The rock-hewn churches at Lalibela exemplify a building tradition that has been used in Ethiopia since the 6th and 7th centuries, but these churches are attributed to the 13th-century King Lalibela. They demonstrate an extraordinary level of architectural detail in their construction, for example in the windows and doors which include ‘structural’ features that serve no function, and in the symbolism of the design and decoration. Today, the churches are still very much alive, and a place of pilgrimage for many Ethiopians.