100 World’s greatest historic buildings

The two temples of Ramesses II at Abu Simbel are among the most impressive of all the world’s surviving ancient monuments. It remains a testament to the power of the Egyptian empire at its height under Ramesses II, aka ‘Ramesses the Great’.

Cut into the rock above the Nile flood plain more than 3,000 years ago, fronted by four colossal statues of the pharaoh. His consort Nefertari and their children can be seen in smaller figures by his feet. Queen Nefertari was the first of Ramesses’ ‘Great Royal Wives’.

The temple remains an awe-inspiring sight, despite having been relocated in the 1960s above the newly created Lake Nasser. It’s angled so that each 21 February and 21 October, the sun illuminated the gods in the innermost sanctuary. This happens a day later since its relocation, following construction of the Aswan Dam.

Five years in the making with a vast workforce, the huge Akshardham Temple complex was completed in 2005 by the Swaminarayan sect of Hinduism. Drawing on the venerable traditions of temple architecture, colossal amounts of carving were augmented by spacious parkland and gardens.

Yet it’s more than just a temple – a musical fountain, animatronic displays and a ‘Hall of Values’ aims to distil the wisdom and spirituality of India in a kind of cultural campus, all infused with Swaminarayan’s philosophy.

It was built according to ancient Hindu texts, which describe specific methods for constructing Hindu temples. 7,000 artisan sculptors and thousands of volunteers helped build the vast building, adorned with thousands of intricate carvings including sages, rishis, devotees and playful elephants.

Built in the 10th century for Seville’s Moorish governor, the Alcazar was converted into a palace by Pedro I, Christian King of Castile in the 1360s, making it the oldest royal palace still in use in Europe.

Pedro brought in Moorish craftsmen from Granada and Toledo to create his dream home, and today their patios, tile work, tracery and arabesques are the most delightful features, culminating in the stunning Salon de Embajadores, where Charles V was married in 1526.

Charles later added his own palace to the Alcazar, decorated with priceless Flemish tapestries. And the gardens are simply enchanting.

The pinnacle of the exquisite refinement and sophistication of Moorish Spain, the Alhambra is where the Arabian Nights come to life.

Dominating Granada from its spectacular hilltop location, with the Sierra Nevada looming in the background, it was the base of the Nasrid kings, the Alhambra ruled from the 13th century until 1492.

Visits include the main palace with the famous lion fountain patio, the Generalife summer palace and its fountain-filled courtyard, the enchanting gardens, the Alcazaba fortress and the Renaissance Palace of Charles V with its circular courtyard: so allow at least three hours to see everything while drinking in the unforgettable views.

Pre-Independence Rajasthan, or ‘Land of the Princes’, comprised an intricate patchwork of princely states. Numerous maharajas’ palaces and forts still dot the landscape and among the most famous is 16th-century Amber (also known as Amer), a huge fortress-palace cresting a stark ridge above Amer village near Jaipur.

Enclosed by kilometres of walls snaking across the surrounding hills, at its heart the huge complex comprises audience halls, pavilions, royal ‘apartments’ and courtyards that collectively blend Hindu and Mughal motifs and architecture. Part-marble interiors boast decorative paintings, mirrored-glass mosaics and coloured glass. It’s a great place to wander and explore.

The stupendous temple city of Angkor Wat is just one of many ancient Khmer ruins at the UNESCO World Heritage listed Archaeological Park, yet it’s the best known, most captivating, and the one most Siem Reap visitors, young and old, come to see.

Whether you tour independently or with a guide, by remork (tuk-tuk) or bicycle, exploring Angkor Wat can be an Indiana Jones-style adventure through the jungle that will leave you sweaty and exhausted, but satisfied.

This exceptional Roman temple complex is one of the best-preserved examples of Roman architecture in the world.

Situated on a hill overlooking the surrounding valley, the enormous site includes the remains of two exceptional Roman temples – the Temple of Bacchus and the Temple of Jupiter, the latter distinguished by its 6 remaining columns. Both date from the mid-1st century – the height of the Roman Empire.

The site was known as ‘Heliopolis’ (meaning Sun City in Greek) during Roman times, though it had been a site of worship since 8,000 BC. The current name derives from the Phoenician sky god, Baal; the Phoenicians (1500 BC – 300 BC) built the first significant temple here.

Birthplace of Winston Churchill, UNESCO World Heritage Site, 2,000 acres of Capability Brown-designed gardens, a gargantuan palace dating back to the early 18th-century – Blenheim is almost bewilderingly rich in heritage.

This Baroque beauty was built as a gift to John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough, from Queen Anne and a grateful nation in thanks for his victory at the Battle of Blenheim on 13th August 1704. Passed on down through the generations, it’s now home to the 12th Duke of Marlborough and his family.

The Palace holds spectacular collections of art, furniture and porcelain, housed in ornate, grand state rooms. Alongside, there’s a new, interactive exhibition dedicated to Winston Churchill – and you can also see the tiny room where he was born.

There are several themed tours on offer – of the Marlborough’s private apartments, of the ‘downstairs’ where the servants worked (ala Downtown Abbey), buggy tours of the formal gardens, and of the stables – offering a deeper insight into life here in the 18th and 19th centuries.

Built on the orders of Sultan Ahmet I (1603–17) to rival the Hagia Sophia in grandeur and beauty – and completed in 1616, one year before his death – the Blue Mosque (aka Sultan Ahmed Mosque) is considered one of the last great mosques of the classical period, combining Byzantine elements with traditional Islamic architecture.

With six slender minarets and a beautiful dome, it dominates Istanbul’s skyline. The interior is decorated with 21,000 hand-painted (mostly blue) tiles and stunning stained-glass windows.

The whole area around the Blue Mosque was once the site of the Byzantine emperors’ Great Palace. Some of the palace’s recently discovered, lavish floor mosaics, dating from AD 450-550, are on display at the Great Palace Mosaic Museum.

Norway is home to dozens of so-called ‘Stave’ churches­ – notable for their ‘post and lintel’ construction. The supporting posts are called stav in modern Norwegian, hence the name. Once common across northwestern Europe, most of these unusual-looking wooden structures fell victim to wars and fire over the centuries. This one at Borgund, built around AD 1200, is arguably the finest remaining example.

This 9th-century Mahayana Buddhist temple, built during the reign of the Sailendra Dynasty, is a prime example of Javanese Buddhist architecture.

The structure is adorned with over 2,500 relief panels and 500 Buddha statues, arranged around a large central dome.

It remains the largest Buddhist temple in the world, and a popular pilgrimage site.

Historical records mention a fortress at Bouzov as early as the 14th-century, but the current Neo-gothic construct was predominantly built in the early 20th century, on the order of the Grand Master of the Teutonic Knights.

