Architecture is Art

I like to walk or drive and enjoy the scenery. I have an interest in architecture that includes the buildings interiors and exteriors, as well as specific features like doors, windows and ceilings.

The most ancient architecture I have enjoyed is the ancient stone sites. Stonehenge and Avebury Circle in England, Carnac and various other sites that include avenues, circles, dolmens and tumulus. Constructions that were started around 3000 BC.

Visit the Ancient Stone Gallery

The abbey and churches/cathedrals of Great Britain and Europe come in a close second in capturing my interest. The exterior features, spires, flying buttresses, gargoyles, and statuary are just a start. Inside you will find more statues, chapels, organs, stained glass windows, altars, and more! Even the ceilings are interesting, some are very plain and others are ornately painted.

Visit the Churches Gallery

I'm always on the look out for interesting doors and windows. I have a photo gallery dedicated to my favorites. Sometimes I like the knocker as well.

Last year in Paris at the Institute du Monde Arabe, I saw the wall of windows on the south side of the building and the very interesting light screens that were created to filter the light and heat entering the building.

Visit the Door and Window Gallery

Just the building facade can be interesting, the stone or brickwork, the patterns and shapes, the use of interesting materials, or decorations and style.

I have been able to see some really great castles and walled cities that also display interesting architectural features.

Visit the Chateau Gallery

Below you will find some information about specific architectural places and features that you may enjoy visiting and exploring on your travels.

Castles and Chateaus

Great Britain

Edinburgh Castle, Scotland – On the hill overlooking Edinburgh, the castle includes a church/chapel and museum.

The Tower of London, London, England – The crown jewels are the big draw to the tower!

Hampton Court Palace, outside London, England - An interesting palace and gardens.

France

Suscinio, France – The first French Chateau I had ever seen, it is nicely restored and is surrounded by a moat!

Chambord, France – The largest chateau in the Loire Valley.

Chenonceau, Chenonceau, France – My favorite chateau.

Cheverny, France – An interesting chateau in the Loire Valley.

Angers, France – The chateau was interesting and I walked all around inside and on the ramparts. The towers are round and flat on top. The chateau displays some of France's most famous tapestries. There are gardens inside the walls, and colorful flower beds in what was the moat. It is made of black and white stones, and in places looks striped.

Chateau Brissac, France – It is said to be the tallest Chateau along the Loire.

Villandry, France – The gardens are the most amazing I have seen so far! They are beautiful! I spent a couple of hours here walking through the chateau and around all the gardens. The patterns, shapes, plant varieties and colors are great! There is a water garden, a flower garden and the kitchen garden. They replant the whole garden every 6 months to with different plants for the seasons.

Chateau d'Usse, France – This chateau is the real "Sleeping Beauty" Castle. This chateau inspired the French author Charles Perrault to write the fairy tale. The architecture of the chateau is fantastic!

Chinon, France – Chinon is being restored from ruin. Only partially complete at this time, but still interesting.

Walled Cities

Carcassonne, France - Double walls surround the older city. The walls are wide enough apart to drive between. You can walk all the way around. Inside the walls is a church, castle/museum and many shops and restaurants. There are also several hotels. I did however miss the opportunity to see it from a little bit of a distance, and photo's I've seen, are pretty amazing. Maybe I'll be near there again.

This is a big tourist stop, so lots of people and shops that cater to tourists, but I thought that it was worth seeing.

Aigues-Mortes, France - This rectangular walled city has some restaurants, shops, and a museum. You can walk on the ramparts, about a mile walk. Great views from all sides. Not as many tourists here.

Churches

From gargoyles to spires, interiors and exteriors, the architecture of churches and cathedrals is very creative.

England

Salisbury Cathedral, Salisbury, England - A beautiful cathedral, the first I visited outside of the USA.

St. Paul's, London, England - Prince Charles married Diana here.

Westminster Abbey, London England - The layers of dark and light stone on the exterior are interesting.

France

Notre Dame, Paris, France – French Gothic and medieval architecture. The first time I'd seen flying buttresses.

