Holy sites

Holy sites are baronies that are considered sacred by a Faith. If a faith controls a holy site, all characters belonging to that faith will gain a permanent bonus. In addition holy sites are the target of Go on a Pilgrimage decisions and they are necessary to create a Head of Faith title. Several tenets also grant additional bonuses from holy sites.

Each Holy Site has a special building slot for a great temple. For some Holy Sites, this is a unique building such as the Mahabodhi Temple in Bodh Gaya. The building slot can also be used for the special building Hall of Heroes, constructable only through the unique decision Defenders of High God (Ukko / Rod / Dievas). It is possible to replace unique buildings and the hall of heroes with a normal great temple, but the transition cannot necessarily be reversed.

Most faiths have 5 holy sites per faith, but a few have 6 or 7. For most religions, all faiths have the same holy sites. When reforming or creating a new faith, the new faith will inherit the holy sites of the old faith.

List of holy sites

Name	Location	De Jure Kingdom	De Jure Empire	Effects	Faiths	Notes
Jerusalem	Jerusalem (shared with Mount Gerizim)	Jerusalem	Arabian Empire	+20% Monthly Piety +20% County Conversion Speed	All Christian faiths except  adoptionism:  Catholicism  Orthodoxy  Coptic  Apostolic  Insular Christianity  Krstjani  Conversos  Nestorianism  Bogomilism  Catharism  Iconoclasm  Lollardy  Paulicianism  Waldensianism  Messalianism  Adamitism  Mozarabism All Muslim faiths:  Ash'arism  Muwalladism  Maturidism  Almohadism  Mu'tazilism  Isma'ilism  Zayidism  Nizarism  Imamism  Ibadism  Najdatism  Azraqism  Sufrism  Druze  Alawism  Alevism  Ikhtilafism  Qarmatianism  Quranism  Hafizi All Dualist faiths except  Cainitism and  Manicheanism:  Mandeaism  Priscillianism  Sabianism  Sethianism  Valentinianism All Jewish faiths except  Samaritanism:  Kabarism  Haymanot  Karaism  Rabbinism  Malabarism	The ancient capital of Israel and the site of the First and Second Temples according to Judaism. In Christianity, it is the location of Jesus's crucifixion, resurrection and ascension. In Islam, Muhammad travelled to Jerusalem from Mecca and there ascended to heaven.
Rome	Vaticano in Roma	Romagna	Italia	+1 Stewardship +10% Development growth	All Christian faiths except  Nestorianism,  Coptic,  Messalianism and  Apostolic:  Catholicism  Orthodoxy  Insular Christianity  Krstjani  Conversos  Bogomilism  Catharism  Iconoclasm  Lollardy  Paulicianism  Waldensianism  Adamitism  Mozarabism  Adoptionism  Valentinianism  Sethianism  Hellenism	Seat of the Holy See and the Pope
Cologne	Cologne	Lotharingia	Germania	+5% Cultural Fascination Speed +5% County Control Growth	Catholicism and historical heresies:  Catharism  Waldensianism  Lollardy	Site of the Cologne cathedral which houses many relics including those of the three magi
Santiago	Santiago	Galicia	Hispania	+20% Supply Duration −10% Holy order hire cost	Catholicism  Waldensianism  Lollardy  Mozarabism  Adoptionism	Location of the shrine, then church and finally cathedral of St. James the Great and final destination of the way of St. James, a pilgrimage route
Canterbury	Canterbury in Kent	England	Britannia	+5 Religious Vassal Opinion +10% Sway Scheme Power	Catholicism and historical heresies:  Catharism  Waldensianism  Lollardy  Insular Christianity	Seat of the Archbishop of Canterbury, primate of the Anglican Church
Constantinople	Byzantion	Thessalonika	Byzantine Empire	+20% Cultural Fascination Progress	Orthodoxy and historical heresies:  Iconoclasm  Bogomilism  Paulicianism  Messalianism	Seat of the Ecumenical Patriarch and location of the Hagia Sophia cathedral
Alexandria	Alexandria	Egypt	Arabian Empire	+2 Learning per Level of Devotion	Orthodoxy  Iconoclasm  Bogomilism  Paulicianism  Coptic  Conversos  Adamitism  Sethianism  Valentinianism  Haymanot  Karaism  Rabbinism  Samaritanism  Hellenism  Achamanism	Seat of the Patriarch of Alexandria