Despite being looted during the World Wars, and confiscated by the Nazis, it remains a beguiling castle, complete with 8-storey watchtower, drawbridge, battlements and a knight’s hall.

Romania’s most famous castle was constructed in 1388 as a fortress to protect the Transylvanian rulers from the Ottoman Empire. It later served as a royal residence.

It’s famed, however, as the legendary home of Count Dracula – purely because it looks the part. Vlad III (aka ‘Vlad the Impaler’, the inspiration for Bram Stoker’s vampire), never actually set foot in the place, and there’s no evidence that Bram Stoker even knew of it.

Adopted as the British monarch’s official London residence on the accession of Queen Victoria in 1837, the world’s most famous – if architecturally bland – royal palace is viewed by most visitors from the outside only. Walk up the Mall to get the most impressive view, and once you’ve mingled with the crowds, dip into leafy St James’ Park for coffee with the squirrels, who eat out of the hands of passersby.

In the summer months, the State Rooms and gardens open up to visitors; you can take your own picnic if visiting the gardens, and there are pre-bookable Gardener’s Tours for green-fingered visitors.

Perched on a limestone plateau overlooking the Danube, this has been the seat of Hungarian royalty since the 13th century. Since then everyone from Turkish Pashas to the last Regent, Admiral Horthy, have held court here.

There are intriguing remnants of the medieval castle – the largest Gothic castle/palace of the late Middle Ages – but in the main, this is a fairy-tale royal palace, built in neo-Renaissance and neo-baroque style.

The castle is also home to both the National Gallery and the Budapest History Museum.

The home of the Church of England, Canterbury Cathedral is one of the most beautiful churches in England. Even non-church lovers can’t fail to be impressed by the sheer scale and ambition of the building, from the 11th-century crypt to the beautiful stained glass in the 12th-century choir.

The site dates back to 597AD and the cathedral, along with the tranquil precincts that surround the medieval buildings, is now a UNESCO World Heritage site. Today it attracts more than 1 million visitors per year.

Famous for its ornate, onion-bulb domes and the extraordinary gold mosaics housed within the spectacular façade, the Church of the Resurrection (more commonly known as the Church of the the Spilled Blood) is one of St Petersburg’s finest religious sites – a must-see, even for those who wouldn’t normally visit a church.

Built in 1881 in memory of Alexander II, the church stands on the spot where he was assassinated, when a bomb was thrown into his carriage. Outside, the domes are exuberantly decorated in bold golds and teal, and covered with jeweller’s enamel.

Inside, the scale of the mosaics is jaw-dropping; floor-to-ceiling gold-leaf depictions of different scenes from the bible, set against a vivid, deep blue backdrop.

A Romanesque and Baroque jewel, Santiago’s mighty cathedral offers a fitting climax to the end of the Camino de Santiago pilgrimage.

The first church, begun after 814 and discovery of the body of St James, was burned by the Moors in 997, although they left the holy relics intact. The current cathedral dates from 1075, and in 1188, sculptor Master Mateo completed its sublime Portico da la Gloria.

One façade wasn’t enough, though; a spectacular encasing Baroque façade was added in the 18th Century. At the head of the 97m nave is the wildly ornate baldachin and altar over the crypt holding the saintly relics. Suspended from the crossing is the 80kg Botafumeiro, the incense ‘smoke-spreader’—the world’s largest censer.

Built originally for Peter the Great’s wife, Empress Catherine I in 1723, this extraordinary Baroque summer palace was later expanded upon by their daughter, Empress Elizabeth using the services of her favorite Italian architect, Bartolomeo Rastrelli.

Rastrelli designed the palace’s showpieces, including the magnificent Marble Staircase, the Grand Ballroom, and the interior of the incomparable Amber Room, which houses the priceless amber panels gifted to Peter by Frederick William I of Prussia. The stunning, turquoise 1,200-foot palace facade features Rastrelli’s life-sized caryatids (stone carvings of female figures, used as pillars) and glittering domes of the Imperial chapel.

A showcase for the grandeur of Imperial Russia, and a fascinating insight into the gilded lives of the Tsars.

The largest chateau in the Loire, and the most excessive of all King François I’s architectural ventures, this 16th-century Renaissance colossus contains an astonishing 440 rooms, 84 staircases, more than 800 sculpted columns and a forest of fantastical chimneys.

Its centrepiece is the spectacular double helix staircase, designed, it is thought, by Leonardo da Vinci, but it also houses an outstanding collection of 4,500 items of furniture, tapestries, antiques and objets d’art.

The UNESCO world heritage-listed Maya city of Chichen Itza is one of Mexico’s most iconic and spectacular attractions – a global must-see worthy of any bucket list.

The site is littered with stunning, monumental buildings – the towering and perfectly proportioned Castillo pyramid, decorated with plumed serpents, the collonaded Temple of a Thousand Warriors, vast ball courts and exquisitely carved palaces. These formed the ceremonial heart of a far larger city – built between AD 750 and 1200 – whose ruins extend into the wild forest surrounds.

Set aside Mel Gibson’s dramatised and inaccurate portrayal of these peaceful people in Apocalypto – and learn how their rich, sustainable culture lived in harmony with – and revered – the natural world.

Understanding a little about the pre-Columbian Maya really brings these sites to life. You could read Michael Coe’s The Maya, and/or Joyce Kelly’s An Archaeological Guide to Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula before you go.

Thought to be built on the site of Golgotha, where Jesus was crucified, and on Jesus’ tomb, wherefrom he rose from the dead, this complex sits on Christianity’s two holiest sites.

Fire and conquest have reduced it to rubble on several occasions, only for it to arise again – the current manifestation dates from 1810.

Many pilgrims come to follow the route of the Via Dolorosa, Jesus’ final journey with the cross, with the final section inside the church itself.

This amazing monolithic church, dug downwards out of the volcanic tuff, is the stand-out of eleven such medieval churches at this fascinating religious site. They were built on the order of King Gebre Mesqel Lalibela (who gave the site its name) in the late 12th century following a celestial vision. It remains a popular pilgrimage site – and King Lelibela is now recognised by the local Christians as a saint.

This extraordinary creation, made entirely of wood, is not only famed for the aesthetic appeal of its 22 twisty domes, but also because not a single nail was used in its construction – it used interlocking logs instead.

What’s perhaps even more remarkable is that it’s survived over 200 years since its construction in 1714 without burning down, like almost every other wooden building in history.

This sprawling citadel is one of the largest and oldest castles in the world – records of its existence in some form date back to 3,000 BC.

Over the centuries, it’s been home to multiple civilisations, including the Greeks, Byzantines, Ottomans and Romans, and has survived multiple invasions and wars, including the recent battle of Aleppo (2012-2016).

Highlights today include the imposing stone entrance bridge, the Ayyubid Palace and the ancient Hammam.

