The Eight Magnificent and Historic Russian Kremlins

Some of the most prolific forts in the world can be found in Russia. In Russia, fort or citadel is known as Kremlin. Here are the 8 most magnificent forts in this huge country. These Kremlins are popular Russian tourist attractions.

1.) Peter and Paul Fortress

Image Source 

The Peter and Paul Fortress is a grandiose structure located in St Petersburg, Russia. It is the original citadel of St. Petersburg founded by Peter the Great in 1703 and from 1706-1740. The fortress contains many remarkable buildings clustered around the Peter and Paul Cathedral, which has a 123.2 m bell-tower - the tallest in the downtown.

2.) Moscow Kremlin

Image Source 

The Moscow Kremlin is a notable and historic fortified complex in Moscow, the capital of Russia. It is situated at the center of the city and overlooks the River Moskva, Saint Basil’s Cathedral, Red Square and Alexander Garden. Moscow Kremlin is the best known of Kremlins or Russian citadels. It includes 4 palaces, 4 cathedrals and the enclosing Kremlin Wall with Kremlin towers. The complex serves as the official residence of the President of Russia..

3.) Ivangorod Fortress

Image Source 

Ivangorod Fortress is a remarkable fortification building located in the town of Ivangorod, Russia. This Russian medieval castle was established in 1492 and overlooks the Narva River Narva City, Estonia. This quadrilateral castle measures 150 m² with walls 14 meters tall.

4.) Shlisselburg Fortress

Image Source 

Shlisselburg Fortress is magnificent-looking located in Shlisseburg, a town in Leningrad Oblas, Russia. It was constructed at the head of the Neva River on Lake Ladoga. The town and the fortress are UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

5.) Suzdal Kremlin

Image Source 

The Suzdal Kremlin is a beautiful fort and is the oldest part of the City of Suzdal. It dates back from the 10^th century. Like other Russian Kremlins, it was originally a fortress or citadel and was the religious and administrative center of the city. It is most notably the site of the Cathedral of the Nativity. This fortress, which was constructed in the 11^th century, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site together with several structures in the neighboring city of Valdimir.

6.) Kazan Kremlin

Image Source

The Kazan Kremlin is the chief historic citadel of Tatarstan, situated in Kazan City. It was built during the time of Ivan the Terrible and was declared in 2000 a UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

7.) Novgorod Kremlin

Image Source 

Novgorod Kremlin is also known as “The Detinets”, the ancient name for the Kremlin or fortress. It stands on the left bank of the Volkhov River. The fort was constructed from 1484 to 1490 with a length of 545 meters and a width of 240 meters with 9 surviving towers. The tallest tower, the Kokui tower is capped by a silver dome. The walls are 1,487 meters in circumference. Today, it is possible to enter this tower and climb to the top.

8.) Brest Fortress

Image Source 

Brest Fortress is a 19^th century Russian fortress in Brest, Belarus. It is one of the most important Soviet World War II war monuments commemorating the Soviet resistance against the German invasion on June 22, 1941. This fort is originally the largest 19^th century fortress of the Russian Empire. It has a total area of 4 km² with a fortified area 30 km in circumference. It is formerly known as Brest-Litovsk Fortress.

See also 

• Remarkable Forts for Tourist Destinations in France
• Historically Notable Forts From Around the World
• Historically Remarkable Forts Built by the Portuguese

The Eight Magnificent and Historic Russian Kremlins

Some of the most prolific forts in the world can be found in Russia. In Russia, fort or citadel is known as Kremlin. Here are the 8 most magnificent forts in this huge country. These Kremlins are popular Russian tourist attractions.

1.) Peter and Paul Fortress

Image Source 

The Peter and Paul Fortress is a grandiose structure located in St Petersburg, Russia. It is the original citadel of St. Petersburg founded by Peter the Great in 1703 and from 1706-1740. The fortress contains many remarkable buildings clustered around the Peter and Paul Cathedral, which has a 123.2 m bell-tower - the tallest in the downtown.