Antioch	Antiocheia	Syria	Arabian Empire	+1 Martial per Level of Devotion +10% Knight Effectiveness	Orthodoxy and historical heresies:  Iconoclasm  Bogomilism  Paulicianism  Messalianism  Coptic  Apostolic  Nestorianism	Seat of the Patriarch of Antioch
Aksum	Tigré	Abyssinia	Abyssinia	+1 Diplomacy per Level of Devotion	Coptic	Site of the Church of our Lady Mary of Zion, supposedly the former location of the ark of the covenant
Napata	Meroë	Nubia	Abyssinia	+1 Stewardship	Coptic	Site of a Nubian Coptic Church
Dwin	Suenik	Armenia	Byzantine Empire	+5% Monthly Piety +1 Learning	Apostolic	Contains the Cathedral of St. Grigor
Koloneia	Colonea	Pontus	Byzantine Empire	+5 Direct Vassal Opinion	Apostolic
Beirut	Beirut	Syria	Arabian Empire	+5 Councilor Opinion	Apostolic  Druze	Druze are concentrated in the mountains around this city. It was briefly under Armenian rule during the time of King Tigranes the Great.
Baghdad	Baghdad	Mesopotamia	Persian Empire	+10% Development Growth −10% Temple Building Construction Cost	Messalianism  Nestorianism  Mandeaism  Sabianism  Ash'ari  Maturidism  Mu'tazilism  Quranism  Imamism	Patriarchical seat of Nestorianism and seat of the Abbasid Caliph. Home to the Al-Kadhimiya Mosque, which contains the tombs of Imani Imams Musa al-Kadhim and Muhammad al-Jawad.
Farz	Shiraz	Persia	Persian Empire	+1 Diplomacy per Level of Devotion	Messalianism  Nestorianism  Mandeaism  Sabianism
Kerala	Kanara	Maharastra	Deccan Empire	+50% County Conversion Speed	Nestorianism  Malabarism	Location of a Christian community established by St. Thomas the Apostle. Location of Synagogues of Kerala.
Armagh	Oriel	Ireland	Britannia	+5% Monthly Piety +1 Learning per Level of Devotion	Insular Christianity	Ecclesiastical capital of Ireland
Iona	Inner Hebrides	Scotland	Britannia	+20% County Conversion Speed in the British Isles	Insular Christianity	Monastery of Colmcille, who converted the Picts
Visoki	Rama	Croatia	Byzantine Empire	+50% County Conversion Resistance	Krstjani	Town and fortress where many documents were written by nobles
Ragusa	Ragusa	Croatia	Byzantine Empire	+1 Diplomacy	Krstjani	Seat of the Archbishop of Ragusa and location of an Eastern Roman church
Esztergom	Esztergom	Hungary	Carpathia	+10 Popular Opinion	Krstjani	Seat of the primate of the Catholic Church in Hungary
Albi	Albi	Aquitaine	Francia	+5% Monthly Piety +1 Learning per Level of Devotion	Catharism	Cathers were also referred to as Albigensians, after the city Albi where the movement first took hold.
Toledo	Toledo	Andalusia	Hispania	+1 Prowess per Level of Devotion +10% Knight Effectiveness	Mozarabism  Adoptionism	Center of worship for the Mozarabic Church, and the seat of its most important councils
Carthage	Tunis	Africa	Maghreb	+10 Same Faith Opinion	Adoptionism	Center for the early Donatists sect
Lyon	Lyon	Burgundy	Francia	+2 Learning per Level of Devotion	Adoptionism
Mecca	Mecca	Arabia	Arabian Empire	+2% Monthly piety per knight +10% Knight Effectiveness	All Muslim faiths:  Ash'arism  Muwalladism  Maturidism  Almohadism  Mu'tazilism  Isma'ilism  Zayidism  Nizarism  Imamism  Ibadism  Najdatism  Azraqism  Sufrism  Druze  Alawism  Alevism  Ikhtilafism  Qarmatianism  Quranism  Hafizi	Birthplace of Muhammed and destination of the Hajj
Medina	Medina	Arabia	Arabian Empire	+1 Diplomacy per Level of Devotion	All Muslim faiths:  Ash'arism  Muwalladism  Maturidism  Almohadism  Mu'tazilism  Isma'ilism  Zayidism  Nizarism  Imamism  Ibadism  Najdatism  Azraqism  Sufrism  Druze  Alawism  Alevism  Ikhtilafism  Qarmatianism  Quranism  Hafizi	The city that Muhammed and his followers fled to from Mecca
Cordoba	Cordoba	Andalusia	Hispania	+20% County Conversion Speed	Conversos  Priscillianism  Muwalladism  Mozarabism	Seat of the Umayyad Caliphate of Córdoba
Sinai	Sinai	Egypt	Arabian Empire	+5 Advantage in Desert Mountains terrain +1 Learning	Conversos  Valentinianism  Sethianism  Priscillianism  Ash'ari  Mu'tazilism  Quranism All Jewish faiths:  Kabarism  Haymanot  Karaism  Rabbinism  Samaritanism  Malabarism  Paganism	Site where Moses recieved the Ten Commandments