When Maharaja Jai Singh II shifted his capital from Amber in around 1727, he laid the foundations for a meticulously planned city – Jaipur. City Palace lies at the heart of the Old City, a stirring complex of palaces, halls, courtyards and pavilions embodying the power and stature of one of Rajasthan’s leading royal families.

The glitz and glamour are tempered by various displays, from a quirky collection of carriages and palanquins to an astonishing armoury.

Built by Emperor Vespasian beginning in AD 72 and known as the Flavian Amphitheatre in ancient times, the thrilling Colosseum still manages to pull a hefty crowd.

Inaugurated by the Emperor’s son, Titus, in AD 80, it could hold an unruly crowd of more than 50,000 spectators. With a circumference of 545m, it’s considered one of the greatest works of Roman architecture and engineering.

The remarkably well-preserved walls, seating stands and underground tunnels are an evocative reminder of gory gladiatorial history.

Lovers of the film Gladiator will relish a guided tour of the monumental arena, where gladiatorial contests and traditional games were held.

Originally built by the English King Edward I during his 13th-century conquest of Wales – one of the so-called ‘Ring-of-Iron’ castles – Conwy remained a refuge of kings and usurpers until it was finally ruined in 1665 by the English government to prevent further revolt. An evocative complex with all the castle ingredients – keeps, moats, towers and battlements you can walk around.

The largest castle in the Netherlands can trace its origins back to 1391, though the current magnificent building was largely built at the end of the 19th century with the financial power of Baroness Helene de Rothschild.

In 1887, she hired famous Dutch architect Pierre Cuypers, who spent the next 20 years designing, building and decorating this 200-bedroom fairy-tale.

It’s filled with intricate woodcarvings, sculptures, tapestries, paintings and even porcelain.

With its rose pink-and-white brickwork shimmering on the edge of the lagoon, the Doge’s Palace seems more mirage than monument. While other states fortified their power with forbidding castles, the Venetians showed off their security with this airy, ethereal palace.

The hub of the far-reaching political power of La Serenissima since the 9th century, today it is a testament to the best of Byzantine, Gothic and Renaissance architecture and painting.

Highlights include the arcaded courtyard, the frescoes by Veronese, Tiepolo and Tintoretto in the grand chambers and the collection of armour and weapons in the old Armoury. Tintoretto’s Paradiso is the largest oil painting in the world.

This luxurious, modern ‘European’ palace on the banks of the Bosphorus was built on the order of the Ottoman Empire’s 31st Sultan, Abdulmecid I, and was built between the years 1843 and 1856. An extraordinary and unique architectural curiosity, the Dolmabahce blends Ottoman architecture with Baroque, Rococo and Neoclassical details – it’s overwhelming to the point of kitsch, and so lavish that it bankrupted the Empire.

Don’t trust the clocks: they all say 9.05, stopped at the hour when the Turkish revolutionary statesman Ataturk died here on 10 November 1938.

Sweden’s stand-out palace was originally commissioned by King John III for his queen Catherine, and completed in 1580. Many of Sweden’s monarchs have lived there since, including the current royal family who have a private wing. The rest of the palace and gardens are open to the public.

Completed in 1436, this multi-colored marble megalith is crowned with one of the marvels of the Renaissance world; Brunelleschi’s vast double-shelled dome – built without scaffolding – was a breathtaking feat of engineering.

If time is short, skip the cathedral’s barn-like interior and visit the dome (463 steps) and Giotto’s magnificent bell tower (414 steps).

Milan’s multi-spired Duomo, the world’s large gothic cathedral, has been compared to a wedding cake, a ‘poem in marble’ (Mark Twain) and a hedgehog (D.H. Lawrence).

Commissioned in 1386-7, this pinkish marble, gothic extravaganza took over 550 years to complete. The final flourishes were added in 1965. Having been built over such an extended period, enduring numerous architects, it’s a hodgepodge of styles but nonetheless impressive.

Inside, check out the 18th-century floor-length sundial near the entrance, and the tomb of San Carlo Borromeo. Then climb the 158 steps (or catch the lift) to the rooftop terraces to admire the mind-boggling 3,400 marble statues – and the view.

One of the few Rhine castles never to be destroyed, ‘Burg Eltz’ has remarkably been owned by the same family since records began in 1157 – 33 generations.

Crammed onto a 70m-high rock spur, with eight dramatic towers and views over the Elzbach Valley and River Eltz, it’s one of Germany and the world’s most beguiling castles.

Built in the early 15th century, the Forbidden City is a vast palace complex of regal halls, ceremonial courtyards, gardens and living quarters, that served as the home of Chinese emperors and their households for 500 years. Behind its vermilion walls was a closed-off world of antique ritual and intrigue, where the ‘Son of Heaven’ was tended to by an army of servants, eunuchs and concubines.

Today the palace complex is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the world’s largest collection of heritage wooden buildings. Officially called the Palace Museum, many of the rooms have been given over to museum exhibits of imperial treasures, from priceless ceramics to Qing-dynasty furniture.

Its central location, historic importance and architectural beauty make this Beijing’s most popular site of interest for tourists.

Frederiksborg is one of Europe’s most magnificent Renaissance castle-palaces, its iconic russet and mint-green frontage rising up above immaculate formal gardens.

It was built in the 17th century by King Christian IV, to show off and enhance Christian’s reputation as a powerful European monarch.

Rich in art and unusual decorative touches, the building now houses the Museum of National History, which traces the nation’s history through portraits, paintings, furniture and decorative arts, with a section aimed at children.

Outside the expansive gardens surround a vast boating lake, with regular concerts held in the baroque castle church.

The so-called Golden Temple, a mixture of Indo-Islamic Mughal and Hindu Rajput architecture, is famed for its striking inner sanctum covered in gold leaf.

It’s a gurdwara, a place of gathering and worship for Sikhs, and one of their holiest sites. It is, however, open to worship for all. The four temple entrances symbolise the Sikh belief in equality and welcome to people from all faiths.

The former seat of power of Siamese kings, the glittering Grand Palace complex is one of Thailand’s big tourism draw cards.

Constructed in 1782, the complex includes halls, pavilions and temples set around open lawns, gardens and courtyards – it was the home of Thai kings for 150 years and is still considered their spiritual and ceremonial base. While the King no longer lives here, it’s still used for ceremonies.

Decorated in shimmering mosaics and vivid murals, the buildings are incredible, especially the temple of Wat Phra Kaew.

The densely-crowded Egyptian city of Giza – on the West Bank of the Nile just outside of Cairo – welcomes millions of tourists every year to visit one of the world’s greatest archaeological sites.

The Giza Plateau, wedged between the city’s borders and the Western Desert, is a remarkable complex of gargantuan stone pyramids, several cemeteries, and a giant statue of a mythological sphinx – all dating back to 2,500 BC.