2.) Moscow Kremlin

Image Source 

The Moscow Kremlin is a notable and historic fortified complex in Moscow, the capital of Russia. It is situated at the center of the city and overlooks the River Moskva, Saint Basil’s Cathedral, Red Square and Alexander Garden. Moscow Kremlin is the best known of Kremlins or Russian citadels. It includes 4 palaces, 4 cathedrals and the enclosing Kremlin Wall with Kremlin towers. The complex serves as the official residence of the President of Russia..

3.) Ivangorod Fortress

Image Source 

Ivangorod Fortress is a remarkable fortification building located in the town of Ivangorod, Russia. This Russian medieval castle was established in 1492 and overlooks the Narva River Narva City, Estonia. This quadrilateral castle measures 150 m² with walls 14 meters tall.

4.) Shlisselburg Fortress

Image Source 

Shlisselburg Fortress is magnificent-looking located in Shlisseburg, a town in Leningrad Oblas, Russia. It was constructed at the head of the Neva River on Lake Ladoga. The town and the fortress are UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

5.) Suzdal Kremlin

Image Source 

The Suzdal Kremlin is a beautiful fort and is the oldest part of the City of Suzdal. It dates back from the 10^th century. Like other Russian Kremlins, it was originally a fortress or citadel and was the religious and administrative center of the city. It is most notably the site of the Cathedral of the Nativity. This fortress, which was constructed in the 11^th century, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site together with several structures in the neighboring city of Valdimir.

6.) Kazan Kremlin

Image Source

The Kazan Kremlin is the chief historic citadel of Tatarstan, situated in Kazan City. It was built during the time of Ivan the Terrible and was declared in 2000 a UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

7.) Novgorod Kremlin

Image Source 

Novgorod Kremlin is also known as “The Detinets”, the ancient name for the Kremlin or fortress. It stands on the left bank of the Volkhov River. The fort was constructed from 1484 to 1490 with a length of 545 meters and a width of 240 meters with 9 surviving towers. The tallest tower, the Kokui tower is capped by a silver dome. The walls are 1,487 meters in circumference. Today, it is possible to enter this tower and climb to the top.

8.) Brest Fortress

Image Source 

Brest Fortress is a 19^th century Russian fortress in Brest, Belarus. It is one of the most important Soviet World War II war monuments commemorating the Soviet resistance against the German invasion on June 22, 1941. This fort is originally the largest 19^th century fortress of the Russian Empire. It has a total area of 4 km² with a fortified area 30 km in circumference. It is formerly known as Brest-Litovsk Fortress.

See also 

• Remarkable Forts for Tourist Destinations in France
• Historically Notable Forts From Around the World
• Historically Remarkable Forts Built by the Portuguese

Remarkably Popular Floating Villages in the World

Some group of people or tribe prefers to build their dwellings in bodies of water such as rivers and lakes. This peculiar type of community is called “floating villages”. Here are some notable floating villages from around the world.

1.) Amazon Floating Village – Amazon River

Image Source

The Amazon River Floating Village neighborhood is located in the Peruvian city of Iquitos. This city in Peru is the largest city in the Peruvian rainforest.

2.) Floating Islands – Lake Titicaca

Image Source

The Floating Island is home to the people of the Uros Islands of Lake Titicaca. They make their homes on large clumps of floating reeds. They eat reeds, they make their homes from reeds, and they build very seaworthy boats from bundles of reeds.

Image Source

The Uros are a pre-Incan people who live on 42 self-fashioned floating islands. The Uros Islands at 3810 meters above sea level is inhabited by approximately 2,000 descendants. They bury their dead on the mainland in special cemeteries.

3.) Water Dwellings - Tonle Sap Lake

Image Source

These water dwellings are located on the lake of Tonle Sap, near Siem Reap in Cambodia. The name of the lake means "Large Fresh Water River" but more commonly translated as "Great Lake". Tonle Sap is a combined lake and river system of major importance to Cambodia. It is the largest freshwater lake in South East Asia.

