Explore the diverse breathtaking moments From urban streets to remote landscapes across the globe

The top image is a reconstruction of the Medieval Louvre which was built by Philip II in 1190. Between 1528-1660, it was generally demolished to make way for expanding the Louvre Palace, while some parts of the castle's foundations were incorporated in construction of the later palace

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The top image is a reconstruction of the Medieval Louvre which was built by Philip II in 1190. Between 1528-1660, it was generally demolished to make way for expanding the Louvre Palace, while some parts of the castle's foundations were incorporated in construction of the later palace

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The Marques Tower at Chenonceau. It is the only visible vestige of the medieval castle of the Marques family, razed to the foundations by Thomas Bohier in 1515 to build what would be the first stage of the new Chenonceau. It was the keep of the old building, consisting of a round tower...

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The Marques Tower at Chenonceau. It is the only visible vestige of the medieval castle of the Marques family, razed to the foundations by Thomas Bohier in 1515 to build what would be the first stage of the new Chenonceau. It was the keep of the old building, consisting of a round tower...

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A picture of the Minoan Palace of Minos in Crete, and a reconstruction of the palace as it may have appeared in its heyday. Built between 1900-1350 BCE, the palace was a complex of buildings which served as a combination religious and administrative centre rather than a royal residence

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A picture of the Minoan Palace of Minos in Crete, and a reconstruction of the palace as it may have appeared in its heyday. Built between 1900-1350 BCE, the palace was a complex of buildings which served as a combination religious and administrative centre rather than a royal residence

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Capitals of the Salle du Manege. Louvre Museum, Paris. The Manege room in the Louvre is a large space built under Napoleon III for equestrian events. After the fall of the Second Empire, the room was granted to the museum. In 1928 the Salle became the entrance to the museum...

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Capitals of the Salle du Manege. Louvre Museum, Paris. The Manege room in the Louvre is a large space built under Napoleon III for equestrian events. After the fall of the Second Empire, the room was granted to the museum. In 1928 the Salle became the entrance to the museum...

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A reconstruction of the Ishtar Gate has been on display in the Vorderasiatisches Museum , housed in the Pergamon Museum in Berlin , since 1930. The gate was part of the walls of Babylon , which, according to older lists, were among the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World

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A reconstruction of the Ishtar Gate has been on display in the Vorderasiatisches Museum , housed in the Pergamon Museum in Berlin , since 1930. The gate was part of the walls of Babylon , which, according to older lists, were among the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World

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Chateau de Sully-sur-Loire is a castle, constructed along several centuries, converted to a palatial seigneurial residence, in Loiret, France. It is a chateau-fort, a true castle surrounded with a defensive moat, built to control one of the few sites where the Loire can be forded.

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Chateau de Sully-sur-Loire is a castle, constructed along several centuries, converted to a palatial seigneurial residence, in Loiret, France. It is a chateau-fort, a true castle surrounded with a defensive moat, built to control one of the few sites where the Loire can be forded.

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For the first time in 200 years, the Parthenon’s exterior is completely free of scaffolding on all sides. It’s also the first time in 20 years that the western side has been scaffold-free. At least six generations have never seen the Parthenon unobstructed.

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For the first time in 200 years, the Parthenon’s exterior is completely free of scaffolding on all sides. It’s also the first time in 20 years that the western side has been scaffold-free. At least six generations have never seen the Parthenon unobstructed.

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Chateau de Chenonceau, with its gallery spanning the River Cher, is the most peculiar and probably most beautiful castle in the Loire, in France. It was rebuilt, furnished, and transformed between 1514 and '76 by women of different temperaments, and is known as the Ladies' Castle...

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Chateau de Chenonceau, with its gallery spanning the River Cher, is the most peculiar and probably most beautiful castle in the Loire, in France. It was rebuilt, furnished, and transformed between 1514 and '76 by women of different temperaments, and is known as the Ladies' Castle...

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The costumes of kings, royal mothers and a bishop from medieval Nubia have been reconstructed by Polish scientists and designers based on 10th-13th centuries CE paintings that once decorated the walls of the cathedral in Faras, Sudan

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The costumes of kings, royal mothers and a bishop from medieval Nubia have been reconstructed by Polish scientists and designers based on 10th-13th centuries CE paintings that once decorated the walls of the cathedral in Faras, Sudan

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The Porcelain Room of the Santos Palace in Lisbon, Portugal, is famous for its ceiling, laid out between 1664 and 1687 CE with more than 250 Chinese porcelain plates, almost all of them decorated in blue and white

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The Porcelain Room of the Santos Palace in Lisbon, Portugal, is famous for its ceiling, laid out between 1664 and 1687 CE with more than 250 Chinese porcelain plates, almost all of them decorated in blue and white

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Trevi Fountain, Rome. In 1730, Pope Clement XII organized a contest in which Nicola Salvi lost to Alessandro Galilei but, being Roman, Salvi was awarded the commission anyway. Salvi didn't finish it, but it was he who incorporated the fountain into the rear of a palace on the site.

