Paro Taktsang Monastery

This monastery is in a dramatic setting on the side of a cliff, 700 meters above the bottom of the valley. It was built in 1692. Near the monastery is a 60 m high waterfall – Taktsang waterfall.

Ottobeuren Abbey

Founded in 764. This abbey has a church that is one of the most ornate Baroque and Rococo buildings in world, built in 1737-1766.

Hagia Sophia

A former Orthodox basilica built between 532 – 537 AD, it is now a mosque. Possibly the highest achievement of Byzantine architecture, it has been the largest cathedral in the world for nearly 1000 years. Constructed in 532 – 537.

Boddam Church

Ruins of Chagossian church in abandoned plantation village.

Borgund stave church

The best preserved Norse stave church, built in between 1180 – 1250 AD, contains runic inscriptions. Representative of the unique Norse wooden architecture that unites Viking, Celtic and Roman elements.

Haczów Church

Wooden church in Gothic style, constructed in the late 14th century (1388?). Interior is covered with polychrome paintings from 1494. Largest Gothic wooden church in Europe, oldest wooden church in Poland.

Kaaba and Masjid-al-Haram

The largest mosque in the world was built in 638 AD to surround the Kaaba – the holiest site of Islam. Contains several other sacred places, including Zamzam Well which is widely believed to be a miraculous natural spring but in reality, is handmade well.

Erdene Zuu monastery

The oldest existing Buddhist monastery in Mongolia, founded in 1585. It was almost completely destroyed by Communists in 1939.

Christiansted

An unusual town built by Danish and black people and showing both influences of Danish and African art and architecture. Contains many buildings that were built in the 18th – 19th century.

Cathedral of San Juan Bautista

Here was located one of the oldest churches in Americas: the first wooden church was built here in 1521. Current structure was built in the 17th century. Explorer Juan Ponce de León is buried here.