The monumental Great Wall of China is a defense work stretching from ocean to desert across the vast expanse of China’s northern regions. In the strategic uplands around Beijing, the Wall was built from bricks and stone, with crenelated battlements and watchtowers. Elsewhere it was more simply fashioned from tamped earth.

The Great Wall is actually a series of walls built during different eras of Chinese history, but the first unifying wall was constructed by China’s first emperor, Qin Shi Huang, from around 220 BC. Much of the wall that remains standing today was reconstructed using stronger materials during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644).

Later sections of the Great Wall – including Badaling, the first section to be opened to tourists – stand on average 8m tall and just under 6m wide, designed to allow five horses to ride abreast or ten soldiers to walk shoulder to shoulder.

The nearest stretches to Beijing have been restored and are now among the world’s most visited tourist spots. Unrestored sections, sometimes called the ‘wild wall’, remain in a precarious state of ruin, with an estimated thirty percent already lost to the vagaries of weather, earthquakes and human activity. Around Beijing, the undulating mountain landscapes are as inspiring as the defensive ramparts themselves.

A masterpiece of Byzantine architecture, this world-renowned 6th-century marvel encapsulates the essence of the lost Ottoman Empire in stone.

With a great dome and marble columns adorned with frescoes and glittering gold mosaics, the Church of the ‘Holy Wisdom’ was the last major creation of classical antiquity and the centre of the Byzantine world for 1,000 years. Initially a cathedral, then a mosque, it’s now a museum as well as a functioning mosque – and a must-see in Istanbul.

A Tudor royal pleasure palace set in 60 acres of gorgeous formal gardens and 750 acres of parkland. Anyone with the remotest interest in English history will get a kick out of exploring this sprawling Tudor and Baroque estate, where the infamous Henry VIII lived, loved and held lavish banquets.

Navigating the UK’s oldest surviving hedge maze, commissioned around 1700, is something of a rite of passage for British kids, with families often opting to visit the gardens alone (maze-only tickets are available). But don’t miss the Great Hall and royal apartments, the elaborate dome in the Chapel Royal or the gallery – reputedly haunted by Henry’s fated fifth wife, Catherine Howard.

You can also play Mary Poppins with a walk on the palace roof, on guided summertime tours that take in the intricate brickwork and chimneys and give VIP views of the estate.

This magnificent hilltop castle, known as ‘White Heron Castle’, originally dates back to 1333; remarkably it has survived virtually intact through 700 years of turbulent Japanese feudal history. The finest surviving example of prototypical Japanese castle architecture, and Japan’s largest castle, it was recently restored, returning to its gleaming brilliant white best.

Once the tallest stupa in the ancient world, this extraordinary 122m-high dome-shaped Buddhist shrine was, for its time, a feat of structural and engineering ingenuity. Over 93 million baked bricks rest on foundations 8.5m deep, filled with rocks trampled flat by elephants.

Today, it’s still the world’s largest stupa and a popular pilgrimage site – a part of Buddha’s sash is believed to be enshrined here.

The largest of the 34 cave temples in the extraordinary Ellora Caves complex, this Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Shiva was carved out of a rock face in the 8th century by the Rashtrakuta king Krishna I. Astonishingly, it’s a megalith, carved up to 33m downwards from the top down.

Karnak, or ancient Thebes, was Egypt’s foremost religious complex originally built in 2055 BC. Over the course of 1,500 years the site was continuously expanded by pharaohs, in tribute to the Theban gods; more than 80,000 workers toiled here during the reign of Ramesses II.

The most impressive sight in Karnak is the superbly preserved, 250,000sq m Temple of Amun, which boasts a magnificent hypostyle hall with 134 massive columns.

You need to visit Karnak twice – once in daylight, and once at night for the Sound & Light Show, and to see the temple lit up.

With a Hyde Park backdrop, this handsome red-brick palace has been modernised over the centuries, but dates back to the 1700s. Much has happened in these hallowed apartments: Queen Victoria was born here and the late Princess Diana lived here; now William and Kate, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, have made it their London home.

The latest big renovation project finished in summer 2012, with newly landscaped gardens, revamped state rooms and exhibitions like Victoria Revealed, an exploration of Victoria’s reign in her own words.

The highlights here are a collection of Queen Victoria’s jewellery, an interactive display where you can step into Victorian garb and a statue of Diana, Princess of Wales in the Sunken Garden. The palace’s rotating programme of temporary exhibitions is well worth checking out, previously including a display of Princess Diana’s dresses and a look back at Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee.

First built in 1397 as a shogun Ashikaga Yoshimitsu’s retirement villa, but then transformed into a Zen temple upon his death in 1408, no sight better highlights the former capital’s glory than this gilded temple casting a shimmering reflection into its islet-studded pond.

Taking in the view while strolling Kinkakuji’s garden pathways is a timeless experience. So, despite having UNESCO World Heritage status, it can be a surprise to hear that the current structure only dates to 1955. That’s when Kinkakuji was rebuilt after being burnt down by a crazed monk in 1950.

Hats off to the artisans who painstakingly recreated it – it’s stunning

Gaudí spent his last years obsessing over the Sagrada Família, this ornate, turreted cathedral with its iconic turrets like melting candles.

Although only the Birth Façade and crypt were completed before he died, and nearly all the plans were lost during the Spanish Civil War, the foundation that owns it has decided to carry on building it according to Gaudi’s surviving drawings.

Funded by ticket admissions, it’s already, even critics admit, the most spectacular church of the 21st century. But it’s quite a labour of love – it’s slated to be finished by 2026.

Built in 1746, this stunning marble palace (and famous Octopussy cult hideout) was the winter palace of Maharana Jagat Singh II of the royal dynasty of Mewar.

Mesmerising from the outside, inside it houses a peacock-filled central garden, with fountains, pillared terraces and shady courtyards.

Rooms are traditionally furnished and come with views out onto the lake and to the city of Udaipur in the distance.

Taken over and restored by a luxury hotel chain, you must be a hotel guest to visit. But it’s worth the price tag to stay and experience an authentic taste of royal Indian life. The Royal Butlers are descendants of the original palace retainers, and serve guests with Maharanan grandeur and tradition.

This imposing citadel complex, built on a hilltop overlooking the city of Jodhpur, was first built in 1459 by Rajput, then later enhanced by the ruling maharajas.

Inside are intricately decorated palaces, expansive courtyards, and now museums housing relics and memorabilia, such as royal cradles, musical instruments, costumes, paintings, armour and furniture.

Begun in the year 785, when Abd ar Rahman I made Cordoba the capital of al-Andalus, the Mezquita (Mosque-Cathedral). is a breathtaking tour de force designed to show that this western outpost of Islam was equal to anything in the east.