Tinmallal	Tinmallal	Maghreb	Maghreb	+1 Prowess per Level of Devotion +4 Maximum Battle Roll	Almohadism	Where the Almohads launch their military campagin against the Almoravids.
Fes	Subu in Fes	Maghreb	Maghreb	+10% Cultural Fascination Speed	Adamitism  Muwalladism  Almohadism	Renowned for its religious scholarship.
Nadjaf	Kufa (shared with holy site of same name)	Mesopotamia	Persian Empire	+1 Diplomacy per Level of Devotion	All  Shia Muslim faiths:  Isma'ilism  Zayidism  Nizarism  Imamism  Hafizi  Qarmatianism  Ikhtilafism  Alawism  Alevism	Contains Kufa, where Ali ibn Abu Taleb was assassinated, and Nadjaf, where he is buried
Damascus	Damascus	Syria	Arabian Empire	+5% Levy Size +10% County Control Growth	All  Shia Muslim faiths except  Imamism:  Isma'ilism  Zayidism  Nizarism  Hafizi  Mandeaism  Sabianism  Qarmatianism  Ikhtilafism  Alawism  Alevism	Where surivors of the Battle Karbala were brought; home to two shrines to Hussein ibn Ali
Siffa	Palmyra	Syria	Arabian Empire	+2 Prowess +20% Knight Effectiveness	Azraqism  Sufrism	Site of the Battle of Siffa, where the Muhakkimas began by rejecting Mu'awiya offer to arbitrate his dispute with Ali
Kufa	Kufa (shared with Nadjaf)	Mesopotamia	Persian Empire	+1 Intrigue per Level of Devotion	Azraqism
Basra	Basra	Mesopotamia	Persian Empire	+2 Learning	Mandeaism  Sabianism  Ibadism	Origin of Ibadi movement
Nizwa	Nizwa	Arabia	Arabian Empire	+1 Stewardship per Level of Devotion	Ibadism	Birthplace of Jabir ibn Zayd, the founder of Ibadism
Sijilmasa	Sijilmasa	Maghreb	Maghreb	+1 Diplomacy +1 Stewardship	Valentinianism  Sethianism  Sufrism	Where Sufrite Berbers settled after their revolt against the Umayyads
Bahrein	Qatif	Arabia	Arabian Empire	+1 Stewardship	Najdatism
Yamama	Yamama	Arabia	Arabian Empire	+5 Advantage in Desert terrain	Najdatism
Sinjar	Sinjar	Jazira	Persian Empire	+1 Diplomacy per level of devotion	All Miletê faiths:  Kitêbacilweism  Meshefaresism  Yazidism
Baalbek	Baalbek	Syria	Arabian Empire	+10 Clergy opinion +20% Monthly prestige	All Miletê faiths:  Kitêbacilweism  Meshefaresism  Yazidism	Birthplace of Sheikh Adi
Lalish	Ninive	Jazira	Persian Empire	+1 Learning per level of devotion +20% Monthly prestige	All Miletê faiths:  Kitêbacilweism  Meshefaresism  Yazidism	Tomb of Sheikh Adi
Nishapur	Nishapur	Khorasan	Persian Empire	+1 Stewardship per Level of Devotion	All Miletê faiths:  Kitêbacilweism  Meshefaresism  Yazidism  Zunism
Dashtestan	Mandestan	Persia	Persian Empire	+5 Same Faith Opinion	All Miletê faiths:  Kitêbacilweism  Meshefaresism  Yazidism
Zozan	Bakharz	Khorasan	Persian Empire	+5 Same Faith Opinion +10% Domain Taxes if same faith	Druze	Birthplace of Hamza ibn-'Ali ibn-Ahmad, founder of Druze
Semien	Semien	Abyssinia	Abyssinia	+5 Defender Advantage +1 Diplomacy	Haymanot  Karaism  Rabbinism  Samaritanism	A legendary Jewish Ethiopian kingdom also known as Beta Israel
Sufed	Acre	Jerusalem	Arabian Empire	+10 Same Faith Opinion	Haymanot  Karaism  Rabbinism  Samaritanism
Mount Gerizim	Nablus in Jerusalem (shared with holy site of same name)	Jerusalem	Arabian Empire	+1 Learning per Level of Devotion +20% Monthly Prestige	Samaritanism
Panticapaeum	Kerch	Zaporizhia	Khazaria	+25% Development Growth in Steppe Region +15% Development Growth in Steppe Terrain	Kabarism	Major Radhanite settlements in and around Crimea
Itil	Itil	Caspian Steppe	Khazaria	+10 Different Culture Opinion +15% Cultural Acceptance Gain	Kabarism	Capital of the Khazars
Kochi	Kunjakari inKerala	Tamilakam	Deccan Empire	+1 Diplomacy per Level of Devotion +15% Cultural Acceptance Gain	Malabarism	Place from which the Kochin Jews get their name
Manipur	Manipur	Kamarupa	Bengal Empire	+5 Advantage in Mountains terrain +20% Development Growth in Mountains terrain	Malabarism	Home of the Bnei Manashae
Ahvaz	Ahvaz	Persia	Persian Empire	+5 Clergy Opinion +10% Personal Scheme Power	Manicheanism
Samarkand	Samarkand	Transoxiana	Turan	+1 Stewardship per Level of Devotion	Manicheanism  Maturidism  Kabarism
