St Paul's Cathedral in Le Plateau is one of Africa's most unusual pieces of religious architecture. Completed in 1985, it is essentially a giant concrete cross from which the entire building hangs — the curved roof and the walls of stained glass are suspended from the cross-arms, with a completely open interior uninterrupted by columns.
The stained glass windows by the Ivorian artist Jean-Michel Kibangny depict scenes from the life of Christ in vivid reds and oranges. The building seats 3,000 people. Outside, a large mosaic on the rear facade tells the story of Ivory Coast's Christian history. Even for non-religious visitors, the engineering is striking.