Its seemingly endless columns, horseshoe arches and beautiful double arches melt into distant shadows. Originally open on the sides, with light pouring in, it was walled-in when the Christians built a cathedral in the centre, itself a treasure-filled masterpiece although it seems intrusive in this magical forest of 580 columns, this pure meditation in stone.

In the 13th and 14th centuries, 24 monasteries were built in the ‘Meteora’ – a landscape of giant rock pillars in central Greece (the name translates as ‘lofty’ or ‘elevated’).

In a jaw-dropping feat of engineering, the monks constructed them on the top of the rock pillars to safeguard themselves from marauding Turks and other invaders.

The monasteries were only accessible only by ladder, basket or rope. Six still function today – the rest are ruined.

This tiny, 17-acre tidal island off Normandy’s coast houses over 60 historic monuments, arranged around an imposing abbey. The abbey’s history dates back to an AD 966 Benedictine monastery, which was expanded and fortified over the centuries. Thankfully, the island’s unique tidal access largely protected it from destruction, notably during wars with the English.

This famous Indian palace derives its name from the word mysuru meaning citadel – the first palace here was a 14th-century wooden fort belonging to the ruling Wadiyar Dynasty.

Multiple forts and palaces followed – all made of wood, all ultimately burnt to ashes – until the current colourful royal residence, built out of stone, was completed in 1912.

Built by ‘mad’ King Ludwig with the aid of a stage designer, Neuschwanstein is the prototype fairytale castle with Gothic turrets, drawbridges and ridiculously extravagant interiors. Useless for defence, the main fortress was completed in 1886 after Bavaria ceased to be an independent state.

It’s fantastically situated on a crag looking over the shimmering Alpsee, and the furnishings set new standards of royal excess. Ludwig’s bedroom alone gave 14 woodcarvers five years’ steady work.

Neuschwanstein Castle was evil Baron Bomburst’s castle in the 1968 classic British children’s film Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. If you haven’t seen it, watch it before you go.

With Romanesque- and Byzantine-style architecture (earning it the nickname ‘upside-down elephant’), this iconic basilica was built by Pierre Bossan (1872-1874) to thank God for France’s triumph over the socialists during the infamous ‘Communes’.

Atop the Fourviere hillside, its esplanade draws crowds to its sweeping panorama over Lyon. But inside is stunning too: pink granite, blue marble, onyx, silver and gold details that culminate in majestic stained glass windows.

Walk outside to the Rosary Gardens, an oasis of sycamores, larches and roses. Like the basilica, its dedicated to the Virgin Mary who supposedly protected Lyon from the Black Death in 1643.

This extraordinary 15-acre, city centre complex includes moats, gates, towers, and the jewel in the crown – the breathtakingly lovely central castle, built on a tall stone foundation to protect its residents from attack. Today’s manifestation, built 1997, is a concrete reproduction of the original; preceding structures were routinely destroyed by fire and warfare.

When the popes abandoned tumultuous Rome in 1309, they came to Avignon. Seven reigned here until 1377, in a colourful period of greed and depravity that the poet Petrarch labelled the ‘Babylonian captivity’. They left behind nothing less than the biggest Gothic palace of all time, built for luxury as well as defence.

Although much of its decoration has been lost over time, it has lost none of its power to amaze. It’s a big site not really suited to younger children, though ‘Les Luminessences’ – an outdoor 3D show, held every evening from mid-August to late September – is good for all the family.

The vast, opulent Chateaux de Versailles began life as a hunting lodge, built in 1623 for King Louis XIII, before being expanded and developed over a period of fifty years by King Louis XIV. In 1682, he moved the royal household from Paris to the palace, making Versaille the de facto capital of France.

It remains a brilliantly over-the-top ode to the power of Louis XIV, with lavish Baroque rooms and sparkling mirrors lining the heavily-gilded Galerie des Glaces.

The opulent interiors are the main event, but a splendid park and gardens have plenty to keep visitors busy, too – with two further (Grand and Petit Trianon) palaces, a sheep farm, a Grand Canal and Marie Antoinette’s private hameau (hamlet or mini-village).

There has been a Palace at Westminster since at least the 10th century, but the neo-Gothic buildings that comprise the Houses of Parliament and Big Ben were built over a period of 23 years, between 1837-60. Designed by Sir Charles Barry and AWN Pugin, the building is set on a huge concrete plate on the banks of the Thames to keep the building stable. There are over 1,000 rooms, 100 staircases and three miles of passageways over four floors.

Today this is where the British Government meets, and although many visitors see these distinctive buildings as simply part of London’s historic skyline, it’s well worth venturing beyond the elegant facades to have a look inside.

Sit in on ‘Prime Minister’s Questions’ in the House of Commons or take a guided tour focusing on the decorative splendour of the House of Lords. You can also climb the Elizabeth Tower, which holds the clock famously known as Big Ben.

You can’t visit Athens without visiting the Acropolis. It is the city’s iconic citadel and world-famous landmark that won’t fail to amaze even the most jaded traveller.  

‘Acropolis’ translates broadly from the Greek words ‘highest point’ or ‘extremity’. The site contains half-a-dozen buildings, mostly built from 500 BC to 450 BC on the orders of the powerful statesman Pericles, during the so-called ‘Golden age of Athens’. Pericles wanted to beautify, glorify and protect the city. 

The Pathenon 

A marble jigsaw made of 70,000 pieces, this 2,500-year-old temple dating back to 438 BC was dedicated to the goddess Athena. It dazzles with perfect symmetry and awe-inspires with its ancient grandeur, even when it’s crawling with tourists. It’s the most important surviving building of Classical Greece and a symbol of the nation. 

The Erechtheion 

On the north side of the complex, this Temple of was also dedicated to the goddess Athena, and was built to house the statue of Athena Polias. More famously today, it’s home to the ‘Porch of the Maidens’, featuring six sculpted female figures. 

This colour-fantastic, 19th-century Romanticist castle, built on a rock in the Sintra Mountains, is now a national monument and museum but was previously a summer residence for the Portuguese royal family.

Built in 1854 on the orders of King Ferdinand II, when the original monastery on the site was burnt down, it’s uniquely rich with decoration and symbolism – much at the best of the king and his wife Queen Maria.

The most spectacular of St. Petersburg’s suburban estates, Peterhof was founded by Peter I in 1701, who was determined to create a network of palaces and gardens to rival Versailles.

Lining the shores of the Gulf of Finland, the estate remained a favourite summer residence of the Tsars for centuries and offers an almost bewildering array of exhibitions, private rooms and historic collections dotted throughout the buildings.

