Inspiration

The Most Beautiful Stained Glass in the World

First coming to prominence in the Middle Ages, stained glass has been enhancing buildings around the world for thousands of years. Although traditionally used in the windows of churches, mosques, and other holy buildings, the material reached the secular world in the 19th century—today, it's not uncommon to find it used in cultural buildings, hotels, art installations, and even shopping malls. No matter how it's used, whether it’s a cathedral in Paris or a museum in Bangkok, one thing's for sure: We prefer to see the world through multi-colored glasses. This gallery was originally published in 2015. It has been updated with new information.
  • Image may contain Banister Handrail Building Architecture Pillar and Column
    Getty

    La Sagrada Família, Barcelona, Spain

    The interior of Antoni Gaudí's celebrated church is known for its lofty naves and branching, tree-like columns—all made more beautiful by the graduated tones of light shining through the windows and skylights.

  • Getty

    Santuário Dom Bosco, Brasília, Brazil

    From the outside, the Santuário Dom Bosco is not much more than a bland concrete box. But the interior is truly spectacular, with floor-to-ceiling windows casting heavenly light throughout the entire space. These glassy facades are made up of 7,400 pieces of glass in a dozen shades of blue, giving the appearance of a starry sky.

  • Getty

    Palau de la Música Catalana, Barcelona, Spain

    Another Barcelona staple, the Palau de la Música Catalana, is one of the finest examples of Catalan modernista style—think rich details, floral motifs, and curved lines. The concert hall is illuminated entirely by natural light during daylight hours, thanks to the stained-glass walls and inverted dome skylight.

  • Getty

    Wafi Mall, Dubai, UAE

    A trip to Dubai's Wafi Mall is never a disappointment, even if you leave its 350 shops and indoor souk empty-handed. Inspired by ancient Egypt, the shopping center is crowned by stained glass pyramids that go perfectly with the marble floors and carved statues lining the halls.

Trending Stories
  • Alamy

    National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne, Australia

    The National Gallery of Victoria opened its Great Hall in 1968, unveiling Leonard French's magnificent stained-glass ceiling. The soaring feature was installed over the course of five years, and museum-goers still enjoy lying on the floor to gaze up at the hundreds of cut triangles.

  • mazzzur

    Nasir Al-Mulk Mosque, Shiraz, Iran

    The Nasir Al-Mulk Mosque is also known as the "Pink Mosque" due to its rose-colored tiles. The mosque is best seen in the early morning hours, when the sun shines through the stained glass windows and you feel like you're walking into a giant kaleidoscope.

Trending Stories
  • Alamy

    Erawan Museum, Bangkok, Thailand

    This whimsical museum is actually a five-story sculpture of Erawan, a three-headed elephant from Hindu mythology. The structure houses antiques, sculptures, and an amazing stained-glass ceiling.

  • Alamy

    Sainte-Chapelle, Paris, France

    Sainte-Chapelle is a Gothic chapel in the heart of Paris, containing what is perhaps the world's finest 13th-century stained glass. Pictures hardly do it justice: The 50-foot windows in the upper chapel are even more incredible in person.

Trending Stories
  • Alamy

    Chicago Cultural Center, Chicago, IL

    The Chicago Cultural Center is one of the most frequently visited attractions in the city, thanks to its free exhibitions and famous domed ceiling, which the center claims is the largest Tiffany-glass dome in the world.

  • Alamy

    Netherlands Institute for Sound and Vision (Beeld en Geluid), Hilversum, Netherlands

    The Netherlands Institute for Sound and Vision is home to a massive archive of Dutch television, radio, music, and film—all contained within a cubic shell of colorful glass.

Trending Stories
  • Alamy

    Chapel of Thanksgiving, Dallas, Texas

    The Chapel of Thanksgiving in downtown Dallas is best known for its "Glory Window," a nautilus-shaped display of stained glass that gets brighter the closer it spirals toward the center.

  • Alamy

    Coventry Cathedral, Coventry, England

    The Coventry Cathedral is a modern structure built after the original 14th-century building was destroyed during WWII. The new architecture includes a wall of stained glass windows that get brighter as they reach the center, right over the church's altar.

Trending Stories
  • Alamy

    Cosmovitral Botanical Garden, Toluca, Mexico

    The Cosmovitral Botanical Garden houses more than 500 species of plants, although the collection almost pales in comparison to the sprawling stained-glass ceiling, which depicts themes of duality (good and evil, night and day, etc.) and covers nearly 35,000 square feet of space.

  • Alamy

    York Minster, York, England

    The Chapter House of York Minster is a striking octagonal nave, formerly used as the location for the Parliament of King Edward I in the 1200s. It's built almost entirely out of stained-glass windows that shroud the house in soft light.

Trending Stories
  • Getty

    Gran Hotel Ciudad de México, Mexico City

    This five-star hotel is known for its French Art Nouveau style: arched balconies, wrought-iron elevators, and a breathtaking Tiffany-glass canopy.

TopicsArchitecture