Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters

Take your next trip with Atlas Obscura!

Our small-group adventures are inspired by our Atlas of the world's most fascinating places, the stories behind them, and the people who bring them to life.

Visit Adventures
Trips Highlight
A view of Brașov’s Old Town.
Romania • 12 days, 11 nights
Legends of Romania: Castles, Ruins & Culinary Delights
from
Balkans road trip
Bosnia and Herzegovina • 9 days, 8 nights
Balkans Road Trip: Serbia, Croatia & Bosnia and Herzegovina
from
View all trips
Top Destinations
Latest Places
Most Popular Places Random Place Lists Itineraries
Add a Place
Download the App
Top Destinations
View All Destinations »

Countries

  • Australia
  • Canada
  • China
  • France
  • Germany
  • India
  • Italy
  • Japan

Cities

  • Amsterdam
  • Barcelona
  • Beijing
  • Berlin
  • Boston
  • Budapest
  • Chicago
  • London
  • Los Angeles
  • Mexico City
  • Montreal
  • Moscow
  • New Orleans
  • New York City
  • Paris
  • Philadelphia
  • Rome
  • San Francisco
  • Seattle
  • Stockholm
  • Tokyo
  • Toronto
  • Vienna
  • Washington, D.C.
Latest Places
View All Places »
Parking Lot Shoeprints
Dewey Square Pylon & Bent 38
Black Rocks of Pungo Andongo
Abandoned Observatory of the Pioneer Palace
Latest Places to Eat & Drink
View All Places to Eat »
The pavlova comes crowned with jewel-like fruit.
Central Park Boathouse
The Village Tavern of Long Grove - exterior.
The Village Tavern
Hunter House Hamburgers
L’Escamoteur
Names on the bartop.
The Dive
Recent Stories
All Stories Video Podcast
Most Recent Stories
View All Stories »
Two suitcases in an empty airport hall.
AO Mailbag: Is It Normal to Share a Checked Bag With Your Boyfriend?
1 day ago
Kolaches
How Texas Became an Unlikely Epicenter for Czech Pastries
2 days ago
What I Found Driving Across Northern Michigan
2 days ago
What I Found Driving Down Highway 61
2 days ago

No search results found for
“”

Make sure words are spelled correctly.

Try searching for a travel destination.

Places near me Random place

Popular Destinations

  • Paris
  • London
  • New York
  • Berlin
  • Rome
  • Los Angeles
Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Sign In Join
Places near me Random place
All New Zealand Christchurch Christchurch Basilica
Christchurch Basilica is permanently closed.

This entry remains in the Atlas as a record of its history, but it is no longer accessible to visitors.

Christchurch Basilica

The ruins of New Zealand's largest classical-style church.

Christchurch, New Zealand

Added By
Stephen Schmalhofer
Email
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list
After the earthquake.   Bernard Spragg. NZ
After the earthquake.   Bernard Spragg. NZ
After the earthquake (October 2019)   mattpeterturner / Atlas Obscura User
The story of the Basilica (including the impact of the earthquake) is told in storyboards around the site.   mattpeterturner / Atlas Obscura User
After the earthquake.   Geof Wilson
After the earthquake (October 2019)   mattpeterturner / Atlas Obscura User
Christchurch Basilica.   Greg O'Beirne
Damage after the earthquake.   Greg O'Beirne
The inside before the earthquake.   David Jones
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list

About

In February 2011, a 6.3-magnitude earthquake devastated Christchurch, New Zealand, killing 185 people and damaging dozens of historic buildings. Among the ruins is the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament, also known as Christchurch Basilica, the spiritual center of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Christchurch.

A statue of the Virgin Mary on the north tower became a symbol of hope for the city during the aftermath and aftershocks. The quake had rotated the statue 180 degrees, so that Mary looked out upon the wreckage from the shattered window of the cathedral.

It wasn’t the first earthquake to rock the basilica. The cathedral was closed to the public in September of 2010 after a magnitude 7.1 earthquake caused extensive damage. The February 2011 earthquake caused its two bell towers to collapse and unsettled its dome. The basilica was only in use for about 100 years.

