From Prayer to Party: Europe's Empty Churches Now Host Drinking and Dancing.

Churches, convents, and chapels across Europe are increasingly being repurposed due to declining faith and church attendance. In Flanders, Belgium, where some of the greatest cathedrals on the continent are located, every town has about six churches, but often not enough faithful to fill a single one. Many of these structures are being turned into anything from clothes shops and climbing walls to nightclubs, breweries, and luxury hotels. While some see this as a way to preserve the architectural value of these buildings, others believe that churches should remain places for contemplation and reflection.