4.) Aberdeen Floating Village – Hong Kong

Image Source

The Aberdeen Floating Village is located at the Aberdeen Harbor in the Southern District of Hong Kong. The harbor contains about 600 junks, which house an estimated 6,000 people.

5.) Bronze Age Stilt Houses – Lake Constance

Image Source

This stilt houses are the reconstruction of Bronze Age stilt houses or lake dwellings on Lake Contance in Uhldingen, Germany. These are not residential houses. It is called Pfahlbaumuseum Unteruhldingen, an archeological open air museum.

Image Source

Stone Age houses “Riedschachen”

6.) Yawnghwe City – Inle Lake

Image Source

This floating village is located in the City of Yawnghwe in the Inle Lake in the Shan Hills, Myanmar. This lake is the second largest lake in Myanmar with an estimated surface area of 116 km², and one of the highest at an altitude of 880 meters above sea level.

7.) Floating Village – Ha Long Bay

Image Source

This floating village is located in Ha Long Bay, Vietnam. On this community, there are around 1,600 people who live in four fishing villages. They live on floating houses and are sustained through fishing and marine aquaculture.

8.) Floating Village – Siem Reap

Image Source

This Floating Village is located in Konpong Phluk in the Siem Reap Province on the Tonle Sap Lake, a combined lake and river in Cambodia.

See also

10 Unique Houses From Around the World

Remarkably Popular Floating Villages in the World

Some group of people or tribe prefers to build their dwellings in bodies of water such as rivers and lakes. This peculiar type of community is called “floating villages”. Here are some notable floating villages from around the world.

1.) Amazon Floating Village – Amazon River

Image Source

The Amazon River Floating Village neighborhood is located in the Peruvian city of Iquitos. This city in Peru is the largest city in the Peruvian rainforest.

2.) Floating Islands – Lake Titicaca

Image Source

The Floating Island is home to the people of the Uros Islands of Lake Titicaca. They make their homes on large clumps of floating reeds. They eat reeds, they make their homes from reeds, and they build very seaworthy boats from bundles of reeds.

Image Source

The Uros are a pre-Incan people who live on 42 self-fashioned floating islands. The Uros Islands at 3810 meters above sea level is inhabited by approximately 2,000 descendants. They bury their dead on the mainland in special cemeteries.

3.) Water Dwellings - Tonle Sap Lake

Image Source

These water dwellings are located on the lake of Tonle Sap, near Siem Reap in Cambodia. The name of the lake means "Large Fresh Water River" but more commonly translated as "Great Lake". Tonle Sap is a combined lake and river system of major importance to Cambodia. It is the largest freshwater lake in South East Asia.

4.) Aberdeen Floating Village – Hong Kong

Image Source

The Aberdeen Floating Village is located at the Aberdeen Harbor in the Southern District of Hong Kong. The harbor contains about 600 junks, which house an estimated 6,000 people.

5.) Bronze Age Stilt Houses – Lake Constance

Image Source

This stilt houses are the reconstruction of Bronze Age stilt houses or lake dwellings on Lake Contance in Uhldingen, Germany. These are not residential houses. It is called Pfahlbaumuseum Unteruhldingen, an archeological open air museum.

Image Source

Stone Age houses “Riedschachen”

6.) Yawnghwe City – Inle Lake

Image Source

This floating village is located in the City of Yawnghwe in the Inle Lake in the Shan Hills, Myanmar. This lake is the second largest lake in Myanmar with an estimated surface area of 116 km², and one of the highest at an altitude of 880 meters above sea level.

7.) Floating Village – Ha Long Bay

Image Source

This floating village is located in Ha Long Bay, Vietnam. On this community, there are around 1,600 people who live in four fishing villages. They live on floating houses and are sustained through fishing and marine aquaculture.

8.) Floating Village – Siem Reap

Image Source

This Floating Village is located in Konpong Phluk in the Siem Reap Province on the Tonle Sap Lake, a combined lake and river in Cambodia.

