Architecture

Wednesday, 13 May 2026
29 facts about Palace of Versailles
29 facts about Palace of Versailles
Former residence of the kings of France
The Palace of Versailles is one of the largest palace complexes in Europe. It is part of the historical and cultural heritage of France, as a symbol o ...

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Eiffel tower
To climb the Eiffel Tower you have to overcome 1665 steps.
For lazy people there is of course the possibility to use an elevator.
Notre-Dame
Most coronations of French kings were held in Reims. Only two - Henry VI and Napoleon Bonaparte - were crowned at Notre-Dame de Paris.
The coronation of English King Henry VI Lancaster as King of France at Notre Dame de Paris took place on December 16, 1431. Napoleon's coronation as Emperor of France took place on December 2, 1804.
Stonehenge
Between 2600 BC and 2400 BC, Stonehenge hosted religious festivals attended by up to 4,000 people.
The festivals, including animal sacrifices, coincided with the winter and summer solstices. Since sa ...
Big Ben
The tower's main bell is its largest bell and part of the Great Clock of Westminster.
The original bell was 16-ton, cast in 1856 and because the tower was not yet ready, it was tested in ...
Lighthouse of Alexandria
At the time of its commissioning, the Faros lighthouse was the tallest structure that was not a pyramid.
Big Ben
For the first time in history, the clock stopped before 1878 - it was caused by very heavy snowfall.
In 1976, the first and only mechanism failure occurred. Other clock stops that occurred were mainly caused by unfavorable weather conditions.
Palais Garnier
The auditorium, which has a traditional Italian horseshoe shape, can accommodate 1979 people.
The stage is the largest in Europe and can accommodate 450 artists.
Big Ben
There are four smaller bells in the tower, which every quarter of an hour strike a variation of several bars modeled on that of the St. Mary's Church in Cambridge from Handel's "Messiah".
The bells can be heard on BBC Radio 4 at 6 pm and midnight and on the BBC World Service.
Petra
There was a well-developed network of aqueducts in Petra.
Aqueducts network provided water even to the homes of individual citizens.
Neuschwanstein Castle
In June 1886, the Bavarian government decided to depose the king, who was living in Neuschwanstein at the time.
On June 9, 1886, the king was declared incapacitated and forced to leave the palace. On June 13, Lud ...