Vietnam: Phat Diem Cathedral
Phat Diem Cathedral in absolutely amazing! It was built in 1891 in a style closely resembling Vietnamese Buddhist temples and palaces and yet tailored for a Catholic church. The resulting blend is truly remarkable and stunning! The cathedral was designed by a Vietnamese priest Father Tran Luc, who combined traditional Vietnamese architectural elements with Gothic and Romanesque styles, resulting in a distinctive and very harmonious structure. The cathedral is made of stone and wood (sometimes it’s called the “stone cathedral”. The exterior is adorned with intricately carved stone reliefs that look Buddhist but are actually Catholic themed, while the interior features beautiful wooden ceilings and altars. The cathedral’s bell tower, known as the Phuong Dinh, stands 25 meters tall and houses a set of bronze bells. The cathedral was bombed in 1972 during the Vietnam War but later restored to its present day glory. The complex includes Cathedral itself plus multiple chapels and grottos and monuments around it.