Udabhanda	Udabhanda	Punjab	Rajastan	+1 Learning per Level of Devotion	Manicheanism All Taoist faiths:  Quanzhen  Shangqing  Zhengyi	Seems to be the place where the famous Taoist Qiu Chuji meet Genghis Khan
Toledo	Toledo	Andalusia	Hispania	+1 Learning	Priscillianism
Memphis	Hulwan in Cairo	Egypt	Arabian Empire	+1 Stewardship per Level of Devotion	Priscillianism  Zunism
Bodh Gaya	Gaya	Bihar	Bengal Empire	+20% Stress Loss	All Buddhist faiths:  Nangchos  Vajrayana  Theravada  Mahayana  Ari All Taoist faiths:  Quanzhen  Shangqing  Zhengyi	The place where Gautama Buddha reached enlightenment under a Bodhi Tree. Some Taoist stories say that Laozi was the Buddha's teacher or even the Buddha himself.
Lumbini	Lumbini	Himalaya	Rajastan	+10% Fertility +15% Monthly Lifestyle Experience	All Buddhist faiths:  Nangchos  Vajrayana  Theravada  Mahayana  Ari	Birthplace of Siddhartha Gautama, historical Buddha
Sarnath	Varanasi (shared with holy site of same name)	Bihar	Bengal Empire	+2 Learning	All Buddhist faiths except  Nangchos:  Vajrayana  Theravada  Mahayana  Ari	First place Buddha taught Dharma and subsequently origin of Buddhist Sangha
Sanchi	Vidisa	Malwa	Rajastan	+1 Diplomacy per Level of Devotion	Mahayana  Vajrayana	An ancient Buddhist complex commissioned by Ashshoka the Great.
Ajanta	Vatsagulma (shared with Ellora)	Maharastra	Deccan Empire	+1 Learning per Level of Devotion +2 Disease Resistance (Learning)	Vajrayana	Location of the Buddhist Caves in Ajanta
Sa'gya	Sa'gya	Tsang	Tibet	+1 Diplomacy +1 Learning	Nangchos
Dagon	Dagon	Pagan	Bengal Empire	+1 Martial per Level of Devotion	Theravada  Ari	Home to the Shwedago Pagoda, which contains relics from four Buddhas.
Pagan	Pagan	Pagan	Bengal Empire	+1 Stewardship +5% Monthly Prestige	Ari	Capital of the Pagan Kingdom; the location was visited by the Buddha prior to the city's founding
Atamasthana	Pihiti	Lanka	Deccan Empire	+2% Domain Taxes	Theravada	A series of eight locations visited by the Buddha durings his visits to Sri Lanka.
Amaravati	Nallamala	Andhra	Deccan Empire	+10% County Control Growth	Mahayana	Site of a Buddhist monument.
Varanasi	Varanasi (shared with Sarnath)	Bihar	Bengal Empire	+2 Learning +5 Clergy Opinion	All Hindu faiths:  Shaivism  Vaishnavism  Krishnaism  Smartism  Advaita Vedanta  Srikula Shaktism  Kalikula Shaktism  Kiratism  Yumaism	One of the Saptapuri cities, founded by Shiva and where one of Brahma's heads was dropped to the ground where it sank into
Ayodhya	Ayodhya	Kosala	Rajastan	+1% Monthly piety per knight +10% Knight Effectiveness	All Hindu faiths:  Shaivism  Vaishnavism  Krishnaism  Smartism  Advaita Vedanta  Srikula Shaktism  Kalikula Shaktism	One of the Saptapuri cities and the birthplace of Rama, seventh avatar of Vishnu
Mathura	Mathura	Delhi	Rajastan	+1 Diplomacy +5 Powerful Vassal Opinion	All Hindu faiths:  Shaivism  Vaishnavism  Krishnaism  Smartism  Advaita Vedanta  Srikula Shaktism  Kalikula Shaktism	One of the Saptapuri cities and birthplace of Krishna
Haridwar	Sthanisvara	Delhi	Rajastan	+0.1 Health	All Hindu faiths:  Shaivism  Vaishnavism  Krishnaism  Smartism  Advaita Vedanta  Srikula Shaktism  Kalikula Shaktism  Paganism	One of the Saptapuri cities and site where drops of Amrit, the elixir of immortality was spilt
Kanchipuram	Kanchipuram	Tamilakam	Deccan Empire	+15% Fertility	All Hindu faiths:  Shaivism  Vaishnavism  Krishnaism  Smartism  Advaita Vedanta  Srikula Shaktism  Kalikula Shaktism	One of the Saptapuri cities and site of many temples
Ujjayini	Ujjayini	Malwa	Rajastan	+1 Stewardship +5 Court and Guest Opinion	All Hindu faiths:  Shaivism  Vaishnavism  Krishnaism  Smartism  Advaita Vedanta  Srikula Shaktism  Kalikula Shaktism	One of the Saptapuri cities and location of the duodecennial Kumbh Mela festival
Dwarka	Dvaraka	Gujarat	Rajastan	+1 Martial −10% Friendly Fatal Casualties	All Hindu faiths:  Shaivism  Vaishnavism  Krishnaism  Smartism  Advaita Vedanta  Srikula Shaktism  Kalikula Shaktism	One of the Saptapuri cities and the site of where Krishna settled after defeating Kansa
Palitana	Somnath	Gujarat	Rajastan	+10% Monthly Piety	All Jain faiths:  Digambara  Svetambara  Yapaniya	Contains nearly 1,000 Jain temples
