Monuments

Canterbury Cathedral Medieval cathedral in Canterbury, Kent; seat of the Archbishop of Canterbury, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and landmark of Norman and Gothic architecture, famed for Thomas Becket a…

Canton Tower (Guangzhou Tower) — Landmark observation and broadcasting tower Canton Tower Canton Tower is a 595.7 m multi-purpose observation and broadcasting tower on the Pearl River in Guangzhou, China. Opened for the 2010 Asian Games, it is a major tourist, engineeri…

Cape Helles — Gallipoli headland, 1915 battlefield and memorial site Cape Helles Cape Helles is the rocky southwestern tip of the Gallipoli peninsula in Turkey, notable for the 1915 Allied landings during the Gallipoli Campaign and today for its war memorials a…

Cape Monze (Cape Mount): coastal headland near Karachi, Pakistan Cape Monze Cape Monze, also called Cape Mount, is a prominent headland on the Arabian Sea near the Hub River and Gadani, on the outskirts of Karachi in Sindh, Pakistan.

Carisbrooke Castle (Isle of Wight) Carisbrooke Castle Medieval shell keep and multi-period fortress on the Isle of Wight with Roman origins, Tudor artillery works, Charles I imprisonment and later royal connections; now a preserved hi…

Carlisle Cathedral: history, architecture, and role in the community Carlisle Cathedral An overview of Carlisle Cathedral in Cumbria: its medieval origins, architectural features, historical context near the Anglo-Scottish border, and its continuing religious and cult…

Carnac stones: Neolithic alignments and megaliths in Brittany Carnac stones The Carnac stones are the world's most extensive group of Neolithic standing stones in Brittany, France — rows of menhirs, dolmens and tumuli erected millennia ago for unclear ritu…

Castle of Almansa (Castillo de Almansa) Castle of Almansa Hilltop fortress in Almansa, Spain, with Islamic origins and later medieval rebuilding; declared Bien de Interés Cultural in 1921. A cultural landmark and visitor site overlooking…

Castle of Mey — Scottish coastal castle and former home of the Queen Mother Castle of Mey Castle of Mey is a restored coastal castle in Caithness, northern Scotland, famed as the former holiday home of Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother and now preserved as a historic hou…

Cathar castles: history, architecture and modern legacy Cathar castles Tourist label for medieval fortresses in southern France associated with the Cathars and the Albigensian Crusade; a mix of authentic refuges and later royal strongholds on dramatic…

Cathedral of Murcia (Cathedral Church of Saint Mary) Cathedral of Murcia Main Roman Catholic cathedral in Murcia, Spain, notable for its Gothic origins and later Renaissance and Baroque additions, a multi-century construction and the seat of the Diocese…

Cave of the Patriarchs (Cave of Machpelah / Ibrahimi Mosque) Cave of the Patriarchs Ancient religious complex in Hebron revered by Jews, Christians and Muslims as the burial place of the patriarchs and matriarchs; combines a subterranean tomb, Herodian enclosure a…

Cave of the Prophets (Tomb Cave of Haggai, Zechariah and Malachi) Cave of the Prophets Ancient rock-cut burial cave on the Mount of Olives in Jerusalem, traditionally associated with prophets Haggai, Zechariah and Malachi; notable for its funerary architecture, histo…

Cefalù Cathedral (Duomo di Cefalù) Cefalù Cathedral Romanesque basilica in Cefalù, Sicily, begun in the 12th century under the Normans; notable for its fortress-like form and Byzantine mosaics. Part of a UNESCO World Heritage group.

Central Pier, Blackpool Central Pier is one of three piers on Blackpool's promenade. Opened in 1868 and designed by John Isaac Mawson, it is a cast‑iron structure with wooden decking used for leisure and…

Centre Pompidou — Paris cultural centre and modern art museum Centre Pompidou Centre Pompidou is a major cultural complex in Paris, opened in 1977; known for its exposed-structure architecture and for housing the Musée National d'Art Moderne, a leading moder…

Chambers Pillar (Idracowra / Etikaura) — sandstone landmark in the Northern Territory Chambers Pillar Chambers Pillar is a solitary sandstone column about 50 m high, located roughly 160 km south of Alice Springs. It has geological, historical and cultural significance and is access…

Chapelle royale de Dreux — Royal Chapel and Orléans Necropolis Chapelle royale de Dreux The Chapelle royale de Dreux is the burial chapel of the House of Orléans in Dreux, France, notable for its 19th-century reconstruction, funerary monuments and role as a family nec…

Charging Bull (Wall Street Bull) Charging Bull Charging Bull is a bronze sculpture by Arturo Di Modica installed without permission in 1989 in Bowling Green, Manhattan. It symbolizes market confidence and is a major public-art…

Charles Bridge — Prague’s medieval stone bridge Charles Bridge A 14th-century stone bridge spanning the Vltava in Prague. Historic Gothic structure, lined with Baroque statues, connecting Old Town and Lesser Town and central to the city's heri…

Charminar — Monument and Mosque of Hyderabad Charminar Charminar is a 16th-century monument and mosque in Hyderabad, India, famed for its four minarets, Indo-Islamic design with Persian influences, and central role in the city's histor…

Chartres Cathedral (Notre-Dame de Chartres) Chartres Cathedral Gothic cathedral in Chartres, France, renowned for its medieval stained glass, sculptural portals, labyrinth and intact Gothic ensemble; UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1964.

