Monuments are not just physical structures but are the witnesses of significant historical events that provide a glimpse into the past. However, monuments related to love are even more fascinating. Love is an emotion that motivates us and sometimes even keeps us alive. Various structures still exist in different parts of the world to symbolize pure love. Let’s look at the top 10 most popular monuments of love in the world, with each telling us an amazing story behind its creation.
10Mirabell Palace and Gardens, Austria
Mirabell Palace was built in 1607 by Prince-Archbishop Wolf Dietrich for his beloved Salome Alt, who bore him 15 children, although only five survived. After the Prince-Archbishop’s death, the palace was extensively modified by Archbishop Franz Anton von Harrach, who also changed its name to Mirabell.
The palace boasts of Roman gods statues, a hedge theater, charming flower beds, a Pegasus fountain, a Grand Fountain, an Orangery, and a garden of baroque marble dwarfs. The Marble Hall, considered one of the most beautiful wedding venues, sustained extensive fire damage in 1818. The palace is a stunning example of Baroque architecture. If you’re looking for a romantic wedding venue, please don’t hesitate to consider this palace that will provide you with some unforgettable memories.
9Petit Trianon, France
Petit Trianon is a masterpiece built by Anges-Jacques Gabriel, a royal architect, between 1762 and 1768 in the gardens of Versailles. Upon the request of Louis XV, he designed it for the king’s long-term mistress, Madame de Pompadour. Unfortunately, she passed away just before its completion.
During the second half of the 18th century, Louis XVI, the successor of Louis XV, gifted this palace to his 19-year-old queen Marie Antoinette. She used it as her secret getaway. Later, during the French Revolution, it was presented to Napoleon, who restored this palace for his sister, Pauline. In 1867, Empress Eugenie converted the Petit Trianon into a museum dedicated to the life and memory of Marie Antoinette. The palace follows a Greek architectural style with elegant woodwork that enhances its appeal.
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8Thornewood Castle, Washington
Chester Thorne built the historic Thornewood Castle in Lakewood, Washington, from a 15th-century Elizabethan manor in England. He shipped the bricks of the manor to the US and used them to construct this stunning Gothic Tudor mansion. The castle, occupying over 20,000 square feet, took over four years to complete and is one of the most famous love monuments globally.
The renowned architect Kirkland Cutter designed the manor with rare artwork, exquisite interiors, and beautiful gardens. Chester and his wife, Anna, worked together to plan and decorate the manor, earning it the nickname “the house that love built.” The Thornewood Castle enchants visitors worldwide and has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places since 1982.
7Dobroyd Castle, England
The Dobroyd Castle stands as a testament to the love shared between John Fielden and Ruth Stansfield. John, the son of a wealthy mill owner, fell in love with Ruth, a weaver girl. Ruth agreed to marry him on the stipulation that he build her a castle. The castle, upon completion, boasted 66 luxurious rooms, four small turrets, stables for 17 horses, and a central tower.
John later sent Ruth to finish school in Switzerland to improve her education and learn social etiquette. Sadly, their relationship fell apart after the marriage. Ruth became an alcohol addict and eventually passed away. Association with horses crippled John, and he later remarried and lived in the castle until he died in 1893. After his death, the castle became a Buddhist center and a boys’ school.
6Coral Castle, Florida
Edward Leedskalnin created the magnificent Coral Castle for his 16-year-old fiancée, Agnes Skuvst. Unfortunately, she left him the day before their wedding, leaving him heartbroken. Despite this, Edward decided to build a monument to his unrequited love, spending over 28 years constructing the castle alone.
Remarkably, he could create such a structure alone that we couldn’t ever imagine. He typically worked at night to maintain privacy. The castle includes towers, fountains, ornate furniture, and sculptures, and Edward was undoubtedly the King of his castle. He sculpted over 1100 tons of coral using essential tools and a series of pulleys and levers to shape the castle.
