The Cathedral Basilica of the Immaculate Conception is Denver’s grand French Gothic cathedral, rising just a block from the Colorado State Capitol on East Colfax Avenue. With twin 210-foot spires, Carrara marble altars and 75 stained-glass windows from Munich, it is one of the most beautiful and moving places to visit in the city.

Denver’s first Catholic church, St. Mary’s, stood at 15th and Stout streets, where Father Joseph Machebeuf celebrated Mass on Christmas Eve of 1860. Ground was broken for the present cathedral in 1902, the cornerstone was laid in 1906, and the twin spires were capped in 1911 after Father Hugh McMenamin revived the stalled fundraising. Designed by Detroit architect Leon Coquard and completed by Denver architects Aaron Gove and Thomas Walsh, the cruciform church measures 195 by 116 feet, with a vaulted ceiling 68 feet above the nave. Just before the 1912 dedication, lightning knocked the top 25 feet off the west spire, which was repaired in time.

Inside, look for altars, statues, the pulpit and bishop’s chair carved from Italian Carrara marble, and interior marble quarried in Marble, Colorado. The 75 windows were crafted by F.X. Zettler’s Royal Bavarian Art Institute in Munich, and the east spire holds 15 bells. The cathedral is also home to the Tomb of Julia Greeley, a place of prayer for many visitors. Pair your visit with the gold dome of the nearby Colorado State Capitol or the galleries of the Denver Art Museum, both an easy walk away.

The Cathedral Basilica welcomes visitors daily and hosts concerts, organ music and special liturgies throughout the year, including Advent and Christmas celebrations. Guided tours of the architecture and history can be requested in advance for weekday mornings and early afternoons. Check denvercathedral.org for Mass times, events and parking details before you go.