Château d'Usson (Ariège) — a Cathar-era fortress near Rouze Château d'Usson Ruined hilltop castle in the Ariège département of southwestern France, associated with the group of sites called Cathar castles and known for its strategic position and hiking acc…

Château de Blois — Royal palace in the Loire Valley Château de Blois Historic royal residence in Blois, central France. The Château de Blois unites medieval, late Gothic and Renaissance architecture, served as a royal court and today is a museum and…

Château de Lunéville — the historic residence of the Dukes of Lorraine Château de Lunéville Baroque-classical château in Lunéville, Lorraine, once the ducal seat and nicknamed the 'Versailles of Lorraine'; now a museum undergoing restoration with notable gardens and perio…

Château de Malmaison Small French château near Paris, former residence of Joséphine de Beauharnais, noted for its Empire interiors, rich botanical gardens and role as a government seat under Napoleon (…

Château de Meudon: royal residence, ruin, and site of the Meudon Observatory Château de Meudon Former royal residence near Paris associated with the Grand Dauphin and the Duchess of Berry; largely destroyed in 1871 and now occupied by the Observatoire de Paris–Meudon. Histor…

Château de Montsoreau: Loire Valley riverside château and contemporary art museum Château de Montsoreau Riverside Renaissance château in Montsoreau, France, notable for its riverbed setting and for housing a major collection of Art & Language works as a public museum since 2016.

Château de Montsoreau — Museum of Contemporary Art Château de Montsoreau-Museum of Contemporary Art A Loire Valley château converted into a private museum of contemporary art, housing the Philippe Méaille collection with a focus on the Art & Language movement and set within a UNE…

Château de Saint-Cloud Château de Saint Cloud Former grand residence west of Paris, destroyed in 1870. Known for its terraces and gardens, royal associations, and ongoing interest in reconstruction and preservation of the park…

Château Frontenac A landmark hotel in Quebec City, operated by Fairmont. Noted for its châteauesque architecture, riverside prominence, historic origins as a railway hotel, and designation as a Nati…

Chehel Sotoun — the 'Forty Columns' pavilion in Isfahan Chehel Sotoun Chehel Sotoun is a Safavid-era pavilion in Isfahan, Iran, famed for its long reflecting pool, wooden columns, frescoes and ceramic panels; it is part of the UNESCO serial property…

Chester city walls The nearly complete defensive circuit encircling Chester, England, with Roman origins and medieval fabric; now a celebrated pedestrian walk featuring gates, towers and Victorian re…

Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (CST) — historic Mumbai railway station Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus railway station A 19th-century railway terminus in Mumbai, India, combining Victorian Gothic and Indian architectural styles; a UNESCO World Heritage Site and major hub for suburban and long-dista…

Chicago Landmark: designation, criteria, protections, and significance Chicago Landmark Overview of the Chicago Landmark designation: what it protects, how sites are chosen and reviewed, relationships with federal listings, and the role landmarks play in the city's he…

Chicago Water Tower 19th-century limestone tower in Chicago that housed a standpipe; built in 1869, it survived the 1871 Great Chicago Fire and was later designated a National Historic Landmark.

Christ the Redeemer: the statue atop Corcovado in Rio de Janeiro Christ the Redeemer (statue) Christ the Redeemer is an Art Deco statue of Jesus standing on Corcovado mountain in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Completed in 1931, it is a major religious symbol, cultural landmark an…

Church of Saint-Paul-Saint-Louis (Église Saint-Paul-Saint-Louis) Church Saint-Paul-Saint-Louis A prominent 17th-century Jesuit parish church in Paris's 4th arrondissement, notable for its early French Baroque architecture, dome, and long association with the Society of Jesus…

Circus Maximus (ancient Roman chariot-racing stadium) Circus Maximus The Circus Maximus was ancient Rome's largest venue for chariot races and public spectacles. It evolved across centuries and today survives as an archaeological site and public par…

Cluny Abbey A major medieval Benedictine monastery founded in 910 in Cluny, France; noted for its Romanesque architecture, leadership of the Cluniac reforms, wide network of priories, and late…

CN Tower: Toronto’s landmark telecommunications and observation tower CN Tower Overview, design, history and visitor features of the CN Tower in Toronto, including its structure, records, attractions and cultural significance.

Coit Tower (San Francisco): history, design, and murals Coit Tower Coit Tower is an Art Deco landmark on Telegraph Hill in San Francisco. Built in 1933 from Lillie Coit’s bequest, it houses Depression-era murals and an observation deck with panora…

College Football Hall of Fame Museum and hall of fame honoring U.S. college football players and coaches, operated by the National Football Foundation and located in downtown Atlanta, Georgia.

Cologne Cathedral (Kölner Dom): Gothic landmark and archiepiscopal seat Cologne Cathedral Cologne Cathedral is a monumental Gothic Roman Catholic cathedral in Cologne, Germany, noted for its twin spires, medieval treasures, long construction history, and UNESCO World He…

Colón Cemetery (Cementerio de Cristóbal Colón) Colon Cemetery Major historic cemetery in central Havana (Vedado), opened 1886; noted for its formal grid, grand mausoleums, abundant funerary sculpture and role as a civic place of memory.

Colossus of Rhodes: ancient bronze statue and one of the Seven Wonders Colossus of Rhodes A large Hellenistic statue of the sun god Helios erected on Rhodes c. 294–282 BC, famed as one of the Seven Wonders and destroyed by an earthquake in the 3rd century BC.

Commemorative plaque A commemorative plaque is a durable plate mounted in public or private spaces to record people, events, uses, or achievements; made in many materials and used for memorial, educati…

Conwy Castle Late 13th-century Welsh fortress built by Edward I; a well-preserved example of medieval military architecture and part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Conwy, Wales.