In our secularised world, the societal influence of religious institutions such as the Catholic Church is steadily declining. What remains are the monumental sacred buildings, which in many places form the centre of the historic city centre (cf. Wildt et al. in Religions 10:602, 2019). Especially in World Heritage Cities such as Regensburg, a high percentage of the built heritage can be traced back to the history of the Christian faith (cf. UNESCO World Heritage Centre in Old Town of Regensburg with Stadtamhof, 2023). At present, sacred buildings are perceived less and less as places of religious practice. Instead, they often function as attractive destinations for profane, urban cultural tourism, which poses major challenges to Regensburg and cities worldwide (cf. Guggenheim in Qual Sociol 36:445–464, 2013). A form of the spiritual experience of the place’s historicity and aura replaces the divine’s religious experience. This chapter discusses this functional change in sacred heritage from a systemic perspective on cultural heritage based on a metamodel for heritage-based urban development. The analysis contributes to a deeper understanding of the significance of sacred buildings in modern societies; it shows how cultural heritage can build a bridge between past and present as an identity-forming element.