Across the globe, there are numerous structures such as houses, temples, and monasteries located in breathtaking positions, showcasing a pristine and serene beauty that captivates the curiosity of visitors eager to experience them.
Top 5 Unique Architectural Locations
1. Katskhi Pillar Monastery – Georgia
The Katskhi Pillar Monastery is perched atop a nearly 40-meter high rock column, located about 200 kilometers west of Georgia’s capital, Tbilisi. According to CNN, this monastery was constructed by local residents between the 6th and 8th centuries as a place of worship for Saint Maximus the Confessor.
It wasn’t until the 10th to 11th centuries that the first monk settled in the monastery, while earlier monks would only visit to pray before departing.
Katskhi Pillar is one of the most precarious monasteries in the world. (Photo: Copyright / (CC BY-SA 4.0)).
According to ESKIFY, in the 1500s, many ascetic hermits chose to live in this monastery, finding peace in their solitary existence. Eventually, the monastery was abandoned for hundreds of years.
It wasn’t until 1995 that a local monk returned to restore and inhabit the Katskhi Pillar Monastery until 2015. Although this lifestyle may seem intriguing, it is extremely dangerous due to the small, precarious plot of land atop the rock. The only way to ascend to Katskhi Pillar is by using a steel ladder. Local authorities have warned against climbing to the top of the rock and the monastery above.
2. Takasugi-an Tea House (Japan)
Time magazine ranked Takasugi-an as one of the top 10 structures built in the most precarious locations worldwide. This tea house is designed simply and quietly in a traditional Japanese style. In Japanese, Takasugi-an means “the tea house built too high.”
Takasugi-an Tea House in Japan. (Photo: Edmund Sumner / Corbis).
Japanese architect Terunobu Fujimori personally constructed this house on his family’s land in Nagano City. The house consists of a single room perched atop two completely balanced chestnut tree trunks, which were cut and transported from a nearby mountain. If you are not afraid of heights, you can climb the ladder up to the tea house and enjoy a peaceful afternoon tea and meditation.
3. Hanging Temple of Hengshan (China)
The ancient Hanging Temple of Hengshan is situated on the slopes of Hengshan Mountain in Datong, Shanxi Province, China. According to legend, the monk Liao Ran built the temple entirely of wood during the Northern Wei Dynasty (386–534). Today, the temple is nearly 1,500 years old.
The Hanging Temple of Hengshan is over 1,500 years old in China. (Photo: China Highlights)
According to China Highlights, we can now see many supporting pillars under the temple, but originally, the temple did not require any wooden supports. These were added later to prevent the temple from collapsing.
4. The House on the “Island” in the Drina River (Serbia)
In rural Serbia, near the town of Bajina Bašta, there is a small wooden house located on a rock outcrop in the middle of the Drina River. It appears that even a slight rise in the tide could destroy the house. In reality, this has happened several times.
The small house in the Drina River – Serbia. (Photo: copyright Rasevic / (CC BY-SA 4.0)).
A group of swimmers built the house in 1968 as a refuge during difficult circumstances. However, due to its precarious position, the house has been destroyed by floods seven times, and each time it has been repaired.
5. Castellfollit de la Roca Village (Spain)
The website Culture Trip describes the houses in Castellfollit de la Roca, located atop a cliff at the confluence of two rivers. It is one of the most beautiful villages in Catalonia.
According to Fascinating Spain, the village only spans 1 square kilometer, making it the smallest area in Girona Province and the second smallest in Catalonia. Notably, the basalt quarry in this area is the only active quarry in Spain.
The houses of Castellfollit de la Roca on the cliff in Spain. (Photo: Photo by Manuel Torres Garcia on Unsplash).
Located in the volcanic region of Garrotxa in northern Catalonia, not far from the Pyrenees Mountains, Castellfollit de la Roca is an ideal stopover on the route to some of the most beautiful towns and rural villages in the region.
