Iconic buildings, engineering feats, vernacular styles, and the landmarks that define city skylines.
If you walked onto Paris’s Champ-de-Mars in the spring of 1889, you’d pass under a brand-new iron giant nearly 984 feet (300 meters) tall. It wasn’t built for romance or selfies. It was built to prove something — loudly — at the world’s fair. Quick Answer: The Eiffel Tower’s original purpose was to serve as […]
The Eiffel Tower didn’t spring fully formed from one mind. It began as a bold engineering sketch in 1884, sharpened by a crucial patent, and transformed by smart architecture—then built at record speed for the 1889 World’s Fair. Here’s exactly who designed it, what each person did, and why the credit matters. Quick Answer: The […]
Perched on a basalt plateau at the edge of the Vorotan River gorge in Syunik Province, Tatev Monastery is one of Armenia’s most dramatic medieval sites. Its fortified walls guard centuries of scholarship and faith. As of 2025, the complex anchors a broader cultural landscape that includes a record-holding cableway, a cliffside hermitage, and deep […]
Wave-swept air from the Black Sea meets citrus-scented foothills at the mouth of the Chorokhi River, 12–15 km south of Batumi. Here, a near-rectangular stone enclosure still reads like a manual of frontier warfare. Locals call it Gonio; Latin sources knew it as Apsaros—the same walls, different empires. What is Gonio Fortress?Gonio Fortress (Apsaros) is a […]
Tabori Castle, also known as Korchi-Kala, is a testament to the feudal era in Tbilisi’s historic district. Located at the end of the Tabori ridge, right above the botanical garden, this fortress combines elements of a medieval stronghold and a modern church. Although only the ruins of the castle’s foundation remain today, Tabori Castle’s historical significance […]
Georgia, rich in history and diverse landscapes, is home to an astonishing array of 157 castles and fortresses. These architectural marvels span from 800 to 1700 A.D., were constructed by various provincial kings, and reflect Georgia’s feudal era and architectural evolution. Notable among these are the Ananuri Fortress, built between 1200 and 1249, and the Rabati Castle, built from 1250 to 1299. Many of these structures […]
Ananuri Fortress, standing majestically along the banks of the Aragvi River in Dusheti Municipality, Georgia, is a rich tapestry of history and architecture. Located about 72 kilometers from the capital, Tbilisi, this ancient castle complex beckons visitors with its medieval charm and the serene beauty of Zhinvali Reservoir. Ananuri’s battle-scarred towers and churches tell tales of a turbulent past, […]
Rising above the Potskhovi River (also called Potskhovistskali) at about 1,000 meters (3,281 feet) in Georgia’s Samtskhe–Javakheti region, Rabati Castle—traditionally known as Akhaltsikhe Castle—layers Georgian, Ottoman, and Imperial Russian chapters into one fortified hilltop. Its core dates to the 9th century, but the complex you walk today was comprehensively restored in 2011–2012. Quick Answer: Rabati […]
Surrounded by sheer cliffs in the Upper Azat Valley, Geghard is one of Armenia’s most celebrated monasteries. Partly carved directly into the rock, its chapels and tombs blend with the mountain itself. The site is an easy day trip from Yerevan and pairs perfectly with the nearby classical temple of Garni. What is Geghard Monastery? […]
Paris’s “Iron Lady” stands on the broad lawns of the Champ de Mars beside the River Seine, framed by Haussmann boulevards and grand avenues. As of 2025, the Tower rises to 330 meters (1,083 feet) thanks to a 2022 broadcast antenna, making it the tallest structure in Paris. What is Eiffel Tower Location? The Eiffel […]