The highlight of any visit here is, of course, the Grand Palace – the largest and most impressive building of 30 rooms. In front of the palace is the Grand Cascade, a series of 64 fountains, flowing into a semicircular pool containing the largest fountain called ‘Samson’. The Samson Fountain depicts the moment when Samson tears open the jaws of a lion, and represents Russia’s victory over Sweden in the Great Northern War.

The beautifully landscaped gardens also contain other historic buildings if you have the time to explore – including the palaces of Monplaisir and Marli, as a pavilion known as the ‘Hermitage’.

Peterhof attracts millions of visitors each year, particularly from May to September when the famous fountains and Grand Cascade are in full operation. Visiting the gardens is free, but undertaking a guided tour of the palace buildings gives a fascinating insight into the lives of Russia’s gilded emperors.

Florence’s most imposing building was once home to the Medici court and later to the Savoy kings. Now this vast former palace houses multiple museums, the largest – and most important – of which is the Palatina Gallery.

The Palatina is laid out in a series of grand rooms on the first floor with fabulous frescoed ceilings under which hang masterworks by the likes of Raphael, Rubens, Botticelli and Van Dyck in elaborate gilded frames.

The other museums include the Treasury of the Grand Dukes, the Gallery of Modern Art and the Museum of Costume and Fashion. A new ground-floor gallery opened in late 2021 housing the oldest collection of Russian icons in Western Europe.

This wonderful dzong fortress on the side of Ri Marpo (‘Red Mountain’) overlooks the Lhasa Valley at an altitude of 3,700m. It was built in 1645 by the 5th Dalai Lama to be the seat of government and was used as such and as a winter residence for the Dalai Lama until the Chinese invasion. It’s now a museum.

Commanding Bohemia since Borivoj founded it in the 9th century, Prague Castle’s catalogue of architectural splendour forms the city’s literal high point, centred on St Vitus’ Cathedral. Palaces, museums, chapels, a crypt, a prison tower, a fortress for the black arts and a stunning Gothic spire make up the extensive pile. The president’s office looks out over it all.

Vaclav Havel, the last president of Czechoslovakia (1989-92), created the guard-changing ceremony, daily on the hour, though best at noon with fanfare.

Dedicated to the sun and the moon, and with twin rooms once covered in solid gold and silver, the Qorikancha temple was the spiritual heart of the Inca Empire.

The building was literally laid out as a giant ‘Sun, star and moon dial’, used to physically track the movements of a diversity of astronomical bodies and to coordinate these with day-to-day planning and crop-planting across the Empire.

This was once the richest, most elaborate temple to Inti – the sun – in the entire Inca empire. ‘Qorikancha’ means ‘golden courtyard’. Unfortunately, the golden walls – and other gold-sculpted treasures – were looted and melted down by the Conquistadors on their arrival in the city.

Only the magnificent stonework remains; a curved, perfectly-fitted wall, inside which are the remains of the last Inca emperor: Tupac Amaru.

Denmark’s crown jewels have been carefully guarded for 400 years behind the gates of this splendid Renaissance castle in the centre of the city. Find the collection of precious gems – including some of the world’s finest emeralds – in the basement alongside glass cabinets filled with weapons, scientific instruments, a set of toy soldiers and other royal treasures.

Upstairs, in the Knight’s Hall, three life-size silver lions guard coronation thrones made from narwhal tusks, while tapestries and fine furnishings fill the King’s private quarters.

Even if the intricacies of Danish history don’t interest you, the amount of bling on display is impressive. The surrounding gardens are also worth exploring.

The House of Borbon-Anjou, led by King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia, is the reigning royal house in Spain. Although not as globally renowned as their UK counterparts, the Spanish Monarchy remains high profile and (mostly) revered in Spain, and an integral part of the country’s culture and history.

This lavish 18th-century royal palace is their official residence (though they actually live at the Zarzuela Palace, also in Madrid). It’s an example of Neoclassical grandeur on an epic scale, with some 2,000 rooms.

Although only part of the palace is open to the public, ornate decorations bombard your senses at every turn – most opulent of all is the scarlet and gold Throne Room, with a ceiling painted by Tiepolo.

Paris’ most exquisite Gothic monument was built by Louis IX in 1248 to house his collection of Passion relics, including Christ’s Crown of Thorns (now at Notre-Dame Cathedral). It has one of the most extensive 13th-century stained-glass collections anywhere in the world.

This magnificent 1,441-room Rococo palace was once the summer residence of the ruling Habsburg Dynasty – one of the most prominent dynasties in European history – until 1918. It was built as a wedding gift for Empress Maria Theresa on an artesian well – Schonbrunn translates as ‘beautiful spring’. Franz-Joseph – Austria’s longest serving emperor and uncle to Archduke Franz Ferdinand, was born here. His nephew’s assassination, of course, triggered World War 1.

Bigger than a football pitch, this Gothic cathedral was built on the site of Seville’s great mosque, and dazzles with its elaborate portals, forests of pinnacles and flying buttresses.

Elements of the mosque, however, were preserved: the Patio de los Naranjos, with its fountain and orange trees, and the spectacular 105m minaret, La Giralda, symbol of Seville.

Inside, marvel at the world’s largest altarpiece that took 82 years to sculpt, Columbus’s tomb supported by statues of pallbearers, and a masterpiece by Murillo, The Vision of St Anthony.

Tickets include the nearby over-the-top Baroque church of San Salvador.

Myanmar’s holiest and largest Buddhist shrine, in the heart of Yangon, dazzles on its skyline. In the centre of this 2,600 year-old pagoda is a shimmering 112m spire, covered in 60 tonnes of gold leaf. Surrounding it are dozens of smaller shrines where devotees come to pray and beg for yadaya (good luck).

This ancient rock fortress and former royal palace was built in 477 AD by King Kashyapa. It was abandoned after his death in 495 AD and used as a Buddhist monastery until the 14th century. Halfway up is the King’s oversized lion gateway – hence its name ‘Lion Rock’.

The dazzling cupolas and sky-blue facade of Smolny Cathedral, rising up from its waterside location on the River Neva, are one of St. Petersburg’s most arresting sights. Commissioned by Peter the Great’s daughter, Elizabeth, to assuage her frequent pangs of Catholic guilt, Smolny was designed by her favourite architect, the Italian Bartolomeo Rastrelli.

Arguably his most magnificent creation, Rastrelli designed a traditional, five-domed Russian cathedral, but embellished it with exquisite interiors, and a baroque facade in her favourite shade of turquoise.

Climb the 277 steps to take in the spectacular views from the cathedral’s bell tower, and if you’re visiting independently, time it when a service is taking place, to witness the full drama of a Russian orthodox service.

Built in the 16th century by Ivan the Terrible, St. Basil’s Cathedral marks the geographic centre of Moscow and is the most recognisable building in Russia – a remarkable confection of ornate turrets and multi-coloured domes, designed to resemble the flames of a bonfire rising into the sky.