5Kellie’s Castle, Malaysia
Kellie’s Castle, situated in Batu Gajah, Kinta District, Malaysia, is one of the world’s most popular monuments of love, combining romance, tragedy, and mystery. A Scottish planter, William Kellie Smith, built this castle for his beloved wife, Agnes Smith. The beautiful design of the castle reflects Greco-Roman, Indian, and Moorish influences.
According to legend, the outbreak of a flu epidemic during the castle’s construction killed many workers and halted the building work. Smith created a Hindu temple near his palace to appease the Hindu workers and restart construction. However, plans for further castle construction stopped in 1926 after Kellie Smith died unexpectedly from pneumonia. The government then acquired the castle. Kellie Smith had also planned to build a 6-story tower, a rooftop courtyard for entertaining, and an indoor tennis court.
4Prasat Hin Phimai in Phimai, Thailand
The historic castle of Prasat Hin Phimai in Nakhon Ratchasima Province, Thailand, bears a story of love and tragedy that has endured for centuries. The legend tells of Prince Pajitt, after searching the countryside for months, met a beautiful pregnant woman and fell in love. However, he couldn’t marry a widow, so he married her unborn child, Orapima when she turned 16. As Orapima grew up, she and Pajitt fell deeply in love.
One day, while resting in the forest, a woodsman killed Pajitt and abducted Orapima. In her grief, Orapima killed the woodsman and built the Prasat Hin Phimai sanctuary as a tribute to her lost love. She adorned the sanctuary with paintings and sculptures depicting their life together. Orapima prayed for the reincarnation of Pajitt’s spirit and finally reunited with him.
3Kodai-Ji Temple, Kyoto, Japan
Kita-no-Mandokoro built the Kodai-Ji Temple in memory of her husband, Toyotomi Hideyoshi, who passed away in 1598. After establishing this ornate structure in 1606, Kita-no-Mandokoro became a priestess and assumed the name ‘Kodaiin Kogetsuni.’ From there, the temple got its name. She lived at the temple until she died in 1624. The complex includes a beautiful garden, Main Gate, Spirit Hall, and paintings.
The sanctuary with shrines is known as Otama-ya. It is also renowned as one of the world’s most famous monuments of love. Unfortunately, much of the Kodaiji complex was destroyed in a series of fires in 1789, and only a few buildings, such as Otama-ya, Kaisan-do, Kasa-tei, Shigure-tei, and Kangetsu-dai, survived. The Japanese government later declared the original buildings as significant Cultural Properties.
2Boldt Castle, New York
George C. Boldt built the Boldt Castle in 1900 to symbolize his affection for his wife, Louise Kehrer Boldt. The construction of this six-story castle took four years to complete and cost millions of dollars. It is one of the most well-known love monuments in the world, situated on Heart Island in the Thousand Islands of the U.S.
Unfortunately, Mrs. Boldt passed away unexpectedly just a few months before the castle’s completion, leaving George inconsolable and causing him to cease all construction work. Over 300 stonemasons, carpenters, and artists designed this castle and built this magnificent art piece. Later, the state government acquired the Boldt Castle and restored it. It features Italian gardens, tunnel systems, and a drawbridge. The Thousand Islands Bridge Authority restored and enhanced this building to its former glory.
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1Taj Mahal, Agra, India
The Taj Mahal, a stunning white marble monument, is the ultimate symbol of love. Mughal emperor Shah Jahan built this amazing construction in the loving memory of his wife, Mumtaz Mahal. This famous Indian landmark attracts over a million visitors every year. Its colors change throughout the day, reflecting the changing moods of the Emperor’s wife. In the morning, it appears pinkish, golden at night, and milky white in the evening.
The Taj Mahal is one of the world’s seven wonders in Agra in Uttar Pradesh, India. It took 20 years and the dedicated work of 22,000 laborers, stonecutters, painters, and embroidery artists to complete this masterpiece. The Taj Mahal’s architecture blends Persian, Islamic, and Indian styles. The main inner chamber of the monument houses the crypt where Mumtaz Mahal and Shah Jahan are buried.
