Doors and windows are an integral part of nearly every standing structure. Some windows and doors, however, have gained reputation and fame for being unusual or exceptionally beautiful. Below we take a look at a handful of the most famous doors and windows from around the world.
“Rose window” is a generic term used to describe the circular windows most often found in the Gothic-style churches of Europe. While it is a common feature of many cathedrals in France, Spain, Italy, and parts of Latin America, there are a few rose windows that are more extraordinary than others. One such rose window is located in the Strasbourg Cathedral in Alsace, France. Strasbourg’s rose window has an impressive 45-foot diameter, and features unpierced, square windows.
Every 25 years during the celebration of Jubilee, the Pope hammers down the bricks blocking the door at St. Peter’s Basilica. The Holy Door, or ‘Porta Sancta’, was intentionally walled up during the 1400s when it was thought that Christians were abusing the right of sanctuary in the cathedral. According to the Pope, the Holy Door may only be unwalled during Christmas of a Jubilee year. When the wall is broken down by the current Pope, the beautifully decorated bronze panels of the door are revealed, which portray various scenes of human sin and their redemption through God. At the end of the Jubilee celebration, the door is bricked over once again. The next Jubilee celebration is scheduled to take place in 2025.
Located in the front of the U.S. Capital building are a pair of bronze doors known as “The Columbus Doors.” Measuring over 16 feet tall, nearly 10 feet wide, and weighing a massive 10 tons, The Columbus Doors offer an impressive way to enter the Rotunda. Designed by sculptor Randolph Rogers, the doors were installed in 1871 and feature images of Christopher Columbus’s expeditionary exploits.
As one of the world’s most iconic cathedrals, Notre Dame in Paris, France is also home to one of the most famous rose windows in Gothic architecture. There are actually three rose windows at Notre Dame—the north rose, south rose, and west rose. The south rose window is particularly well-known, having been given to the cathedral as a gift from King Saint Louis. The south rose was completed in 1260, and was meant to serve as a visual counterpoint to the north rose, which had been completed 10 years earlier.
Perhaps the most famous front door in the world, Number 10 Downing Street is nothing flashy. A single step leads up to a steel black door with a white “10” painted in the center. “Number 10,” as it is often called, is the door to the home of prime minister. Many famous figures in the political and entertainment world have passed through Number 10 on their way to meet the prime minister, which is why the door has become such a popular tourist stop. An interesting fact about Number 10: it can only be opened from the inside.
On the far right of the top floor of the Apostolic Palace in Vatican City is the window to the Pope’s study. It was from this window that Pope John XXIII began giving the Sunday Angelus, starting a tradition that continues today. This window has also been the location of many important Papal messages throughout the years. Thousands of Catholics pack St. Peter’s Square in Vatican City each Sunday to hear the Pope deliver his message to the people from this famous window.
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