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TopClicks
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The World
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Landmarks
Castles of Wales - At this site you'll find pictures and descriptions of over 400 castles, most of them in Wales. The others are in England, on the often-disputed "marcher" lands between the English and Welsh borders. You can learn a lot of historical facts, including some hints about castle construction (should you ever get enough Legos to do such a thing). If you don't know a portcullis from a trebuchet, not to worry--there is a very cool dictionary of castle terms here.
Chateau de Versailles - What started out as a hunting lodge built by Louis XIII in 1623 has since been rebuilt many times over by various kings. Today the Chateau is both a royal residence and Museum of French History. The structure itself is a grand example of French architecture and landscape art. Within its walls is a diverse collection of French interior design, paintings, and drawings. This site describes the Chateau's history and the contents of the grounds and buildings along with pictures of some of the art and architecture.
Chris De Witt's Berlin Wall Website - If Net-mom had written this book in 1989, it would have had two entries for Germany: one for East Germany and one for West Germany. In fact, the city of Berlin was divided by a huge wall, separating the western, Democratic side from the eastern, Communist side. Travel was very restricted between East and West. Border guards were always on the lookout for people trying to escape to the West. Some people were killed. But all that is over now, and the two sides are reunited into one Germany. Read about the history of the wall here.
Confederation Bridge - Eight miles long, it's the longest continuous multispan marine bridge in the world. It links the Canadian mainland of New Brunswick Province to Prince Edward Island. Ferries have been the only other way to get vehicles to and from the island. This site will tell you all about the construction of the bridge, whichd on May 31, 1997. There was even a lottery to be one of the first to cross it!
Covered Bridges - Why are some bridges covered? To avoid rot, according to Dr. McCain, who also says that the structures were once called "kissing bridges." Take the Northeastern Chester County Driving Tour and read about the renovation of Bartram's Bridge. Stop by the Covered Bridges page today and enjoy your virtual tour of the bridges of various counties in Pennsylvania, Oregon, and New Hampshire.
Independence National Historical Park - Welcome to Independence National Historical Park. Is this your first trip to Philadelphia? Yes? Then you'd better begin your tour at the Visitor Center, where you will see the film Independence . Next you will want to check out the Liberty Bell. No new cracks, please! Do you know when the bell was rung for the last time? You can find out before moving along to Independence Hall. No pushing ahead, there is plenty of time for all of the stops along the way in historic Philadelphia. You'll end at the Deshler Morris House, which served as the official residence for President George Washington during the yellow fever epidemic of 1793. Enjoy your visit!
Lancaster Priory and Parish Church - Historic Lancaster Priory, UK, - Founded 1094 in a Church existing from 630 AD, with roots in Roman times. The Priory is on a hill, next to Lancaster Castle, in North West England, just south of the Lake District. It is a Church of England Parish Church in daily use. They welcome visitors whether on the Internet, or for real! See also the Royal School of Church Music Northern Cathedral Singers pages on the links page.
Leaning Tower of Pisa - On August 9, 1173, they started building a bell tower in Pisa, Italy. Little did they know that, years later, people would travel from all over the world to wonder at this tower and its famous gravity-defying lean. This Web site is a towering achievement. It offers a real foundation of education and scholarship that you'll enjoy, especially the section on Leaning Tower of Pisa humor. What's new in plans to save the tower? Study the recent news stories, then contact them if you have any tips of your own.
Mount Vernon - The Home of Our First President, George Washington - We know this isn't really in Washington, but it is nearby. And many of Washington's visitors make the short trip to Mount Vernon. Seeing where our first president lived makes him more real to us. Walking up his front steps, lounging on his lawn--these things connect us to a real person instead of a historical figure. Maybe you can't visit Mount Vernon, Virginia, in person, but you can stop in via the Net. At Mount Vernon, you can take a tour, read some astounding facts, and even work out a Washington word search puzzle. You can also learn about archaeology at Mount Vernon and explore related links. The Mount Vernon virtual tour includes the East Front, the large dining room, study, master bedroom, gardens, the Washingtons' tomb, and a slave memorial. Washington was the only one of the Founding Fathers to free his slaves; in his will he gave them their freedom upon his death.