Shikharj	Radha	Bengal	Bengal Empire	+20% Stress Loss +1 Year Life Expectancy	All Jain faiths:  Digambara  Svetambara  Yapaniya	Place where 22 out of the 24 Jain Tirthankaras atttained Moksha.
Ranakpur	Naddūla	Rajputana	Rajastan	+1 Stewardship +20% Sway Scheme Power	All Jain faiths:  Digambara  Svetambara  Yapaniya	One of the largest and most important Jain temples
Ellora	Vatsagulma (shared with Ajanta)	Maharastra	Deccan Empire	+5 Popular Opinion +5 Different Culture Opinion	All Jain faiths:  Digambara  Svetambara  Yapaniya	Site of the Ellora Caves, five of which are Jain.
Sittannavasal	Kongu	Tamilakam	Deccan Empire	+5 Direct Vassal Opinion	All Jain faiths:  Digambara  Svetambara  Yapaniya	A Jain cave complex
Itanagar	Itanagar	Lhomon	Tibet	+10% Monthly Prestige	Donyi-Poloism  Sedism
Pemako	Pemako	Lhomon	Tibet	+1 Learning −20% Tyranny Gain	Donyi-Poloism  Sedism
Rima	Rima	Lhomon	Tibet	+1 Diplomacy per Level of Fame	Donyi-Poloism  Sedism
Tezu	Tezu	Lhomon	Tibet	+5 Advantage in Hills terrain	Donyi-Poloism  Sedism
Kathmandu	Kathmandu	Himalaya	Rajastan	+5 Popular Opinion +5 Different Faith Opinion	Kiratism  Yumaism
Ilam	Ilam	Himalaya	Rajastan	+5 Advantage in Mountains terrain	Donyi-Poloism  Sedism  Kiratism  Yumaism
Garwhal	Garwhal	Himalaya	Rajastan	+1 Diplomacy per Level of Devotion	Kiratism  Yumaism
Jumla	Jumla	Himalaya	Rajastan	+5 House Opinion	Kiratism  Yumaism
Maowün	Maowün	Gyalrong	Tibet	+1% Monthly piety per knight	Vvluphixje
Ngawa	Ngawa	Gyalrong	Tibet	+1 Learning per Level of Devotion	Vvluphixje  Melie
Chakla	Chakla	Gyalrong	Tibet	−15% Building Construction Time	Vvluphixje
Gyaitang	Gyaitang	Kham	Tibet	+5 Same Culture Opinion	Vvluphixje
Rebgong	Rebgong	Gyalrong	Tibet	+2% Monthly piety per powerful vassal on the council	Vvluphixje  Melie
Xingqing	Xingqing	Xia	Tibet	+5 Same Faith Opinion	Melie
Yijinai	Yijinai	Xia	Tibet	−5% Building Construction Gold Cost	Manicheanism  Melie
Alxa	Alxa	Xia	Tibet	+1 Stewardship	Melie
Yazd	Yazd	Persia	Persian Empire	+5 Same Faith Opinion	Cainitism All Zoroastrian faiths:  Mazdayasna  Zurvanism  Gayomarthianism  Khurmazdism  Khurramism  Arewordik  Mazdakism	Home to many Zoroastrian refugees after the Arab conquest of Iran which stayed majority Zoroastrian for many centuries
Nok Kundi	Riqan	Makran	Persian Empire	−10% Building Construction Gold Cost +1 Stewardship	Cainitism All Zoroastrian faiths:  Mazdayasna  Zurvanism  Gayomarthianism  Khurmazdism  Khurramism  Arewordik  Mazdakism	Formerly Zaranka, capital of the Zarangiana satrapy under the Achaemenids
Takht-i-Sangin	Balkh (shared with holy site of same name)	Khorasan	Persian Empire	+1 Diplomacy +5 Clergy Opinion	Cainitism All Zoroastrian faiths:  Mazdayasna  Zurvanism  Gayomarthianism  Khurmazdism  Khurramism  Arewordik  Mazdakism	An ancient Greco-Bactrian citadel containing the Oxus Temple, which may have been home to a collection of Zoroastrian relics
Takht-e Soleyman	Urmiya	Daylam	Persian Empire	+10% Monthly Piety	Cainitism All Zoroastrian faiths:  Mazdayasna  Zurvanism  Gayomarthianism  Khurmazdism  Khurramism  Arewordik  Mazdakism	Site to the Adur Gushnasp darb-e mehr built by the Sassanids
Ushi-Darena	Baduspan	Daylam	Persian Empire	+1 Learning +5 Popular Opinion	Cainitism All Zoroastrian faiths:  Mazdayasna  Zurvanism  Gayomarthianism  Khurmazdism  Khurramism  Arewordik  Mazdakism	The mountain where Zarathustra attained illumination and received the word of Ahura-Mazda
Uppsala	Upland	Sweden	Scandinavia	+1% Monthly piety per knight +5% Heavy Infantry Damage	Ásatrú	Site of Scandinavia's pre-eminent temple, both before & after Christianisation
Jorvik	East Riding	England	Britannia	+20% Knight Effectiveness +1 Prowess per Level of Devotion	Ásatrú	Site of Ragnarr Loðbrok's death
Paderborn	Paderborn	Germany	Germania	+1 Stewardship per Level of Devotion +10% Fertility	Ásatrú  Paganism	Location of Saxon Irminsul destroyed by Charlemagne
Könugarðr	Kyiv	Ruthenia	Russia	+1 Prowess per Level of Devotion	Ásatrú	Center of Norse influence in Eastern Europe and capital of the Rus'