Even in ruins, the great cathedral still stands as a magnificent piece of architecture. It’s the largest classical-style church in New Zealand and is considered to be architect Francis Petre’s masterpiece. His churches pepper much of the South Island’s eastern coast. It’s a blend of Petre’s study of classical trainings and his expertise in modern construction methods. The monolithic concrete structure is sheathed in stone from Oamaru on the south island of New Zealand.

Update March 2022: The basillica has been demolished.

Related Tags

Earthquakes Churches Christianity Religion Catacombs Ruins Sacred Spaces
Atlas Obscura Adventures

Wild New Zealand: Exploring the North & South Islands

Stunning landscapes, unique wildlife, and rich Māori culture.

Book Now

Community Contributors

Added By

Stephen Schmalhofer

Edited By

ankhst, Kerry Wolfe, mattpeterturner

  • ankhst
  • Kerry Wolfe
  • mattpeterturner

Published

May 7, 2018

Updated

March 30, 2022

Edit this listing

Make an Edit
Add Photos
Sources
  • https://www.firstthings.com/web-exclusives/2018/04/rebuild-christchurch-basilica
Christchurch Basilica
122 Barbadoes St
Christchurch
New Zealand
-43.539249, 172.646213
Get Directions

Nearby Places

C1 Espresso

Christchurch, New Zealand

miles away

Cardboard Cathedral

Christchurch, New Zealand

miles away

Dance-O-Mat

Christchurch, New Zealand

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Christchurch

Christchurch

New Zealand

Places 8

Nearby Places

C1 Espresso

Christchurch, New Zealand

miles away

Cardboard Cathedral

Christchurch, New Zealand

miles away

Dance-O-Mat

Christchurch, New Zealand

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Christchurch

Christchurch

New Zealand

Places 8

Related Places

  • Basilica ruins.

    Selçuk, Turkey

    Basilica of St. John

    This crumbling medieval basilica once attracted pilgrims by the thousands to collect a miraculous dust that formed above the saint's tomb.

  • The modern chapel.

    Saint Davids, Wales

    St. Non’s Chapel and Well

    The remains of a small medieval chapel mark the legendary birthplace of the patron saint of Wales.

  • The new church, built in 1840.

    Glynn, Northern Ireland

    St. John's Church

    Local legend says there's treasure hidden within its crowded graveyard.

  • Monk Bretton Priory.

    Barnsley, England

    Monk Bretton Priory

    These medieval monastery ruins are surprisingly overlooked by most tourists.

  • The medieval Church of Saint Nicholas.

    Ireland

    The Lost Town of Newtown Jerpoint (Jerpoint Park)

    Local legend says the remains of Father Christmas lie within the medieval grounds.

  • Church of St. Sophia in Nessebar

    Nessebar, Bulgaria

    Hagia Sophia Church

    This fifth-century church is one of the oldest Christian sites in the Balkans.

  • Reyes Etla, Mexico

    Santuario del Señor de las Peñas

    This small church is surrounded by a landscape filled with hidden Zapotec ruins.

  • Inside the church

    Atotonilco, Mexico

    Santuario de Atotonilco

    The walls and ceilings of the "Mexican Sistine Chapel" are almost completely covered with mural, sculpture, inscriptions and oil paintings.

Aerial image of Vietnam, displaying the picturesque rice terraces, characterized by their layered, verdant fields.
Atlas Obscura Membership

Become an Atlas Obscura Member


Join our community of curious explorers.

Become a Member

Get Our Email Newsletter

Follow Us

Facebook YouTube TikTok Instagram Pinterest RSS Feed

Get the app

Download the App
Download on the Apple App Store Get it on Google Play
  • All Places
  • Latest Places
  • Most Popular
  • Places to Eat
  • Random
  • Nearby
  • Add a Place
  • Stories
  • Food & Drink
  • Itineraries
  • Lists
  • Video
  • Podcast
  • Newsletters
  • All Trips
  • Family Trip
  • Food & Drink
  • History & Culture
  • Wildlife & Nature
  • FAQ
  • Membership
  • Feedback & Ideas
  • Community Guidelines
  • Product Blog
  • Unique Gifts
  • Work With Us
  • About
  • FAQ
  • Advertise With Us
  • Advertising Guidelines
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
Atlas Obscura

© 2025 Atlas Obscura. All Rights Reserved.