i know most of us are not very fond of religious places. but when it's a part of history, and specially related to something as intriguing as the da vinci code, the curiosity peaks. this is an atypical church from a city called strausborg on the border of france and germany; strausborg, a city controvertial in it's own right ... a french town with a (very) strong german influence ... the people, their dresses, dialects, food and last but not the least, the architecture.

and this is the most contovertial part of them all ... if you have read the da vinci code, you will know it ... symbolizing astronomy, chistianity, jesus, and (well!) the holy grail

the church is a rare piece of stone and glass. it is 5 stories tall with just one ceiling. the tainted glasses are huge (about 1.5-2.0 stories) and were meant for natural light to (en)lighten the church in the era of no-electricity. night or day, nature lits up the interiors (the physics reminds my geeky side of the chapter "light" in the book of resnik and halliday ;-)

finally the dude for whom the church was made, the jesus himself. the gold, silver and everything used in this gaudy setting is (the davinci followers believe) "priceless". priceless or not, with the appretiating value of gold in eurozone, i couldnt help thinking of the discounted cash flow worth of this place that can feed a poverty stricken african nation for quiet a few months; me just trying to quantify an estimated net worth of the place with no intent to mix religion and humanitarianism. religion, like faith, "they" believe is priceless ...