See also

10 Unique Houses From Around the World

The Most Popular Houses in the United States of America

The US is well-known for its many and significant historic buildings and structures. These buildings are popular tourist attractions. There are also popular and historic houses that are notable tourist attractions in the different parts of the country. Most of them were home of presidents, celebrities and other notable personalities. Here are some of them.

1.) White House

Image Source

Undeniably, the White House is the most popular house not only in the US but in the world as well. It is the official residence and principal workplace of the US President. It is located at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, Washington D.C.

2.) Graceland

Image Source

Graceland is a popular house located at 3764 Elvis Presley Boulevard in Memphis. Tennessee. This large white-columned mansion and 5.6 ha estate was home to the King of Rock and Roll – Elvis Presley. This National Historic Landmark is 2^nd most-visited private home in America with over 600,000 visitors a year, next to the White House. It is also the burial place of Elvis and other family members

3.) Monticello

Image Source

Monticello is another famous house located just outside of Charlottesville, Virginia. This historic structure was the estate of Thomas Jefferson, the 3^rd US President and the principal author of the US Declaration of Independence. Monticello is also the site of Jefferson's burial place.

4.) Neverland Ranch

Image Source

Neverland Valley Ranch is a popular house located in Santa Barbara County in California. It is well-known because it is the home of the deceased American entertainer Michael Jackson from 1988 to 2005. Jackson named the property after Neverland, the fantasy island in the story of Peter Pan. It is currently owned by the Sycamore Valley Ranch Company.

5.) Mount Vernon

Image Source

Mount Vernon is another famous house in the US. It is located on the banks of the Potomac River near Alexandria, Virginia. It is popular because it was the plantation home of George Washington, the first US President. This historic mansion is built of wood in neoclassical Georgian architectural style. This National Historic Landmark is owned and maintained in trust by The Mount Vernon Ladies’ Association. The mansion is open every day of the year, including holidays and Christmas.

6.) Winchester Mystery House

Image Source

The Winchester Mystery House is a popular mansion in California. It is located at 525 South Winchester Blvd. in San Jose, California. It was under construction continuously for 38 years and is reported to be haunted. This mansion was once the personal residence of Sarah Winchester, the widow of gun magnate William Wirt Winchester. This mansion is now a tourist attraction. The house is worth $71 million in 2010.

7.) Nathan G. Moore House

Image Source

The Nathan G. Moore House also known as the Moore-Dugal Residence is a house designed by the famous architect – Frank Lloyd Wright. It is located at 333 Forest Avenue in Chicago, Illinois.

8.) Fallingwater

Image Source

Fallingwater or Kaufmann Residence is another unique house designed by American architect Frank Lloyd Wright in 1935 and is regarded as his “most beautiful job”. It is located and was built partly over a waterfall on Bear Run in the Mill Run section of Stewart Township, Fayette County, Pennsylvania, in the Laurel Highlands of the Allegheny Mountains.

9.) Villa Vizcaya

Image Source

Villa Vizcaya is a notable house on Biscayne Bay in Miam, Florida. It is the landmark Villa and Estate of businessman James Deering, of the Deering McCormick-International Harvester fortune. The early 20^th century Vizcaya estate also includes: the extensive Italian Renaissance gardens; the native woodland landscape; and the historic village outbuildings compound. It is now called the Vizcaya Museum and Gardens and is now own by Miami-Dade Country. The Villa is open to the public.

10.) Biltmore House

Image Source

Biltmore House is a popular mansion located near Asheville, North Carolina. This huge mansion was built by George Washington Vanderbilt II from 1889 to 1895. It is popular because it is the largest privately-owned home in the United States with an area of16,300 m² with 250 rooms.