Ranaheim	Trændheim	Norway	Scandinavia	+20% Naval Speed −5% Men-at-Arms Maintenance	Ásatrú	Ranheim was site to a cultist Norse temple used from the 4th to 10th century
Raivola	Kakisalmi	Finland	Scandinavia	+2% Monthly piety per powerful vassal on the council	Ukonusko	Island home to ancient burial sites
Hiiumaa	Osel	Estonia	Baltic Empire	+1 Stewardship +5 Close Family Opinion	Ukonusko  Vidilism  Paganism
Akkel	Akkel	Sapmi	Scandinavia	+5 Maximum Combat Roll in Taiga Terrain +10% Archer Toughness	Ukonusko	Possibly the site of Ukonkivi (English: 'Ukko's rock') an island holy site to Finnic pagans who believed the island had sacred natural formation
Perm	Perm	Permia	Volga-Ural	+25% Supply Duration +1 Prowess	Ukonusko  Turumism	Capital of Permia
Kyiv	Kyiv	Ruthenia	Russia	+10% Monthly Piety +20% Knight Effectiveness	Slovianska Pravda	Important city for ancient and medieval East Slavic culture and civilization
Novgorod	Novgorod	Novgorod	Russia	+1 Stewardship per Level of Devotion	Slovianska Pravda	Capital of the principality of Novgorod
Barlad	Barlad	Moldavia	Carpathia	+1 Prowess +10% Heavy Infantry Toughness	Slovianska Pravda
Plock	Plock	Poland	West-Slavia	+5 Same Faith Opinion	Slovianska Pravda
Pokaini	Dobele in Zemigalians	Lithuania	Baltic Empire	+5 Advantage in Controlled Territory +10% Stress Loss	Vidilism
Toruń	Chełmno	Lithuania	Baltic Empire	+1 Martial per Level of Devotion +20% Knight Effectiveness	Ukonusko  Vidilism
Braslau	Braslau	Lithuania	Baltic Empire	+0.1 Monthly Piety per knight +10% Skirmisher Toughness	Vidilism
Rügen	Rügen	Pomerania	Baltic Empire	−25% Embarkation Cost −10% Retreat Losses	Vidilism  Slovianska Pravda	A site of pagan cult all the way until mid-12th century
Pest	Visegrad	Hungary	Carpathia	+1 Martial +1 Prowess per Level of Fame	Táltosism
Kerch	Kerch	Zaporizhia	Khazaria	−5% Army Maintenance Cost +1 Martial per Level of Fame	Táltosism  Tengriism	The target of many steppe empires, including the Göktürks, Khazars, and Mongols.
Olvia	Olbia in Odessa	Zaporizhia	Khazaria	+10% Monthly Piety	Táltosism
Poszony	Poszony	Hungary	Carpathia	+20% Levy Reinforcement Rate if same faith	Táltosism
Sarysyn	Sarysyn	Zaporizhia	Khazaria	−10% Men-at-Arms Maintenance Cost	Táltosism
Tyumen	Tyumen	Yugra	Siberia	+1 Martial per Level of Devotion +10% Raid Speed	Turumism
Surgut	Kazym	Yugra	Siberia	+0.1 Health	Turumism
Ob	Ob	Ob	Siberia	+1 Learning +10% Fertility	Turumism
Olkhon	Olkhon	Buryatia	Mongolia	+10% Monthly Piety Gain	Turumism
Viscaya	Viscaya	Navarra	Hispania	+8 Coastal Advantage	Era Zaharrak	One of the largest centers on Basque Country
Aneto	Alto Aragon	Aragon	Hispania	+0.03 Prestige per Knight	Era Zaharrak	Highest mountain in the Pyrenees
Bordeaux	Bordeaux	Aquitaine	Francia	+0.5 Monthly Control in Counties	Era Zaharrak
Karakorum	Karakorum	Mongolia	Mongolia	+20% Knight Effectiveness +1 Prowess per Level of Fame	Tengriism	Capital of the Mongol Empire between 1235 and 1260.
Qayaliq	Qayaliq	Zhetysu	Tartaria	+10% Skirmisher Damage +10% Light Cavalry Damage	Tengriism
Tavan Bogd	Tavan Bogd	Ob	Siberia	+1 Prowess per Level of Devotion +5 Clergy Opinion	Tengriism
Preslav	Silistra	Bulgaria	Byzantine Empire	+10% Levy Size	Tengriism	Capital of the First Bulgarian Empire.
Athens	Attica	Hellas	Byzantine Empire	+1 Stewardship +1 Diplomacy	Hellenism	Major Hellenic city-state and patron city of Athena
Mount Olympus	Servia in Thessalia	Thessalonika	Byzantine Empire	+2 Learning	Hellenism	Sacred mountain associated with the Olympic pantheon
Carthage	Tunis	Africa	Maghreb	+5 Natural Dread	Adamitism  Hellenism  Achamanism	Phoenician colony turning trading empire, later rebuilt as capital of Roman Tunis
Kabul	Kabul	Kabulistan	Persian Empire	+1 Stewardship +5% Monthly Piety	Zunism
Multan	Multan	Punjab	Rajastan	+1 Martial +5% Monthly Piety	Zunism
Bost	Bost	Makran	Persian Empire	+5 Same Faith Opinion	Zunism
Khotan	Khotan	Khotan	Turan	+10 Different Culture Opinion	Manicheanism  Gyur Bön  Khyarwé Bön  Zhengyi  Paganism	Location of the Kunlun Goddess, the highest mountain of the Kunlun Range. Khotan is also the main source of the nephrite jade used in ancient China.
