Report shows churches turned into hotels and bookstores

     In a report presented at Saturday's National Newspaper, TV Globo, reporter Mark Losekann presented a report which shows that churches in 200 years and even older are closing in Europe. The buildings, full of tradition, are being held by libraries, music studios and even clubs.




On the outside, the churches are architectural marvels. Inside the majestic works of art. Churches are in essence, but also buildings that become targets of greed of real estate.



Over the past ten years, 200 temples, on average per month, closed down across Europe. The facades are preserved, but in the heart of the hammers beating the old churches of modernity. The temples are converted into apartment complexes, nightclubs and hotels.



In the Czech Republic, the 13th-century church turned into a spa at the beginning of the third millennium. The manager says that the rooms are always crowded. For her, it is a holy business.



The city of Maastricht in southern Holland, agrees that was blessed when he inherited the old cathedral in one of the noblest areas of the city. Today, it is a library (pictured) attended by 800,000 people a year.



The building of the library lost its ecclesiastical vocation in 1796. It was a long time abandoned, turned into a stable city, a bicycle storage and, finally, a ballroom. After another period of neglect, the old church in Maastricht was bought by a Dutch businessman who decided to turn it into a temple of knowledge and culture.



In Britain, where the number of churches has fallen from 55 000 to 40 000 in the last decade, the reuse is varied. In a corner in London, an old Anglican church became a modern music studio. Today is a sanctuary of sound, music by the popes considered one of the world's best in terms of acoustics.



Priests

But what the priests believe that? "It's a sad sign of the times," said the Rev. Jeremy is responsible for a small parish in North London. "People still believe in God but do not think they need to go to church. They forget the true meaning of community. "



The controversial issue is gaining ground in the British press that generally puts the greatest faith in this type of solution. Some argue that editorial sin, it would put these beautiful buildings on the floor.

Source: National Journal