See also

• Well Preserved Heritage Old Houses in the Philippines


• Unique Houses of the World


• Unique Modern and Traditional Houses


• 10 Unique Houses From Around the World


• 20 World’s Most Unique Traditional Houses


• The 21 Most Impressively Unique House Designs

The Most Popular Houses in the United States of America

The US is well-known for its many and significant historic buildings and structures. These buildings are popular tourist attractions. There are also popular and historic houses that are notable tourist attractions in the different parts of the country. Most of them were home of presidents, celebrities and other notable personalities. Here are some of them.

1.) White House

Image Source

Undeniably, the White House is the most popular house not only in the US but in the world as well. It is the official residence and principal workplace of the US President. It is located at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, Washington D.C.

2.) Graceland

Image Source

Graceland is a popular house located at 3764 Elvis Presley Boulevard in Memphis. Tennessee. This large white-columned mansion and 5.6 ha estate was home to the King of Rock and Roll – Elvis Presley. This National Historic Landmark is 2^nd most-visited private home in America with over 600,000 visitors a year, next to the White House. It is also the burial place of Elvis and other family members

3.) Monticello

Image Source

Monticello is another famous house located just outside of Charlottesville, Virginia. This historic structure was the estate of Thomas Jefferson, the 3^rd US President and the principal author of the US Declaration of Independence. Monticello is also the site of Jefferson's burial place.

4.) Neverland Ranch

Image Source

Neverland Valley Ranch is a popular house located in Santa Barbara County in California. It is well-known because it is the home of the deceased American entertainer Michael Jackson from 1988 to 2005. Jackson named the property after Neverland, the fantasy island in the story of Peter Pan. It is currently owned by the Sycamore Valley Ranch Company.

5.) Mount Vernon

Image Source

Mount Vernon is another famous house in the US. It is located on the banks of the Potomac River near Alexandria, Virginia. It is popular because it was the plantation home of George Washington, the first US President. This historic mansion is built of wood in neoclassical Georgian architectural style. This National Historic Landmark is owned and maintained in trust by The Mount Vernon Ladies’ Association. The mansion is open every day of the year, including holidays and Christmas.

6.) Winchester Mystery House

Image Source

The Winchester Mystery House is a popular mansion in California. It is located at 525 South Winchester Blvd. in San Jose, California. It was under construction continuously for 38 years and is reported to be haunted. This mansion was once the personal residence of Sarah Winchester, the widow of gun magnate William Wirt Winchester. This mansion is now a tourist attraction. The house is worth $71 million in 2010.

7.) Nathan G. Moore House

Image Source

The Nathan G. Moore House also known as the Moore-Dugal Residence is a house designed by the famous architect – Frank Lloyd Wright. It is located at 333 Forest Avenue in Chicago, Illinois.

8.) Fallingwater

Image Source

Fallingwater or Kaufmann Residence is another unique house designed by American architect Frank Lloyd Wright in 1935 and is regarded as his “most beautiful job”. It is located and was built partly over a waterfall on Bear Run in the Mill Run section of Stewart Township, Fayette County, Pennsylvania, in the Laurel Highlands of the Allegheny Mountains.

9.) Villa Vizcaya

Image Source

Villa Vizcaya is a notable house on Biscayne Bay in Miam, Florida. It is the landmark Villa and Estate of businessman James Deering, of the Deering McCormick-International Harvester fortune. The early 20^th century Vizcaya estate also includes: the extensive Italian Renaissance gardens; the native woodland landscape; and the historic village outbuildings compound. It is now called the Vizcaya Museum and Gardens and is now own by Miami-Dade Country. The Villa is open to the public.

10.) Biltmore House

Image Source

Biltmore House is a popular mansion located near Asheville, North Carolina. This huge mansion was built by George Washington Vanderbilt II from 1889 to 1895. It is popular because it is the largest privately-owned home in the United States with an area of16,300 m² with 250 rooms.

See also

• Well Preserved Heritage Old Houses in the Philippines


• Unique Houses of the World


• Unique Modern and Traditional Houses


• 10 Unique Houses From Around the World


• 20 World’s Most Unique Traditional Houses


• The 21 Most Impressively Unique House Designs