The most impressive cliff structures in the world
Monasteries, castles, buildings... are located in dangerous precarious positions on cliffs but still stand there firmly for hundreds, even thousands of years.
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| The 1,000-year-old Saint-Michel d'Aiguilhe Chapel near Le Puy-en-Velay, southern France, is built on a volcanic plug 86 metres high. To reach the chapel, you will have to climb 268 steps carved into the cliff. |
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| The impressive church pictured here sits atop the 40-meter-high Katskhi Pillar in Georgia. For centuries, locals could only look up. It wasn’t until 1944 that a group of climbers led by Alexander Japaridze climbed up to explore the inside of the church. |
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| The Monastery of the Holy Trinity located in Meteora, central Greece was built in 1392 and was the setting in the movieJames Bond, For Your Eyes Onlyis also one of the special structures located on the top of a high cliff. You can reach this monastery by climbing 140 steps. |
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| This historic and architecturally stunning old town is located in Bonifacio, on the French island of Corsica. It is built on the side of a limestone cliff. The best way to get there is by boat. |
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| The Hanging Pagoda was built on the cliff of Heng Mountain in Shanxi, China in 491. After more than 1,500 years, the pagoda still stands the test of time. |
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| Castellfollit de la Roca is a picturesque medieval village built on a basalt column in northeastern Spain. When you visit, don’t look down the cliff or you’ll be spooked. |
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| The magnificent Popa Taungkalat Temple sits atop Mount Popa in Myanmar. To get there, you’ll have to brave the 777 steps and wild monkeys to reach the top. |
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| This unique building is located on a cliff in the middle of the sea in Gaztelugatxeko Doniene, Bay of Biscay, Spain. It was built in the 10th century and has a bridge from the mainland to the island. |
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| Casas Colgadas, meaning hanging houses, is located in the Cuenca province of Spain and has a unique architecture, hanging on the cliff. The balcony of the house is designed from wooden frames, protruding from the stone wall, bringing adventure to those who conquer this place. |
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| Paro Taktsang, meaning “Tiger’s Lair,” is a Buddhist temple complex in Bhutan, high in the Himalayas. Built in 1692, the complex was almost completely destroyed in a fire in 1998. However, the Bhutanese government has rebuilt and restored this unique site. |
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| Swallow's Nest Castle is built on the edge of the Aurora Cliffs in Crimea, Russia. It was built in 1911 and survived a major earthquake there. Today, the castle is open to visitors and has an Italian restaurant inside. |
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| Nugget Point Lighthouse is one of the most recognizable landmarks on New Zealand's south island. It took four years to build and first lit in 1870. |
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| The picturesque village of Manarola sits on a cliff in northwestern Italy. Not only does it have distinctive architecture, it is also famous for its production of Sciacchetra wine. |
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| The beautiful little village of Vernazza, located on the cliffs of the Cinque Terre coast, Italy, is also one of the tourist attractions because of its unique terrain. No cars are allowed in the village, which was once protected by the Italian navy from pirates. |
