Berlin
A buddhist temple in Spandau
Spandau: it's that district at the end of the U7 line where you'll find a pretty little old town and an imposing fortified citadel. Not to mention a gorgeous buddhist temple nestled on the edge of an industrial estate.
The Linh Thuu Pagoda was built by Berlin's Vietnamese buddhist community, and besides being a place of worship, provides an exotic oasis in a rather dreary street.
Constructed in traditional style, the elaborate walled pagoda is surrounded by an oriental sculpture garden designed to aid contemplation.
A staircase flanked with carved dragons leads into the temple itself, where a heady smell of incense hangs in the air and huge golden Buddhas gleam in the soft light.
All image credits: linhthuu.de
You'll need to remove your shoes before entering, but the marble floors are heated in winter - this is one of Berlin's newest places of worship as well as one of its most beautiful.
In fact, a visit to the Linh Thuu is just like taking a tiny trip to the Far East, and certainly worth considering if you happen to be in Berlin's far(ish) west.
You might even have passed by before without knowing - IKEA, that other temple of cheap, cheerful homeware, is literally just down the road.
See also:
Tea in a Chinese pavilion
A Hindu temple
Kantstrasse's best oriental eats
See the world without leaving Berlin
An incredible trio of churches
Linh Thuu Pagoda: Heidereuterstraße 30, 13597 Berlin.
