The 10 most beautiful monuments in the world in pictures

Machu Picchu, favorite monument of travelers

After having had to settle for second place in this list last year, behind the temple of Angkor Wat in Cambodia, Machu Picchu took over the lead of the 2016 edition of the “Travelers' Choice Landmarks” awards, which rewards the most beautiful monuments in the world. A first place which was already his in 2014.

Machu Picchu, victim of its success

This historic sanctuary nestled at more than 2.400m above sea level was classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983, it has since become a must-see tourist attraction in South America.
But, over the years, victim of its own success, the volume of tourists has put Machu Picchu in danger. This is why the Peruvian authorities had to limit the number of visitors to 2.500 people per day.

The top 10 monuments in the world

1. Machu Picchu (Peru)

2. Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque Center, Abu Dhabi (United Arab Emirates)

3. Angkor Wat, Siem Reap (Cambodge)

4. Saint Peter's Basilica (The Vatican)

5. Le Taj Mahal, Agra (India)

6. The Mosque-Cathedral of Cordoba (Spain)

7. Saint Petersburg Cathedral (Russia)

8. L'Alhambra, Granada (Spain)

9. Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, Washington DC (Etats-Unis)

10. Milan Cathedral - Duomo (Italy)

And in France ?

On the French side, Paris concentrates most of the favorite monuments with 7 places out of the 10. Thus the Eiffel Tower, the Notre-Dame-de-Paris cathedral, the Garnier palace, the Sainte-Chapelle, the Sacré-Coeur basilica of Montmartre, the Arc de Triomphe and the Alexandre-III bridge precede the Notre-Dame-de-Strasbourg cathedral (Bas-Rhin), the Palace of Versailles (Yvelines) and the Notre-Dame-de-la-Garde basilica of Marseille (Bouches-du-Rhône).