10 Unusual Monuments In Europe

OT Staff

Palais Idéal du Facteur Cheval, France

Built by postman Ferdinand Cheval (1879–1912) in Hauterives, this 26 m long palace fuses Hindu, Egyptian, and medieval styles. Constructed from collected stones, it’s a masterpiece of naïve architecture.

A view of Palais Idéal du Facteur Cheval | Wikimedia Commons

Atomium, Belgium

Brussels’ 102 m high Atomium, designed for Expo 58, represents an iron crystal magnified 165 billion times. Its spheres house exhibitions and a restaurant with panoramic city views.

A look at the Atomium, Belgium | Sliwecki,Marek/Wikimedia Commons

Hundertwasserhaus, Austria

Designed by Friedensreich Hundertwasser, this 1985 Vienna apartment complex has undulating floors, tree-covered balconies, and irregular façades. Rejecting straight lines, it embodies eco-conscious, organic architecture.

A view of Hundertwasserhaus, Austria | Wikimedia Commons

Buzludzha Monument, Bulgaria

This abandoned 70 m wide Brutalist structure, built in 1974 atop Buzludzha Peak, once symbolised Bulgaria’s communist regime. Its decaying socialist mosaics make it an eerie relic.

A view of Buzludzha Monument | Kenneth Johansson/Wikimedia Commons

Metelkova Autonomous Cultural Centre, Slovenia

Ljubljana’s former military barracks, squatted in 1993, became an alternative cultural hub. Its graffiti-covered buildings and DIY structures house artist studios, clubs, and exhibitions.

At the Metelkova Autonomous Cultural Centre | Wikimedia Commons

Casa Batlló, Spain

Antoni Gaudí’s 1904 Barcelona landmark features a skeletal façade, colourful mosaics, and fluid interiors. A Modernisme icon, it integrates advanced aeration and lighting.

A view of Casa Batlló, Spain | Wikimedia Commons

The Crooked House (Krzywy Domek), Poland

Built in 2004 in Sopot, this warped 4,000 sq m commercial building mimics fairytale illustrations while housing shops and restaurants.

The Crooked House of Poland | Wikimedia Commons

Palau de les Arts Reina Sofia, Spain

This 75 m high Valencia opera house, designed by Santiago Calatrava in 2005, has a futuristic shell-like structure with four performance venues.

Palau de les Arts Reina Sofia, Spain | Wikimedia Commons

The Torre Velasca, Italy

This 106 m Milanese Brutalist tower, completed in 1958, resembles a medieval fortress, reflecting the city’s defensive architectural heritage.

The The Torre Velasca of Milan | Wikimedia Commons

The Church of Hallgrímur, Iceland

Reykjavík’s 74.5 m high basalt-inspired church, completed in 1986, is Iceland’s tallest. Designed by Guðjón Samúelsson, it features an Expressionist façade and a 5,275-pipe organ.

A view of The Church of Hallgrímur, Iceland | Wikimedia Commons

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