At the base of Mount Sinai, set amid a dramatic and harsh desert landscape, is the Greek Orthodox monastery of St. Catherine. A UNESCO World Heritage site, this remarkable monastery was built by order of Emperor Justinian I (527-565) to protect the biblical ‘Burning Bush’, where Moses received his instructions to lead the Israelites out of Egypt in Canaan. The living bush in the grounds – now surrounded by a protective fence – is apparently the original.

The monastery is one of the oldest working Christian monasteries in the world, and it is still used by a religious community. It remains a holy pilgrimage site.

Surely the most exquisite place of worship in Italy, St Mark’s is a cathedral built to satisfy the wildest dreams of the Doges.

Built in the 11th century to house the alleged remains of St Mark, its Byzantine mosaics, Gothic carvings and sumptuous treasures were accumulated during many centuries of Venetian trading and looting.

From the Pala d’Oro (jewel-encrusted altarpiece, made in Costantinopoli in 976) to its wealth of sculptures and magnificent bronze horses rearing over the piazza, its OTT opulence, both inside and out, it is a testament to La Serenissima’s power and might.

Instantly recognisable, and one of London’s best-loved monuments, St Paul’s Cathedral was the greatest achievement of 17th-century architect Sir Christopher Wren. Taking 33 years to build, it was declared officially complete on Christmas Day 1711 (although work continued for some time after) and remained the tallest building in London until 1967. Through astonishing luck – or perhaps divine intervention – St Paul’s survived (virtually unscathed) the 1940 World War II bombing blitz – and the ensuing fire – that flattened or destroyed almost every other building for miles around it.

Still the second largest cathedral in the UK, the church is famed for the height of its vast dome (111m) and the incredible acoustics of the Whispering Gallery. Legend has it that if you stand on one side of the gallery and whisper along the wall, someone listening on the opposite side (33m away) will be able to hear you.

Commissioned by the wildly ambitious Pope Julius II, and completed in 1626, few buildings are as recognisable as this enormous, late-Renaissance basilica, majestically situated on St Peter’s Square.

As the burial site of Saint Peter, one of Jesus’ twelve apostles and, according to tradition, also the first Bishop of Rome and therefore the first pope – it is considered one of the holiest Catholic sites.

The former retreat of China’s imperial rulers, the Summer Palace is a masterpiece of classical Chinese garden design on a truly awesome scale. Artificial hills, lakes, opulent buildings and graceful arched bridges convene in carefully orchestrated harmony.

Now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the gardens, 12km northwest of the Forbidden City, were first built in the 12th century but were developed to their artistic height during the Qing Dynasty (1644 – 1912).

Most famously, the Summer Palace became the royal retirement home of Cixi, the Empress Dowager, a formidable character who ruled China from behind the curtain for almost five decades. The palace and its gardens were remodelled to serve as her private retirement complex.

There’s plenty to see and do, from strolling the famous ‘Long Corridor’ to pleasure boating on Kunming Lake. Several of the palace buildings hold historical artefacts and exhibits, including possessions belonging to the Empress Dowager.

One of the world’s most beautiful buildings is not merely an exquisite tomb but a monument to love. The Taj Mahal was completed after two decades’ labour in 1653 by the great Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan to entomb his wife, Mumtaz.

It stands at the head of formal gardens by the Yamuna River. The combination of milky-white marble (much of it inlaid with semi-precious stones, a technique known as pietra dura), a great bulbous dome and four slender minarets lend the mausoleum an astonishing almost ethereal beauty.

Admire it at your leisure – its well-kept gardens coax lingering, relaxed visits.

The Temple of Heaven is unlike any other temple in China. In fact, it’s not really a temple at all but a richly symbolic event space of sorts, where the emperor, accompanied by a grand entourage, would perform arcane rites twice a year to pray for heaven’s blessing.

Ceremonies took place upon the open-air Round Altar, next to the Imperial Vault of Heaven where the spirit tablets of the gods were kept. A 360m-long paved walkway connects to the splendid centrepiece, the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests.

Surrounded by sculpted parkland, the layout of the complex was designed to reflect Chinese cosmology and symbolise the relationship between heaven and earth.

For thousands of years this temple has attracted pilgrims from along the Nile and around the Mediterranean. Begun by the Ptolemies in the 4th century BC, dedicated to the goddess and her husband, Osiris, it became one of the country’s most sacred sites during Roman times.

The temple was relocated to a new island following the building of the Aswan Dam, but it remains one of the most beautiful Graeco-Roman temples in the world, with the most romantic setting of all.

Look out for crosses and an altar in the inner courts of the temple: after the cult of Isis was suppressed, the temple was converted into a Christian church.

Bagan’s mist-shrouded landscape, peppered with seemingly random pagodas and temples, was once home to the capital of the Bagan Kingdom. At its height, over 10,000 intricate temples, pagodas and monasteries graced its skyline; only around 2,200 that have withstood the periodic earthquakes remain. Experience it from a hot air balloon at sunrise. Magical.

One of Rome’s best-preserved landmarks, the Pantheon was originally a temple to the Gods. Rebuilt by Hadrian in AD 118 – it has been a church ever since 609.

Inside the original bronze doors, the astonishing 43m dome is still the largest unreinforced concrete dome in the world; as a compliment to it, Michelangelo made the cupola of St. Peter’s a touch smaller. Originally the entire dome ceiling was covered with bronze plates, until Bernini convinced the Pope to let him strip them off to make the baldacchino in St. Peter’s – and there was enough bronze left over for 60 cannons.

Raphael and the first two kings of Italy are buried here.

This magnificent UNESCO World Heritage-listed archaeological site is Jordan’s main attraction. Dating from the 4th century BC, Petra was a Nabataean city of spectacular edifices carved into the cliff faces of the surrounding mountains and gorges.

While Petra’s strategic location was exploited by the Romans and Crusaders, the city was subsequently abandoned and remained a secret to everyone except the Nabataeans until it was ‘rediscovered’ in 1812 by Swiss explorer Johann Ludwig Burckhardt.

There are so many reasons to visit this tiny, Buddhist Himalayan Kingdom: rich and colourful culture; peaceful, friendly people; a harmonious, sustainable way of life, & yet more. Its signature experience is the hike to the Tiger’s Nest – aka Taktsang Palphug Monastery – precariously-perched on a cliff face 900m above the forested Paro Valley.

Paro Taktsang is a Buddhist holy shrine, built around a cave. It’s the best known of the thirteen taktsang or ‘tiger lair’ caves where guru Padmasambhava meditated with his students. Padmasambhava is credited with bringing Buddishm to Bhutan from Tibet.

