Learn more about the 7 Wonders of the World

The Seven Wonders of the World represent different architectural works in the world considered to be the most extraordinary of mankind's past. These works, which have evolved over time, have given way to the wonders of the modern world, must-see artworks during your travels. Today we will set off on a world tour to discover these unique constructions and their particularities that have marked history. Discover more about these various exceptional sites that surpass time but also the human imagination.

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This work is undoubtedly the largest man-made structure, stretching more than 20,000 kilometres from Shanhaiguan to Jiayuguan and consisting of walls, vegetation and trenches. Built and then deconstructed over the course of its history, the Great Wall of China was originally built by the Qin Dynasty in 220 B.C., with the aim of protecting its empire by linking together already existing fortifications. The construction of the wall continued under many dynasties such as the Han, Yuan and Qing before being completed in the 17th century to defend the northern border of China. This military construction, now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, welcomes nearly 16 million visitors every year. A must-see building if you decide to go to China for a future trip. 

 

We now head for Jordan to discover an exceptional site: a troglodyte city of long-forgotten beauty. Indeed, to understand the history of this marvel, one must go back to 300 BC when the site was a crossroads of the incense trade, but also of silk and spices between India, Egypt and Yemen. It is only with the arrival of the Nabataeans, a people of nomadic merchants that Petra knows its hour of glory with the construction of many monuments in the rock, the most famous of which is Al-Khazneh, the tomb of the Nabataean king Aretas IV. However, with the arrival of the Romans and the opening of the maritime trade routes, Petra gradually sank into oblivion and was destroyed by half in 363 following an earthquake. The Vermilion city was rediscovered only in 1812 by a Swiss explorer, then many archaeologists and historians restored Petra to its full grandeur to make it a tourist site known worldwide for its beauty.

 

In 1922, for the 100th anniversary of its independence, Brazil decided to build a monument of a height never equalled in the country. The idea of a Christ not being approved by all for secularism reasons, the idea is finally validated. After choosing the highest hill in the bay of Rio de Janeiro, Mount Corcovado at 710 meters above sea level, the future Christ the Redeemer was commissioned in 1926. It was then made in France, piece by piece by the sculptor Paul Landowski. Following the work of the French sculptor, as well as engineers and the designer of this project, the statue was then assembled on-site and inaugurated on October 12, 1931. The Redeemer Christ has become emblematic for its unique format. Indeed, perched on a base of 8 meters, it measures 30 meters in total. Composed of concrete and stones, the statue weighs more than 1140 tons. Classified as a historical monument in 1973, Christ the Redeemer is a true symbol of Western religious art, but also of Brazilian culture, one of the most Catholic countries in the world.

It is in the heart of the Andes, at an altitude of more than 2430 meters, that we find another of the 7 wonders of the world: Machu Picchu, an intriguing Inca city amidst lush vegetation, but also a true historical jewel. To this day, the origin of the first stones laid on the site is still unclear, but the first constructions date back to the 15th century when the Inca emperor Pachacutec was seduced by the splendour of the place. Different spaces have thus been created as religious monuments, agricultural areas or even dwellings. After several years of high activity, the city became a land of refuge for the Incas against the Spanish invasion. The end of this civilization in Machu Picchu was marked by the assassination of the Inca emperor Atahualpa, then the site sank into oblivion before being rediscovered in 1911 by chance by an American traveller. Machu Picchu remains a wonder in the world for the complexity of its access, its magnificent remains, the beauty of its environment in the heart of the mountains, but also because it is the most important remaining heritage of the Inca people.

 

Chichén Itzá is an ancient Mayan and then Toltec city located in the province of Yucatan between Valladolid and Merida. Erected in 450, by the Itza civilization which gave its name to the historic site, it was however abandoned by the same population a few years later before becoming a Mayan city in the 10th century. If this site has successively attracted different peoples it is for its unique location benefiting from cenotes which are natural wells. The largest building of Chichén Itzá is the Castillo, the best-preserved monument, it is a pyramid of 24 meters built-in stairs on which appear numerous representations such as that of Kukulkan the feathered serpent. Different parts of the site can be seen, the northern sector is identified as the new Chichén because it benefits from more recent and imposing buildings including the Castillo, a large ball field, the warriors' temple and the sacred cenote, while the southern sector is associated with the old Chichén with the church and ancient dwellings. Numerous archaeological mysteries remain on this site of which we suppose secret rooms but also swampy labyrinths.

 

A true emblem of the Roman Empire, this majestic building, 450 metres in diameter, has a rich history. A place of bloody battles, theatre, circus, but also craftsmen's workshops and a sacred religious site. The largest amphitheatre in Roman history has seen a succession of events that have given it its full grandeur. It was built in the 1980s AD in honour of the capture of Jerusalem by Titus and was originally built to host games and diversionary fights for the Romans. Its extremely complex layout includes boxes, corridors, a water-filled ditch, but also a podium for the dominant people as well as bleachers for the public. It was only in the Middle Ages that the name Colosseum was given to this colossal monument. All kinds of events of social life took place within its walls, which could house up to 50,000 people. As early as 404, the Colosseum lost its functions and gradually fell into ruins before becoming a Christian sanctuary and then a place for Catholic ceremonies. The first initiatives to protect and renovate this unique monument began in the 15th century and today it is one of the most visited monuments in Italy, where you can feel the soul and grandeur of Roman history.

Last but not least, the seventh wonder of the modern world, the Taj Mahal, built in honour of love. With more than 3 million visitors each year, this monument located in Agra is a must during your stay in India. Built by the Mughal Emperor and Muslim Shah Jahan following the death of his wife at the birth of their fourteenth child, it is a white marble mausoleum made of semi-precious stones. Completed in 1648, it features a mixture of Islamic, Iranian, Ottoman and Indian architecture. According to the history of the construction of this building, it is said that more than 1,000 elephants were used to transport the materials and that more than 20,000 people contributed to the construction. Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1983, the Taj Mahal is admired the world over.