25 Most Famous Mausoleums From Around The World

Posted by , Updated on November 24, 2023

The world’s most famous mausoleums are going to blow your mind! They are some of the most beautiful pieces of architecture that you will ever see. The word “mausoleum” derives from the Mausoleum at Halicarnassus which was the grave of the King Mausolus, a prominent Persian ruler of the 4th century BC. The Mausoleum at Halicarnassus was such a large, opulent and impressive structure that it became one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. Unfortunately, it was destroyed by successive earthquakes between the 12th and the 15th century so it cannot be admired anymore but over the course of time, hundreds of other stunning mausoleums have been built in many countries all over the world. Holding remains of kings, sultans, presidents, emperors and other important people, here are 25 Most Famous Mausoleums From Around The World.

25

Lenin's Mausoleum, Moscow, Russia

Lenin's Mausoleum, Moscow, Russia Source: moscow.info

Located on the Red Square in the center of Moscow, the Lenin’s Mausoleum serves as the resting place of Vladimir Lenin, a famous Russian communist revolutionary and politician. Accessible to the public, the mausoleum is open daily from 10 am to 1 pm but is closed on Mondays and Fridays.

24

Mausoleum of Mohammed V, Rabat, Morocco

Mausoleum of Mohammed V, Rabat, MoroccoSource: morocco.com

A masterpiece of modern Alaouite Dynasty architecture, the Mausoleum of Mohammed VI is easily recognizable by its white walls and green-tiled roof. The interior was finished in white marble. The mausoleum holds the remains of the Moroccan king Mohammed V and his two sons King Hassan II and Prince Abdallah.

23

Humayun's Tomb, Delhi, India

Humayun's Tomb, Delhi, India Source: whc.unesco.org

The resting place of the Mughal Emperor Humayun, the Humayun’s Tomb is a spectacular mausoleum in Delhi, India. Built in 1570, the tomb is of particular cultural significance as it was the first garden-tomb on the Indian subcontinent. It inspired several major architectural innovations, culminating in the construction of the iconic Taj Mahal.

22

Mausoleum of Hadrian, Rome, Italy

Mausoleum of Hadrian, Rome, ItalySource: sites.google.com

Also known as Castel Sant Angelo, the Mausoleum of Hadrian is a cylindrical building in Rome, Italy. It was initially commissioned by the Roman Emperor Hadrian as a mausoleum for himself and his family. The building was later used by the popes as a fortress and castle, and is now a museum.

21

Artigas Mausoleum, Montevideo, Uruguay

Artigas Mausoleum, Montevideo, UruguaySource: www.welcomeuruguay.com

Holding the remains of the Uruguayan hero Jose Artigas, who is often referred to as “the father of Uruguay”, the Artigas Mausoleum is located in the middle of the Independence Square in Montevideo. Built in the 1930´s, the mausoleum is underneath the statue of Artigas.

20

Lincoln Tomb, Springfield, Illinois, US

Lincoln Tomb, Springfield, Illinois, US Source: lincolntomb.org

Located in the Oak Ridge Cemetery in Springfield, Illinois, the Lincoln Tomb is the final resting place of the 16th President of the United States Abraham Lincoln, his wife Mary, and three of their four sons: Edward, William, and Thomas. Constructed of granite, the tomb was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1960.

19

Royal Mausoleum of Mauretania, Algeria

Royal Mausoleum of Mauretania, AlgeriaSource: algeria.com

The Royal Mausoleum of Mauretania is an ancient historical site that is of significant importance to Algeria and its history. It’s the final resting place of Juba II and Cleopatra Selene II – the last king and queen of Mauretania, an ancient independent tribal kingdom in what is now Morocco.

18

Mausoleum of Genghis Khan, Xinjie, China

Mausoleum of Genghis Khan, Xinjie, ChinaSource: Wikipedia

Built between 1954 and 1956 by the Chinese government in the traditional Mongol style, the Mausoleum of Genghis Khan is one of the most important historical relics in China. The mausoleum is a cenotaph, where the coffin contains no body but only headdresses and accessories as the actual Tomb of Genghis Khan has never been discovered.

17

Mausoleum of Diocletian, Split, Croatia

Mausoleum of Diocletian, Split, CroatiaSource: visitsplit.com

Built in AD 305, the Mausoleum of Diocletian, a famous Roman Emperor, is now a part of the Cathedral of Saint Domnius in Split, Croatia. The cathedral is considered the oldest Catholic cathedral in the world that remains in use in its original structure. It also houses the relics of St Domnius and St Anastasius, martyrs executed in the nearby town of Solin.

16

Tomb of Jahangir, Lahore, Pakistan

Tomb of Jahangir, Lahore, Pakistan Source: pakistantoursguide.com

Located in the outskirts of the Pakistan city of Lahore in a place called Shahdara, the Tomb of Jahangir belongs to the famous Mughal Emperor Jahangir who was buried here after his death in 1627. While the tomb’s exterior is restrained, the site is famous for its interiors that are extensively embellished with frescoes and marble.

15

Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, Hanoi, Vietnam

Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, Hanoi, VietnamSource: www.vietnamonline.com

The Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum is an important historical attraction of Hanoi, the capital city of Vietnam. The embalmed body of Ho Chi Minh, a former Vietnamese revolutionary and President, is preserved in the cooled, central hall of the mausoleum. Visiting the Mausoleum is free of charge but involves strict regulations.

14

Bourguiba Mausoleum, Monastir, Tunisia

Bourguiba Mausoleum, Monastir, TunisiaSource: Habib Bourguiba: la trace et l'héritage via Wikipedia

Opened in 1963, the Bourguiba Mausoleum is a monumental grave in Monastir, Tunisia, containing the remains of the former president Habib Bourguiba, the father of Tunisian independence. The building is flanked by two 25-m (82 ft) high minarets and topped by a golden dome between two green domes.

