,000 projects.