Balkh	Balkh (shared with Takht-i-Sangin)	Khorasan	Persian Empire	+10 Different Faith Opinion	Gyur Bön  Khyarwé Bön	Site of the earliest known Fire Temple.
Lhasa	Lhasa	Ü	Tibet	+20% Monthly Piety	Gyur Bön  Khyarwé Bön All Taoist faiths:  Quanzhen  Shangqing  Zhengyi  Nangchos	Capital of the Tibetian Empire, which introduced Buddhism to Tibet.
Purang	Purang	Guge	Tibet	+1 Stewardship per Level of Devotion	Gyur Bön  Khyarwé Bön All Taoist faiths:  Quanzhen  Shangqing  Zhengyi  Nangchos	Birthplace of Sudhara, one of the Buddha's past lives
Awkar	Awkar	Ghana	Mali	+1 Number of Knights +10% Light Cavalry Toughness	Siguism  Bidaism	Capital of the Wagadu Empire and seat of the Bida cult
Jenne	Jenne	Jenne	Mali	+1 Diplomacy +5 Councillor Opinion	Siguism  Bidaism  Akom
Niani	Niani	Mali	Mali	−0.1 Monthly Tyranny −20% Tyranny Gain	Siguism  Bidaism	Capital of the Mali Empire
Kukiya	Kukiya	Songhay	Mali	+1% Monthly piety per knight +1% Monthly Prestige per Knight	Siguism  Bidaism  Orisa
Wadan	Wadan	Anbiya	Maghreb	+1 Martial +25% Supply Duration	Bidaism  Roog Sene
Daura	Daura	Hausaland	Kanem-Bornu	+2% Monthly Prestige per Knight +10% Knight Effectiveness	Bori	Ancient center of Hausa feasts
Garumele	Garumele	Kanem	Kanem-Bornu	+5 Popular Opinion	Bori
Igbo	Igbo	Igbo-Benue	Guinea	+1 Learning per Level of Devotion	Bori  Orisa	The Igbo were an ethnic and cultural group established just North of the Niger delta
El-Fasher	El-Fasher	Darfur	Kanem-Bornu	+1 Stewardship per Level of Devotion	Kushitism  Bori
Wandala	Wandala	Sao	Kanem-Bornu	+5 Advantage in Drylands terrain	Bori
Kisi	Kisi	Mali	Mali	+2% Monthly Prestige per Knight −20% Building Construction Prestige Cost	Siguism  Roog Sene
Sherbro	Sherbro	Guinea	Guinea	+10 Same Faith Opinion	Roog Sene
Kayor	Kayor	Takrūr	Mali	+5 Personal Scheme Success Chance +1 Diplomacy	Roog Sene
Kasa	Kasa	Kaabu	Mali	+1 Diplomacy per Level of Devotion	Roog Sene
Bono	Bono	Akan	Guinea	−5% Men-at-Arms Maintenance +5 Personal Scheme Power	Akom  Orisa
Kumasi	Kumasi	Akan	Guinea	+1 Learning −25% Short Reign Opinion	Akom  Orisa	Center for the Ashanti people
Ife	Ife	Yorubaland	Guinea	+20% Monthly Piety	Akom  Orisa	A central city in Yoruba religion and culture, said to have been founded by the supreme god Olodumare and where the divine king Odudduwa established a legendary dynasty
Nikki	Nikki	Borgu	Guinea	+1 Learning per Level of Devotion	Akom
Aswan	Aswan	Egypt	Arabian Empire	+1 Stewardship per Level of Devotion	Kushitism	City home to many temples, monuments and relics of Ancient Egypt and the location of quarries that supplied building materials for constructions all over Egypt, inclding the Pyramids of Giza
Wadi el-Milk	Wadi el-milk	Nubia	Abyssinia	+50% County Conversion Resistance	Kushitism	A dried up river and former tributary of the Nile
Naqis	Naqis	Blemmyia	Abyssinia	+2 Martial	Kushitism
Sennar	Sennar	Nubia	Abyssinia	+2 Diplomacy	Kushitism
Mount Teide	Tenerife	Maghreb	Maghreb	+25% Monthly Development in Hills terrain +0.03 Piety per Dread	Achamanism
Cartagena	Murcia (barony of Cartagena)	Valencia	Hispania	−15% Title Creation Cost -0.002 Men-at-Arms maintenance per Dread	Achamanism
Madeira	Madeira	Maghreb	Maghreb	+20% Naval Speed +5 Coastal Advantage	Achamanism
Danakil	Danakil	Adal	Abyssinia	+1 Learning +5 Personal Scheme Power	Waaqism
Kaffa	Kaffa	Damot	Abyssinia	+1 Martial per Level of Devotion +10% Raid Speed	Waaqism
Harar	Harar	Adal	Abyssinia	+10% Monthly Piety	Waaqism
Makhir	Makhir	Adal	Abyssinia	+2 Diplomacy	Waaqism
Mogadishu	Mogadishu	Ajuraan	Ajuraan	+5 Clergy Opinion	Waaqism	Capital of the Ajuran Sultanate and an important city overall
Gilgit	Gilgit	Kashmir	Rajastan	+1 Martial +1 Stewardship	Gyur Bön  Khyarwé Bön
Suzhou	Suzhou	Xia	Tibet	+1 Diplomacy +1 Martial	All Taoist faiths:  Quanzhen  Shangqing  Zhengyi	Also known as Jiquan, it was an important city in medieval China due to its centrality in trade and its position on the Great Wall