13

Jinnah Mausoleum, Karachi, Pakistan

Jinnah Mausoleum, Karachi, Pakistan Source: thehistoryhub.com

Also known as Mazar-e-Quaid, the Jinnah Mausoleum is the final resting place of Muhammad Ali Jinnah, the founder of Pakistan. Designed by a Mumbai based Indian architect Yahya Merchant, the mausoleum ranks among the most popular tourist sites in Pakistan, attracting about 10,000 visitors every day.

12

Mausoleum of Augustus, Rome, Italy

Mausoleum of Augustus, Rome, ItalySource: livious.org

Located on the Piazza Augusto Imperatore in central Rome, the Mausoleum of Augustus is one of the important monuments in the city. The interior of the mausoleum consists of a square inner tomb, where the first Roman Emperor Augustus and his wife Livia are buried. It is a popular tourist site, although the inner tomb is not open to tourists.

11

Imam Husayn Shrine, Karbala, Iraq

Imam Husayn Shrine, Karbala, IraqSource: pbs.org via Wikipedia

Imam Husayn Shrine is the mosque and burial site of Al-Husayn ibn ‘Ali, the third Imam of Shia Islam, in the city of Karbala, Iraq. Famous for its lavish decorations, the tomb of Imam Husayn is one of the holiest places for Shi‘ites, outside of Mecca and Medina, and many make pilgrimages to the site.

10

Grant´s Tomb, New York City, New York, US

Grant´s Tomb, New York City, New York, US Source: nps.gov

Formally known as the General Grant National Memorial, the Grant´s Tomb is the final resting place of President Ulysses S. Grant and his wife Julia. The largest mausoleum in North America, it testifies to a people’s gratitude for the man who ended the American Civil War and strove to heal the nation in post-war years.

9

National Pantheon of Venezuela, Caracas, Venezuela

National Pantheon of Venezuela, Caracas, Venezuela Source: www.findagrave.com

Located in the old town of Caracas, the National Pantheon of Venezuela was originally built as a church but is now used as a mausoleum. In 1874, President Antonio Guzmán Blanco decreed the transformation of the church into a National Pantheon to conserve the remains of the heroes of Independence and those of eminent people.

8

Pantheon, Paris, France

Pantheon, Paris, FranceSource: http://www.pantheonparis.com

Situated in the Latin Quarter of Paris, the Pantheon was originally built as a church but after many changes now combines liturgical functions with its role as a famous burial place. An early example of Neoclassicism with a facade modeled after the Pantheon in Rome, it holds the remains of many famous French people such as Voltaire, Rousseau, Hugo, Zola and others.

7

Qianling Mausoleum, Qian County, China

Qianling Mausoleum, Qian County, China Source: travelchinaguide.com

Dating back to the 7th century, the Qianling Mausoleum houses the tomb of the ancient Chinese Emperor Gaozong and his Empress Wu Zetian of the Tang Dynasty. It occupies a prominent site on the summit of the Liangshan Hill approximately 80 km (50 mi) northwest of the former Tang capital Chang’an (today’s Xi’an).

6

Great Pyramid of Giza, Giza, Egypt

pyramidSource: ancient.eu

The Egyptian pyramids are also a type of mausoleum. The Great Pyramid of Giza (also known as the Pyramid of Khufu), for example, was the tallest man-made structure in the world for more than 3,000 years (until the Eiffel Tower was completed in 1889). The pyramid contains burial chambers where the ancient Egyptian pharaoh Khufu and his family rest.

5

Anitkabir, Ankara, Turkey

Anitkabir, Ankara, Turkey Source: Wikipedia

Located in the Turkey´s capital Ankara, Anitkabir is the mausoleum of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the leader of the Turkish War of Independence and the founder and first President of the Republic of Turkey. Completed in 1953, the site is also the final resting place of Ismet Inönü, the second President of Turkey.

4

Kumsusan Palace of the Sun, Pyongyang, North Korea

Kumsusan Palace of the Sun, Pyongyang, North Korea Source: koreakonsult.com

The Kumsusan Palace of Sun is the Mausoleum for Kim Il Sung, the founder and “eternal president” of North Korea and for his successor Kim Jong Il. The palace was built in 1976 as the Kumsusan Assembly Hall and served as Kim Il Sung’s official residence but in 1994, the building was renovated and transformed into the Mausoleum.

3

Monument to the Independence of Brazil, Sao Paulo, Brazil

Monument to the Independence of Brazil, Sao Paulo, Brazil Source: brazilmycountry.com

Located on the historic site in Sao Pauolo where Emperor Pedro I proclaimed Brazilian independence from Portugal in 1822, the Monument to the Independence of Brazil features a group of sculptures made of granite and bronze. In 1952, a crypt with the remains of the Emperor and his wife was added to the monument.

2

Saints Peter and Paul Cathedral, Saint Petersburg, Russia

Saints Peter and Paul Cathedral, Saint Petersburg, Russia Source: saint-petersburg.com

Considered the highest Orthodox Church in the world, the Saints Peter and Paul Cathedral is a remarkable cathedral and mausoleum, housing the remains of almost all Russian emperors and empresses from Peter the Great to Nicholas II. The graves of the rulers and their families are very extravagant and lavishly decorated, just like the cathedral itself.

1

Taj Mahal, Agra, India

Taj mahalSource: http://whc.unesco.org

Built in the Indian city of Agra between 1631 and 1648 by order of the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his favorite wife, the Taj Mahal is arguably the most famous and impressive mausoleum in the world. Made from white marble, it is the jewel of Muslim art in India and one of the universally admired masterpieces of the world’s heritage.



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