The Maya ruins of Tikal are the most majestic of the accessible jungle ruins in Guatemala. Towering temples soar through the jungle canopy; carved stelae depict Maya lords and record periods of war; vast plazas contain ball courts; and two museums reveal ceramics and jade jewels that journeyed with Maya lords to the underworld. More than 3,000 structures remain of a city that once housed 100,000 Maya.

Although a city of the dead, the forest is alive with the chatter of howler monkeys and screech of toucans.

Built in 1459 to become the 15th and 16th-century home of the Ottoman Sultans, this enormous complex became the centre of the Ottoman world. Now it’s a perfectly preserved time capsule of life at the top in this most exotic of empires. Some parts of the palace, especially the harem and the sultans’ private quarters, rank among the finest works of Turkish architecture and art.

The museum holds Ottoman clothing, weapons, armour, miniatures, religious relics, and illuminated manuscripts such as the Topkapi manuscript. The collections the sultans piled up over the centuries – from glittering jewels to Prophet Muhammad’s tooth – are beyond belief.

The Tower of London is one of the UK’s most iconic and impressive historical attractions. Yes, it’s stuffed with tourists but for good reason: inside, you’ll get up close to the Crown Jewels, including the Queen’s crown and the armour of the great Tudor King, Henry VIII. Its White Tower is the oldest intact building in London, built by William the Conqueror in the 11th century.

The resident Yeoman Warders (or Beefeaters) give excellent free tours of the various wings, uncovering some gruesome stories from the Tower’s role as a prison in the Middle Ages. This is where ‘traitors’ were executed – the water gate entrance, built by Edward I, witnessed a stream of prisoners enter the Tower for execution, including Anne Boleyn, Sir Thomas More and Catherine Howard. The unfortunate’s head would be displayed on a spike at London Bridge afterwards.

Look out for the resident ravens – legend has it that if they desert the tower, the kingdom will fall.

The former seat of power of Siamese kings, the glittering Grand Palace complex is one of Thailand’s big tourism draw cards.

Constructed in 1782, the complex includes halls, pavilions and temples set around open lawns, gardens and courtyards – it was the home of Thai kings for 150 years and is still considered their spiritual and ceremonial base. While the King no longer lives here, it’s still used for ceremonies.

Decorated in shimmering mosaics and vivid murals, the buildings are incredible, especially the temple of Wat Phra Kaew.

Despite religious wars and changing affiliations through the centuries, Westminster Abbey has been the traditional place of royal coronations, and the resting place of monarchs – since William the Conqueror arrived in 1066. In recent times, the Abbey has hosted the funeral of Princess Diana and the royal wedding of Prince William to Kate Middleton.

The current building was built on the orders of King Henry III in 1245. It has also become a final resting place for prominent citizens – poets, actors, scientists and military leaders. It contains the remains of 3,300 notables, including 16 monarchs and 8 Prime Ministers.

Today, you can see the Coronation Chair, a throne where all British monarchs (bar two) have been crowned since 1066, Henry VII’s chapel, and towers built by Sir Christopher Wren and his protege, Nicholas Hawksmoor. You can pay your respects to the British pillar of science, Sir Isaac Newton. Poets’ Corner, in the South Transept, is a shrine to Britain’s most famous poets and writers, many of whom are buried or commemorated here. The tradition started when Geoffrey Chaucer, the father of English Literature, was interred here.

A royal home and fortress for over 900 years, Windsor is the largest occupied castle in the world, and remains a working palace, with over 150 staff. Rumoured to have been Queen Elizabeth II’s favourite address – she spent most of her private weekends at the castle.

The ornate state apartments, lined with works of art by painters such as Van Dyck, Holbein and Rubens, were built for Charles II and his Queen, Catherine of Braganza, as an attempt to rival the achievements of his cousin, Louis XVI, at Versailles. Visitors can also see the semi-state rooms – the private apartments of George IV.

The State Hermitage museum’s main building and biggest draw, famous for its eye-wateringly opulent central staircase and ornate halls; if you only have time to do one building, this is the one to see.

Start with the atmospheric Egyptian collection, including sarcophagi, mummy cases and statues, before delving into the vast array of European Art from the 13th to 20th Centuries, which spreads across three other buildings.

The Winter Palace is also home to one of the two ‘treasure galleries’, filled with jewellery and gold – only visitable as part of a guided tour.

There has been a place of worship on the site of York Minster since the 7th century, and the current building – which took over 250 years to build and was finally finished in 1472 – is considered northern Europe’s finest Gothic cathedral.

Famous for its hand-carved, vaulted interiors and vividly beautiful medieval stained glass, this is a must-do even for those who wouldn’t normally include a church in their sightseeing rounds. Don’t miss the 600-year-old Great East Window, believed to be the biggest of its kind in the world, with 311 individual, unique glass panels.

Once you’ve explored the main nave and transepts, head downstairs to the undercroft, which includes the remains of a Roman barracks and an Anglo-Saxon cemetery.

You can book onto a ‘Hidden Minster’ tour with an expert guide, to see parts of the Minster normally closed to public access – such as a tour of the Chapter House roof or to see the skills of stonemasons whose job it is to repair the hundreds of medieval statues and gargoyles. You’ll hear untold stories about how parts of the Minster were built and the people who made it happen.

The largest medieval fortress in Europe, and one of the largest in the world, this vast complex dominates a hill overlooking Salzburg’s rooftops.

Originally built by Archbishop Gebhard to protect himself and later archbishops, it was never once conquered in its history.

Inside, exhibition highlights include original furnishings, an armoury, and a golden chamber. Tours also take in the dungeon and battlements. You can walk up to it, or take the funicular.

This magnificent UNESCO World Heritage-listed archaeological site is Jordan’s main attraction. Dating from the 4th century BC, Petra was a Nabataean city of spectacular edifices carved into the cliff faces of the surrounding mountains and gorges.

While Petra’s strategic location was exploited by the Romans and Crusaders, the city was subsequently abandoned and remained a secret to everyone except the Nabataeans until it was ‘rediscovered’ in 1812 by Swiss explorer Johann Ludwig Burckhardt.

Set on a low hill, this is the biggest and one of the best-preserved Roman amphitheatres in France, where 20,000 would come to watch gladiators fight to the death.

Built in the late 1st century AD, it was inspired by Rome’s Coliseum, which had been built a decade earlier – and was later converted into a fortress in the Middle Ages (an era from which three towers still survive). Originally the amphitheatre had a third level of arcades, but even now there are lovely views over the rosy tile rooms of Arles from the top level.

A designated UNESCO World Heritage Site, it’s now used as an arena again, it’s used for bullfights during Arles’ Easter and September festivals, as well as the bloodless Courses Camarguaises bullfights, and occasional gladiatorial re-enactments.

Be sure to visit the ancient theatre, too, which is included in the ticket – built in the century before the amphitheatre, it’s not as well-preserved, but still used for performances.