Google Earth top 10: World archaelogy

Some archeological sites look absolutely amazing as seen from the sky. Many of these places are in remote areas that I do not think I will ever visit. But through Google Earth I can experience these places, and be amazed by the scale of some of the ancient sites. When you visit a site in person you are barely aware of the fact that you only get to see a tiny portion of the entire site. Google Earth reveals the true extent of some of the ancient cities. Here are ten of my favourites.

10. Sanchi, India

9. Chaco Canyon, USA

8. Teotihuacan, Mexico

7. Takht-e-Soleyman, Iran

6. Chan Chan, Peru

5. Palmyra, Syria

4. Pompeii, Italy *

3. Borobudur, Indonesia *

2.Tikal, Guatemala

1. Angkor, Cambodia

Top 10: Dutch castles

The Netherlands may not be as rich in castles as France or Britain, but we do have a fair amount of castles. A testimonial of a violent past, when neighbouring counties and cities were at eachother's throats all the time. Castles in Holland tend to be built out of brick and surrounded by moats. Many have been altered through the ages. When the need for defense diappeared after the 17th century many castles were refurbished: large windows were put in, courtyards were demolished, battlements disappeared. Here are my ten favourite castles in the Netherlands, some more well-known than others.

10. Heeswijk

9. Hackfort

8. Duivenvoorde

7. Ammersoyen

6. Radboud

5. Twickel

4. Huis Bergh

3. Doorwerth

2. Muiderslot

1. Doornenburg

Google Earth top 10: Abbeys

Abbeys are among my favourite heritage buildings. Not only do they contain beautiful art and architecture, but usually anneys are placed in very beautiful places as well. Far away from the world, in secluded locations. The combined effect of the serene buildings and their unspoilt natural surroundings is overwhelming, even for an atheist like myself.

10. Melk, Austria *

9. Fontevraud, France *

8. Rievaulx, England *

7. Tintern, Wales *

6. Fontenay, France *

5.Certosa di Pavia, Italy *

4. Villers, Belgium *

3. Maulbronn, Germany *

2. Fountains Abbey, England *

1. le Mont Saint-Michel, France *

Google Earth top 10: Fortifications

Fortified cities are as old as urbanization itself. Remember the walls of Jericho? Some of the most beautiful fortified towns are actually in my own country, Holland. Here is a top 10 from Google Earth, these fortresses are just amazing seen from above.

10. Pampus, Netherlands

9. Sabbioneta, Italy

8. Belfort, France

7. Gravelines, France

6. Willemstad, Netherlands

5. Rocroi, France

4. Terezin, Czech Republic

3. Bourtange, Netherlands

2. Neuf-Brisach, France

1. Naarden, Netherlands

Top 10: Gothic Cathedrals

Europe is full of wonderful gothic cathedrals. The style originated in St Denis in France around 1100 and between 100 and roughly 1500 hundreds of churches and cathedrals were built in this style, from Spain to Norway and from France to Slovakia. Later, in the 1800's, the gothic architecture was rediscovered, giving birth to what is called neo-gothic in most prts of the world, except for Britain where they use the term gothic, very confusingly. Proper mediaeval gothic is called Early English, Decorated or Perpendicular in the UK. Here are 10 of my own photos of the most beautiful true gothic cathedrals in Europe. No gothic revival here!

10. Antwerp, Belgium

9. Vienna, Austria

8. Bourges, France

7. Segovia, Spain

6. Reims, France

5. York, England

4. Prague, Czech Republic

3. Milan, Italy

2. Wells, England

1. Chartres, France