Sacre Coeur, Paris, France – A beautiful white basilica that stands on the hill in Montmarte overlooking Paris.

Saint Chapelle, Paris, France – Gothic architecture and the most wonderful stained glass windows. The 15 windows are separated by very narrow columns. Entry is through the lower chapel.

St Sulpice, Paris, France - There is an obelisk and a brass meridian running across the floor of St Sulpice. At noon on the winter solstice (December 21), a ray of light touches the brass line on the obelisk. Also made famous more recently as the "Rose Line" in The DaVinci Code.

Chartres Cathedral, Chartres, France - I was particularly struck by the different spires on the exterior and fascinated by the labyrinth inside, the first I had ever seen in a church.

Reims Cathedral, Reims, France - A Gothic cathedral. Since the 11th century all the kings of France came here to be crowned.

Church of St Joan of Arc and Rouen Cathedral, Rouen, France - The Church of St Joan is built beside the location where St Joan was burned at the stake in 1431. Several block away on the rue de Gros Horloge you will pass under the city's Great Clock and the way to the Cathedral Notre Dame of Rouen.

St Omer Cathedral, France - The Cathedral has a huge organ that is really amazing. There is also a nice astronomical clock.

Arras Cathedral, France - After a difficult parking experience, I went up into the square, Grand Place, and just looked at the exterior of the Cathedral.

Amiens Cathedral, France – The largest Cathedral in France is a Gothic design.

Laon Cathedral, France – An early Gothic design, the Cathedral is in the medieval area of Laon.

Italy

Sistine Chapel, Rome, Italy - The famous work of Michelangelo is the painted ceiling. Recently restored, the colors are as vibrant as if freshly painted.

St. Peters Basilica, Rome, Italy - The artwork here is primarily frescos (tiles) instead of paint. Amazing. Beautiful marble everywhere, different kinds and colors. Also, the Pieta, a famous sculpture by Michelangelo is on display behind glass inside.

Basilica di St. Marco, Venice, Italy - The front of the church faces the Piazza San Marco. The facade has beautiful mosaics and colored marble.

Duomo Santa Maria del Fiore, Florence Italy - I have only seen the Duomo from the outside. The exterior is made of colored marble, truly beautiful.

Pisa, Italy - Inside the walls of the Square of Miracles are the Leaning Tower, a church and a Baptistry.

Spain

Sagrada Familia, Barcelona, Spain - An interesting cathedral designed by Gaudi, and under construction since 1882.

Museums

The architecture of these buildings are a work of art.

The Experience Music Project, Seattle, Washington - The colorful building is designed to resemble a smashed guitar. One of my favorite interior features is the guitar tornado. Each guitar on the tornado plays a single note and combined they play songs.

Centre Pompidou, Paris, France - Functional ductwork, piping and staircases are on the exterior of this building.

Bridges

Tower Bridge, London, England – Tower bridge is a beautiful construction with parts of it painted blue.

Pont de Rohan, Landerneau, Brittany, France – The first bridge I'd ever seen with shops on it.

Honfleur to Le Havre, Normandy, France – This bridge spans the mouth of the Seine. At times it feels like you are climbing a very step hill as you drive up and over and down the arched bridge. Even though it cost a 5 Euro toll, I drove it 3 times because I like it so much, and wanted to see it at different times of day.

Pont du Gard, near Uzes, France – This is an amazing 2000 year old Roman aqueduct and bridge in southern France.

Millau Viaduct, Millau, France – This is a great bridge that spans the valley, and cuts the drive time from Paris to the Mediterranean. The tallest bridge.

Link to the Viaduc de Millau, in French, but you can see the pictures.

Ponte Vecchio, Florence, Italy – This bridge is covered in antique and jewelry shops and spans the Arno, and is the oldest surviving bridge in the city.

Brooklyn Bridge, New York City, New York, USA – Nice bridge with a promonade for walkers.

Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco, California, USA – The wonderfully famous bright orange bridge.

Visit the Architecture Galleries for all those photo galleries listed above and more!