Kids. Who’d have ‘em? Especially when they go and develop minds of their own. How did that happen? One minute they were dutifully and genuinely obeying your every word and the next you’re an embarrassing parent. At best.

It gets worse when it comes to planning family holidays. Fear not, we have ideas! With the Easter holidays not that far away you might want to tie in an Easter theme with a visit to one of these majestic cathedrals:-

Sagrada Familia – Barcelona, Spain

Not only is this cathedral unfinished, no-one is sure when it will be completed. Designed by Catalan architect Antonio Gaudi, construction actually started in 1882 – yes, you read that right – and Gaudi himself died in 1926. Nominated as a World Heritage Site, it has also been consecrated by Pope Benedict XVI.  It’s one of Barcelona’s most popular tourist attractions. Barcelona itself of course has it all, art galleries, museums and architecture. You could do worse.

Seville Cathedral, Spain

If you prefer supersize, this Gothic cathedral is the place for you! It’s the largest medieval building of its kind, the largest Roman Catholic cathedral in the world and the world’s third biggest church.

Formally known as the Cathedral of St Mary of the See, even the altarpiece is the biggest on the planet. Shame about the nave, it’s only the largest in Spain.  Continuing the theme of cathedrals that took a long time to build, construction on this one commenced in 1402 on the site of an Almohad Mosque but wasn’t finished until the 16th century. History buffs can visit the tomb of Christopher Columbus here; his remains were transported from his original resting place of Havana in 1902.  Like Sagrada Cathedral it’s also a designated World Heritage Site. I couldn’t see it being outdone by its Barcelona rival, could you?

Notre Dame, Paris

Immortalised in the Victor Hugo novel, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, this is one of the world’s most famous cathedrals. Construction began in 1163 and it was eventually completed in 1345. I guess the builders never took any tips from the builders of new English housing estates! This stalwart cathedral survived both the raids of the Huguenots in the 16th century and the French Revolution in 1793, undergoing restoration several times.  Famous for its 28 statues of Judean Kings and its gargoyles and grotesques, this is a must-see for all the family. Psst!  While you’re in Paris you can always pull in Disneyland too, tell the kids it’s for them.

Salisbury Cathedral

If your budget limits you to a ‘staycation’ this year (times are tough!) Salisbury could be a great starting point. And what was I saying about English builders? This medieval English cathedral was completed in just 38 years, from 1220-1258. Don’t say I told you so. Joking apart, this fine building boasts the tallest spire in Britain (404 feet) although that was added sometime later. It’s also one of the few cathedrals built in the shape of a double cross. What’s more, the original Magna Carta can be seen in its Chapter House. PS, if you’re in the area, Stonehenge isn’t far away, another one for the kids of course.

St Peter’s Basilica, the Vatican, Rome

Well, as we were talking about Easter it would be rude not to mention the Vatican. Standing on the site where Peter the Apostle (considered the first pope) was believed to be buried it is strictly speaking a church rather than a cathedral.  The basilica was constructed on the orders of Emperor Constantine in 324 AD and rebuilt by Michelangelo among other artistic greats in the 16th century. It’s considered to be one of the holiest places by Christians and the shrine to St Peter is the focal point of the whole church. Appropriate for Easter don’t you think? And with the biggest dome in the world it puts even Seville’s cathedral to shame.

There are lots of options to keep family holidays happy, from adventure trips and walking holidays  to sailing holidays and camping trips. The biggest difficulty you’ll face is getting the whole family to agree on which one to go for. Good luck!

Kate Smedley regularly looks for family holidays to keep everyone happy!