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Trevi Fountain, Rome. In 1730, Pope Clement XII organized a contest in which Nicola Salvi lost to Alessandro Galilei but, being Roman, Salvi was awarded the commission anyway. Salvi didn't finish it, but it was he who incorporated the fountain into the rear of a palace on the site.

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1,700-Year-Old Writing Kit from Georgia , c.250-350 CE: this writing kit was found in an unmarked grave located in the foundations of a cathedral, where it lay buried next to the body of a 40-50 year old woman; it's decorated with images of the Greek muses

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1,700-Year-Old Writing Kit from Georgia , c.250-350 CE: this writing kit was found in an unmarked grave located in the foundations of a cathedral, where it lay buried next to the body of a 40-50 year old woman; it's decorated with images of the Greek muses

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MS Harley 3244 is a medieval bestiary dated to around 1260 AD which contains the oldest recognizable image of a fully modern Western dragon.

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MS Harley 3244 is a medieval bestiary dated to around 1260 AD which contains the oldest recognizable image of a fully modern Western dragon.

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The Amber Room, an interior decoration of amber panels, gold leaf, and mirrors, constructed in the 18th century. Looted from the Catherine Palace by German forces during WWII and currently unrecovered. Estimated modern valuation exceeds $500M.

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The Amber Room, an interior decoration of amber panels, gold leaf, and mirrors, constructed in the 18th century. Looted from the Catherine Palace by German forces during WWII and currently unrecovered. Estimated modern valuation exceeds $500M.

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Staircase inside the Torre del Mangia, Siena, built between 1338-1348. Part of the Palazzo Pubblico, the town hall, when built it was one of the tallest secular towers in medieval Italy. At 102 m it is now the second tallest after Cremona Cathedral's Torrazzo ).

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Staircase inside the Torre del Mangia, Siena, built between 1338-1348. Part of the Palazzo Pubblico, the town hall, when built it was one of the tallest secular towers in medieval Italy. At 102 m it is now the second tallest after Cremona Cathedral's Torrazzo ).

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A rather eclectic collection of medieval manuscripts from the 12th to 15th Centuries, recently acquired, all produced in France. There are charters, letters, and several bound records. The oldest piece is an inventory notice dated May 1241, for one Pierre de Castela

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A rather eclectic collection of medieval manuscripts from the 12th to 15th Centuries, recently acquired, all produced in France. There are charters, letters, and several bound records. The oldest piece is an inventory notice dated May 1241, for one Pierre de Castela

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Then and Now: Apadana Palace of Persepolis in ancient Iran was started construction by the order of Darius the Great and finished by his son Xerxes. Today, several of the palace's columns stands, its stairways remains in place and the walls contains countless of well-preserved reliefs.

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Then and Now: Apadana Palace of Persepolis in ancient Iran was started construction by the order of Darius the Great and finished by his son Xerxes. Today, several of the palace's columns stands, its stairways remains in place and the walls contains countless of well-preserved reliefs.

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Chania lighthouse, Crete, Greece. Built by Venetians c. 1600, it was neglected at first during Ottoman control, but later reconstructed by Egyptian troops in 1864 during their administration, incorporating a unique blend of Venetian and Egyptian architectural styles.

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Chania lighthouse, Crete, Greece. Built by Venetians c. 1600, it was neglected at first during Ottoman control, but later reconstructed by Egyptian troops in 1864 during their administration, incorporating a unique blend of Venetian and Egyptian architectural styles.

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Simple and Parade armor of Philip IV when he was about 9. Part of a matching 6 suit set commissioned by Philip II for his 3 sons when they were 9, 7, and 5 respectively: Prince Philip, the future Philip IV; Ferdinand, the future Cardinal-Infante; and Don Carlos. circa 1614

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Simple and Parade armor of Philip IV when he was about 9. Part of a matching 6 suit set commissioned by Philip II for his 3 sons when they were 9, 7, and 5 respectively: Prince Philip, the future Philip IV; Ferdinand, the future Cardinal-Infante; and Don Carlos. circa 1614

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A Roman marble head dated around 1st-2nd Century AD has been discovered by Greg Crawley, a construction worker driver while undertaking renovation works in Peterborough. Its bust was also discovered close to the site of the original find and were reassembled.

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A Roman marble head dated around 1st-2nd Century AD has been discovered by Greg Crawley, a construction worker driver while undertaking renovation works in Peterborough. Its bust was also discovered close to the site of the original find and were reassembled.

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