Official Site of the Eiffel Tower - Symbol of Paris, the Eiffel Tower was finished on March 31, 1889. How tall is it? Well, in 1889 it was 1,024.5 feet (312.27 meters) high, including the flagpole. But in 1994 it grew an antenna and got taller: now it's 1,045.6 feet (318.7 meters) high. Visit this site to learn all about the history of the tower and activities and things you can see at each level. Don't like the color of this famous landmark? Choose to Play with the Tower (in the Summary section) and try various fashion statements of your own. We like the giraffe look or perhaps the cloud camouflage.
Places of Peace and Power - Anthropologist and photographer Martin Gray has visited over 1,000 places of religious and spiritual pilgrimage. This resource offers many of his photos and writings about the sites, as well as a calendar listing of Gray's upcoming slide shows and appearances. See and read about Stonehenge, Mount Olympus, the Golden Temple, places in Jerusalem, and many more. Be sure to read what you'll have to go through if you want to kiss the Blarney Stone in Ireland!
Sacred Places - Learn all about sacredness of place, including caves, stones, trees, mountains, water, and other landscape forms. Visit more than 15 sacred places around the world, such as Chartres in France and Bodh Gaya in India. Besides photos you will find suggested links for further exploration.
Sacred Places: Dome of the Rock, Israel - Built in A.D. 692, the Dome of the Rock is one of the great Muslim monuments. The building looks like an enameled, multicolored jewel, capped by a shining, golden dome. The Dome protects and houses the Sacred Rock of Jerusalem sandstone at the summit of Mount Moriah. Muslims believe that the prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), guided by the archangel Gabriel, traveled to Jerusalem and rose to the presence of God from this Rock. The area is also sacred to other faiths, as it was formerly the location of the Temple of Solomon. This site also details other sacred places around the world.
Sistine Chapel Extended Tour - The ceiling of the Sistine Chapel in Rome, Italy, is considered to be one of the most incredible works of art in human history. It was painted by Michelangelo in the 1500s. It took him many years to paint it. Take the tour and download the lovely images.
The Chagall Windows - The synagogue of the Hadassah-Hebrew University Medical Center, in Jerusalem, is lit by sunlight streaming through the world-famous Chagall Windows. Marc Chagall, the artist, worked on the project for two years. The Bible provided his main inspiration. The Chagall Windows represent the 12 sons of the patriarch Jacob, from whom came the Twelve Tribes of Israel. Chagall's brilliantly colored windows also have floating figures of symbolic animals, fish, and flowers. See this beautiful example of stained glass art without having to wait for a sunny day!
Tower of London - The Traitor's Gate. The Bloody Tower. The Ceremony of the Keys. The Crown Jewels. What an incredible history this building has. The Tower of London has been a treasury, a prison, and a government building for a thousand years. It is said that if the ravens that inhabit the Tower green ever leave, the Commonwealth of Great Britain will fall. You can take a tour of the Tower and its grounds right here. But don't scare the ravens!
Westminster Abbey - This London landmark has been the site of every British coronation since 1066. Many kings and queens are entombed at the Abbey, notably Elizabeth I. You'll also find Chaucer's grave in the Poets' Corner, along with those of other famous English authors, including Lewis Carroll. The Abbey has been the scene of numerous royal ceremonies, including royal weddings and other occasions. The funeral of Diana, Princess of Wales, was held at Westminster Abbey on September 6, 1997. Admire the inspiring Gothic architecture as you wander around with the other tourists at this site.
World Federation of Great Towers - Do you love tall buildings? Love seeing a city skyline with imaginative skyscrapers and towers? If you do, you'll enjoy this Web page, which glorifies the steel, the glass, the architectural vision, and most of all, the height of these modern wonders of the world. When we visited, there were more than 20 links to tall structures around the globe. Which one is tallest? You'll have to visit this Web page to find out.
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