Unused holy sites

There are currently two holy sites that exist in the game files but are unused:

Name	Location	De Jure Kingdom	De Jure Empire	Effects	Faiths	Notes
Grand Church Under Construction	Barcelona	Aragon	Hispania	+10% Monthly piety	Catholicism	Inactive at game start, and impossible to activate.
Sparta	Laconia	Hellas	Byzantine Empire	+1 Martial +1 Prowess	Hellenism	Was formerly a Hellenic holy site until Patch 1.4 replaced it with Mount Olympus

Holy site ID

Each holy site has an internal ID uses for referencing within the game files. As a general rule, to get a holy site's ID from its in-game name:

• Remove all apostrophes (')
• Turn all upper case letters into lower case (A...Z->a...z)
• Remove any diacritics from letters, including accents (á->a) and umlauts/diaereses (ü->u)

Any holy site IDs that do not fit the pattern above are included in the table below:

Holy site	Internal ID
Canterbury	kent
Dwin	suenik
Koloneia	colonea
Mount Gerizim	gerizim
Lumbini	kusinagara
Nok Kundi	nok_kundi
Takht-e Soleyman	takht-e_soleyman
Karakorum	kara_khorum
Tavan Bogd	tavan_bogd
El-Fasher	el_fasher
Wadi el-Milk	wadi_el_milk
Grand Church Under Construction (unused)	segrada_familia

See also

• Holy site modding