The 24 Coolest Monument Photos From The 2025 Wiki Loves Monuments Contest

1st Place Location: Kavir National Park, Iran Here’s the grand winner! This shot of a gate and wall near Dayr-e Gachin Caravanserai looks like a scene from an epic movie. Fun fact: this place is the "mother" of all Iranian caravanserais, huge and famous. The mountain in the background just makes it even cooler!

2nd Place Location: Iran This old tower was built forever ago by the Seljuk Empire as a tomb, but guess what? Its dome and the names inside are lost to history! Zoom in on this pic and check out the fancy brickwork - it’s like a secret code from the past.

23rd Place Location: Isfahan, Iran Here’s a photo that makes ceilings look cool. That’s right, the ceiling in Seyyed Mosque gets the spotlight. Bonus: the mosque has a clock tower instead of a usual minaret, because why not?

5th Place Location: Arak, Iran This bazaar has it all: baths, mosques, water spots, and an inn. What makes it stand out is its straight, symmetrical design pointing north, south, east, and west. Fancy and functional since day one!

4th Place Location: Turkey They started building this palace in 1685 and didn’t stop for a hundred years. It’s like all the coolest architecture styles had a party here - Anatolian, Iranian, North Mesopotamian. Today, it’s a must-see spot.

7th Place Location: Turin, Italy This abbey’s been chilling on a mountain for about a thousand years. It’s still a working Catholic abbey but also a cool place for visitors. Fun fact: this spot also won a big deal back in 2015!

8th Place Location: Catalonia, Spain This Romanesque complex is like a blend of old-school architectural flavors. Inside, you’ll find the works of a 12th-century art master that’s super famous. Plus, it’s a UNESCO World Heritage Site with pals.

25th Place Location: Onet-le-Château, Southern France This small French town’s castle started in the 1200s, got a makeover in the 1500s, and now it looks just like a proper castle. Extra points for medieval vibes!

11th Place Location: Antalya, Turkey Here’s a shot of ancient ruins glowing right after a winter storm (maybe). Greek and Roman classics all in one spot: theaters, temples, wrestling schools - classic hangout spots for the ancients.

3rd Place Location: Uttar Pradesh, India Imagine a place where beauty, history, and calm collide. That’s Kursum Sarovar! Legend says it’s where Krishna sneaked off to meet Radha. Totally romantic and totally gorgeous.

6th Place Location: Luxor, Egypt Luxor is like the ultimate outdoor museum with ancient Egyptian treasures everywhere. The hot air balloons floating above add a cool modern twist to an ancient scene.

24th Place Location: Northamptonshire, England Elizabethan vibes are strong with this semi-ruined mansion. They started building it in 1570, and although it lost its roof in parts, it still stands proud. Ruins can be cool, right?

19th Place Location: Marseille, France This place packs two big museums and a beautiful park that’s officially remarkable (fancy word for "awesome"). Perfect for art lovers and park chillers alike.

20th Place Location: Bangkok, Thailand One of just 23 top-tier royal temples in Thailand. Built to celebrate a 1933 government win, it’s got serious historical cred and impressive looks.

15th Place Location: Cyrene, Libya This sanctuary gets its name from being just outside the city limits way back in the 7th century BCE. You’ll find temples, theaters, and more - ancient hangouts for the cool crowds of the past.

18th Place Location: Taichung, Taiwan This stage belongs to the Great Flower Hall, built in the 1890s as a spot for public banquets. Today, it’s a cool museum and tourist hangout with major drama.

21st Place Location: Azat River Valley, Armenia Built over 200 years but abandoned after an earthquake in 1679. Now it’s ruins you can check out after a 30-minute hike. Adventure and history, anyone?

22nd Place Location: Modhera, India This temple’s sandstone walls are covered in elaborate carvings. It’s not used for worship anymore but is super important historically and might become a UNESCO site someday.

10th Place Location: Tonghai County, China A veteran Wikimedia volunteer snapped this cool shot of an archway inside a Confucius temple. It’s ancient wisdom wrapped in pretty architecture.

14th Place Location: Hosaholalu, India Unlike most buildings designed for a front view, this temple’s backside is a feast for the eyes. Around 800 years old, it’s a prime example of Hoysala architecture.

9th Place Location: Ukraine This photo shows the Church of the Intercession ready for summer in a small western Ukrainian village. Built in 1854, it’s got that classic charm.

13th Place Location: Leuven, Belgium A late-night snap with barely any people around makes this church’s facade glow. Originally meant to have a bell tower, it never got one. Still, it's a UNESCO World Heritage sight.

16th Place Location: near Karbala, Iraq Built by the Ottoman Empire, this rest stop served traveling caravans on a famous road. A great pit stop with tons of history and also known as Khan al-Nakhila.

17th Place Location: Novi Sad, Serbia This city hall is right in the heart of the Old Town. Built in the 1890s, it’s a neo-renaissance beauty with plenty of historic oomph on a grey November day.